Trinidad and Tobago ATM theft attempt fails as police search backhoe robbery suspects

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service is seeking four suspects filmed on CCTV trying to steal a cash machine using a backhoe. Police said the suspects moved the ATM to a pavement but failed to remove the vault after the backhoe arm was damaged. The group fled after failing to load it onto a small truck.

Police in Trinidad and Tobago said on Wednesday that officers were hunting robbers filmed during a failed cash machine theft. The group used a backhoe in an attempt to remove a vault. Police said the plan went wrong and later turned into online jokes. Security footage captured the incident, which happened while a state of emergency remained active.

According to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, the suspects did not succeed in taking the vault. Police said the backhoe’s arm was damaged during the early Wednesday attempt. The cash machine was pulled out and left exposed in Tobago. Authorities later arrived at the location on the smaller island.

Trinidad and Tobago Police Service searches for suspects after cash machine heist fails

Security video showed at least four suspects moving around the area and struggling to coordinate. One suspect stood out due to a Batman-like look. The person wore black clothing, a black ski mask and what looked like a black poncho. The poncho moved in the wind like a cape, the footage suggested.

The same person was seen stumbling while trying to guide the backhoe. The suspect tripped over debris and fell to the ground, the video showed. Police said the group used the machine to drag the cash machine onto the pavement. The backhoe, police added, was stolen from a nearby beach.

Trinidad and Tobago Police Service says backhoe damage stopped cash machine theft

Police said the backhoe stopped working once its arm failed. The suspects then tried to lift the cash machine onto a small truck. Police said that effort also did not work, despite the group acting together. After the repeated failures, police said the suspects abandoned the attempt and fled quickly.

Police said the robbers escaped in a vehicle reported stolen. The cash machine stayed outside after the group left. The time stamp on the recording suggested the entire episode ran for more than 10 minutes. The incident happened as the national emergency measures continued.

Trinidad and Tobago Police Service notes viral memes during state of emergency extension

The footage spread fast online and became a source of humour on social media. Memes mocked the bungled theft, and callers to morning radio talk shows joked about it. A local newspaper also played on the theme, using the headline, Batman and robbing. Police said the search for the suspects continued.

Trinidad and Tobago has recently extended its state of emergency by three months, until September. Authorities said the measures remained in place as officials dealt with violent crime. Police linked the attempted theft to the wider security situation, as officers responded in Tobago and reviewed the video evidence.

With inputs from PTI