A man who went to meet someone he had connected with on an online dating app in was robbed at gunpoint in the San Juan, Trinidad on Thursday evening.

According to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), the incident occurred around 6:30 pm on February 19, 2026.

 The victim arranged to meet the individual at the corner of Third Avenue and Eastern Main Road in Barataria after communicating through an online dating application days earlier.

Police said the two walked north along Third Avenue to Mission Road Extension, San Juan. 

While there, the victim noticed two other men standing nearby. The three men then allegedly announced a robbery, with one suspect armed with a firearm.

The victim was robbed of two cellular phones and cash totalling TT$1,869 (US$276.74). 

During the ordeal, he was physically assaulted and pushed against a galvanised fence before the suspects escaped on foot.

Officers from the San Juan Police Station responded promptly and, while conducting enquiries in the district, observed a man fitting the description of one of the suspects. 

The 20-year-old was arrested and taken to the station as investigations continue.

Police are still working to identify and apprehend the other suspects involved.

The TTPS is urging members of the public to exercise caution when meeting individuals known only through online platforms.