Police raids uncover stolen goods

In addition to engaging in a shootout, law enforcement authorities were also out in force seeking to recover the ill gotten gains of a rogue’s gallery of robbers, burglars and other assorted thieves.

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting

Police seized the assorted items following searches conducted in Belize City on Wednesday night. The computers, stereo equipment, tools and other supplies are believed to have been stolen from various locations at different times.

G. Michael Reid, Police Press Officer

“What the police did was target areas that are known to be hangouts for criminals and in particular people who engage in burglaries. So we just found that they had no receipts for them and they could not account for how they got these items and we would like to believe that they are stolen items.”

Equally disturbing is the number of toy guns police have confiscated through searches conducted at schools, homes and on persons.

G. Michael Reid

“This is a concern for many citizens. There are in the schools, the kids are playing with them, but even grownups are using them. We believe they are also used in the commission of some robberies. Of course when a person points a gun at you that looks that realistic, you’re not going to question whether it’s real or not. So there’s a big concern. Of course, there’s no need for a licence for these guns and they are being sold in public places and public stores, so the police department is quite concerned about this and we’re looking at probably coming up with legislation that would maybe prevent them from being brought into the country and sold so openly.”

This long holiday weekend, expect to see an increase in police patrols. But press officer, G. Michael Reid says home owners also must do their part to ensure their property is kept safe.

G. Michael Reid

“This is when the neighbourhood watch comes in full effect. We’re hoping that people will have good relations with their neighbours. And it’s not all the citizens that can afford to go to these places and not all that even have the desire. So the ones that are staying back and staying at home in the city, we ask to keep an eye out for your neighbours. There are times when you might want to leave and your neighbour can keep and eye on you. This is important because certainly the police cannot be everywhere. We do ask residents of houses to be vigilant in securing these places, make sure that there are adequate locks on the doors, make sure that the windows are closed, don’t leave any signs that you might not be at home.”