A PRISON ESCAPEE, who has been on the run from the law for more than four months, is the prime suspect in a spate of house break-ins and robberies currently plaguing west Trinidad.

The 27-year-old fugitive is believed to have been responsible for the Tuesday night break-in at the Glencoe home of Congress of the People (COP) member Rocky Garcia.

Garcia's wife and daughter were tied up and robbed of cash and jewelry by a bandit armed with a knife.

Garcia, vice-chairman of the Chaguaramas Development Authority, was not at home at the time.

Within recent months, officers of the Western Division have recorded an increase in the number of break-ins and robberies in the area, a senior police source stated yesterday.

The spike in break-ins and robberies coincides with the main suspect's escape from the Port of Spain prison.

The suspect escaped from the Port of Spain prison on June 14.

He was housed at the remand section after appearing before a magistrate charged with a series of house break-ins and robberies in 2010 which resulted in excess of $1 million in items being stolen from his victims.

The break-ins and robberies took place in Glencoe, Westmoorings and St James between June and October 2010.

The suspect escaped from the Port of Spain prison after he struck a prison officer, scaled a wall on the northern side of the jail and ran away.

Prison authorities have described the fugitive as "armed and dangerous".

"When he was locked up the place was quiet but as soon as he escaped we have seen an upsurge in these incidents. This is his MO (modus operandi) and we strongly believe he is up to his old tricks again," the senior police source said.

The suspect is originally from Harding Place in Cocorite.

According to police, the wanted fugitive is dark brown in colour, weighs 136 pounds, is 163 centimetres tall, has a long face, is of medium build and has brown eyes.

He has a small scar on his upper left chest, small scar on his right rib cage, small scar on his right wrist and a small scar on his lower back.

Essentia Limited, a company which provides 24-hour security services for the Westmoorings area, has joined the manhunt for the wanted fugitive.

Photographs of the suspect are being circulated on social media sites by residents of west Trinidad.

"He is playing a game of cat and mouse with us but we will catch him," the police source said.