When romance becomes a robbery: how dating apps are reshaping vehicle theft in Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago’s stolen vehicle problem has never been static. Criminals observe behaviour, exploit opportunity, and evolve faster than public awareness. In recent years, a new pattern has emerged that reflects this evolution. Social media and dating applications are increasingly being used as tools to identify, isolate, and target victims, with vehicle theft becoming a central outcome of these encounters.

This blog is not about blaming technology or the individuals who use it. Dating applications are now a normal part of modern social interaction. The concern lies in how criminal networks have adapted their methods to take advantage of the trust, privacy, and immediacy that these platforms create.

From online connection to physical vulnerability

Local press reporting has repeatedly highlighted cases where individuals arranged meetings through dating apps or social media, only to be robbed, assaulted, and left without their vehicles. The pattern is consistent. A victim agrees to meet someone they have interacted with online. The location is changed at short notice or chosen for its isolation. The victim arrives alone. Within minutes, additional offenders appear, and the situation escalates rapidly.

In these scenarios, the vehicle is often the primary target. A car provides immediate mobility, resale value, and utility for further criminal activity. Once stolen, it can be stripped, resold, or used in other offences, multiplying the harm beyond the original encounter.

Policing concerns and public warnings

At a recent public symposium the Commission of Police publicly acknowledged this trend, warning citizens to exercise heightened caution when engaging with people met online. These warnings reflect an understanding that criminals are no longer relying solely on physical surveillance. Instead, they are using digital platforms to conduct social reconnaissance, assess risk, and control the environment in which the crime takes place.

Despite these warnings, prevention messaging alone is not enough. What remains largely unaddressed is why many of these crimes never enter official statistics.

The silent factor: embarrassment and fear of exposure

In practice, underreporting is one of the most serious consequences of this emerging crime pattern. I interacted with a GPS client who became a victim of this type of offence. His vehicle was taken during a meet-up arranged online. Yet he refused to make a report. He would not give his name, his vehicle number, or a formal statement. The reason was not fear of the criminals. It was embarrassment.

He was concerned about how the circumstances would be perceived if they became public. He feared ridicule, judgement, and exposure of his private life. That silence meant there was no investigation, no intelligence gathered, and no disruption of the offenders. The criminals walked away knowing they could do it again.

This reaction is not unusual. When victims believe that reporting a crime will result in public shaming rather than support, they opt out of the system entirely.

When media framing worsens the problem

The situation is compounded when victims are portrayed as reckless, immoral, or deviant because of their sexual orientation or lifestyle choices. When media narratives focus on who the victim met rather than what the criminals did, the effect is chilling. It sends a clear message to other victims: stay quiet or risk being publicly humiliated.

This approach does not deter crime. It enables it. Criminals thrive in environments where victims are unlikely to report. Every unreported case strengthens the offender’s confidence and weakens the collective ability to respond.

Why sensitivity is a public safety issue

Sensitivity in reporting and policing is not about avoiding uncomfortable topics. It is about recognising that crime prevention depends on trust. If victims do not believe their information will be handled with discretion and respect, they will not come forward. That silence distorts crime data, undermines policing strategies, and allows criminal methods to mature unchecked.

Increased awareness must therefore go beyond advising people to be careful online. It must include a broader conversation about confidentiality, dignity, and the right to be treated as a victim regardless of how or where the crime occurred.

Building a better response

Addressing this evolving threat requires a coordinated effort. Public education must reflect the reality that these crimes are organised and deliberate, not the result of naivety. Victim reporting mechanisms must be clearly explained, including what protections exist and how privacy is managed. Media houses must exercise restraint and responsibility, focusing on offender behaviour and public safety lessons rather than sensationalism.

Most importantly, society must recognise that criminals adapt to silence. When victims are supported rather than shamed, reporting increases. When reporting increases, intelligence improves. When intelligence improves, offenders lose their advantage.

Dating apps did not create this crime. Criminals did. Our response should focus on disrupting their methods, not discouraging victims from speaking out.