Crime Stoppers head says air horns valuable as robbery foiled

Director of Crime Stoppers TT, Darrin Carmichael, is continuing to stress the importance of air horns as devices in community-level crime-fighting initiatives, as Carlsen Field residents thwarted a home invasion as it happened early on Monday morning.

Police said a 53-year-old poultry farmer left his home just after 5 am to tend to livestock when he was confronted by three bandits, two of whom were armed with cutlasses, while the third had a gun.

The bandits tied the man’s hands and forced him back to the house to steal $400 from his wallet.

The man, police said, tried to run away and call for help but was caught and beaten by the bandits.

One of the farmer’s neighbours heard the commotion and blew an air horn, causing the bandits to run away through nearby bushes.

Contacted for comment, Carmichael, who has repeatedly called for neighbourhoods to form watch groups using WhatsApp and air horns as an early warning system, said the latest development was evidence of the effectiveness of community-level intervention.

Last April, a viral video showed an elderly woman in Valley View, St Joseph, blowing an air horn as she fended off bandits who tried to rob her.

He said the introduction of strong ties within neighbourhoods and established procedures in case of an emergency could not only assist police in their response, but also potentially save lives.

“If you identify any suspicious activities or suspicious individuals, you must have the air horn handy and look out for neighbours, as was the case.

“First and foremost, reach for the airhorn and give three blasts, and neighbours hearing that will immediately and instinctively respond, giving three blasts as well. That way, when the incident is occurring in one area, blowing the air horn acts as a repeater and gets to other members of the community.

“This allows other neighbours to get wind that something is happening that demands attention.”

Carmichael said the use of air horns should also work in tandem with community WhatsApp groups, which provide instant messaging and communication on which threats are present, while also informing the police.

He also warned communities that air horns were not toys and should be used responsibly to minimise the possibility of giving communities “false alarms”.