Click to view full size

Police in Arima are investigating a larceny after a 66-year-old businessman was tricked into handing over TT dollars in exchange for US currency on Saturday.

According to police, the victim operates a business in Lange Park, Chaguanas. Around 9:00 a.m., a male of African descent, stocky build, approximately 5ft 9in, wearing a white hat, off-white T-shirt, and dark long pants, came to the business requesting to exchange $7,000 US into TT dollars at a rate of $1 US to $7.50 TT.

The victim told the man he did not have sufficient cash at the time and asked him to return later. At approximately 11:30 a.m., the man returned, and after the victim checked the US bills and gave the TT equivalent of $52,500, the suspect insisted that the victim “keep the funds,” which he found suspicious. The man took back the US dollars, left, and shortly after returned with a black plastic bag, completing the transaction.