A Roman Catholic Priest and a security guard were tied-up and robbed by a group of bandits at the St Benedict’s RC Church, in La Romaine on Monday morning.
The church’s collection money was stolen in the attack.
Speaking to our reporter Cindy Raghubar-Teekersingh, Father Matthew d’Hereaux, southern representative for the Archdiocese of Port of Spain, urged those responsible to respect others and to turn their lives around.
00:00Around 1 a.m. on Monday, according to police reports, a 22-year-old Innovators Security Services security officer was in the guard boot of the St. Benedict's R.C. Church in La Romaine when a bright light caught his attention.
00:15Then five men dressed in dark clothing, hoodies, masks and gloves forced their way into the booth.
00:22They took him outside, made him lie on the ground and bound his feet and hands with rope.
00:27Two bandits stayed with him while the other three went into the administrative building, disconnected a TNT meter, broke the front door and ransacked the room.
00:37They then made their way into the priest's quarters where the church's 69-year-old priest was sleeping.
00:43He was awakened, then made to lie down and his hands and feet were also bound.
00:48The bandits took his phone, wallet and the church's collection money from that day before escaping the scene.
00:55Investigators say the thieves gained entry to the compound through a hole in the wired fence.
01:01The scene was later processed by police and an envelope containing the collection money was found at the back of the building.
01:09Speaking to TV6 News, Vicar of the Southern Vicariate of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain,
01:15Father Matthew de Roo says the incident has left both the priest and the security guard traumatized.
01:21We hear about these events, we hear about human visions, but when it comes home to us,
01:28we have a different kind of empathy for those who actually experience it.
01:33He says crime is a societal cancer and some people have lost the sense of what is sacred.
01:40Father Matthew says they hope to increase security measures at the church
01:44and encourage those who may feel crime is the answer to seek better alternatives than a life that leads to jail time.
01:53Turn around your life, respect people, work hard for what you want in a legal way.
02:03There are so many opportunities out there that can be given, can be sought, can be used.
02:13And crime is a cancer and don't be part of that cancer.
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