A school teacher was robbed of his car, cash, and cellphones on Sunday after being lured to East Port of Spain, Trinidad, by a man he met on the gay dating app Grindr.
A similar incident involving an American citizen occurred last year, also in east Port of Spain.
Police said that around 3.30 p.m. the 41-year-old victim from Chaguanas parked his Toyota Fielder Wagon near the Police Administration Building, Edward Street, Port of Spain.
He left his wallet with $200 and a First Citizen’s bank card in the locked vehicle. He then made his way to Prince Street, Port of Spain where he met the man who he found on app near Phagoo’s bar.
The man and the suspect then walked into the George Street Plannings where the teacher was approached by six men.
One of then withdrew a gun with which the man dealt him several blows about his body.
The six then robbed him of his car keys and Samsung cell-phone and told him to leave.
The man then went back to Edward Street but his car was not there.
He also called FCB’s call centre and was told that $6000 TT had been withdrawn.
He then made a report to the Besson Street Police Station.
On October 3 last year, a 25-year-old, from Queens, New York, told police at about 7.30 p.m. that day he went to upper Nelson Street in Port of Spain, where he met the individual he had been talking to for a couple of days.
He and the man walked a short distance, but the American was then confronted by a group of five men.
They announced a hold-up and proceeded to beat the victim about the body while demanding that he hand over all his valuables. These included an iPhone 13 Pro cellular phone, US$300 and a bag that contained his US credit and debit cards, as well as the keys to his rental vehicle.
The suspects then told the victim to remove all his clothing and ordered him to flee the scene naked, to which the victim complied.
The man was then picked up by officers of the Besson Street Police Station where he was given clothing following which he made a report.
