Pre-school hit by burglars
It may have lacked the tension of a bar fight or the drama of a street brawl, but the crime committed against the staff and students of a Belize City pre-school over the holiday may be more demoralising.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
It’s not the first time that The Catholic Diocesan Child Development Centre has been burglarised, but the most recent crime has taken a toll on both the staff and students of C.D.C.D.C.
Tomasa Smith, Principal, C.D.C.D.C.
“Well we are doing all that we can. We have burglar bars, and just night before that bar over there was ripped, they were trying to get in once again. I’m thinking it’s the same person, because there was a TV and a small stereo in the day care section, so they were breaking in that section as well. So I have to remove all of these stuff and back these things back and forth.”
Two weeks ago it is believed the thieves gained access through this hole and then broke through the school kitchen’s door and stole most of the items from the student feeding programme.
Tomasa Smith
“Well the break in was from the eighteenth, early in the morning like about 6:00. A neighbour came by, woke me, and told me it seems like the school was broken into. He said the night he saw somebody and shouted at the person and the person ran off. That was when he said probably nothing was broken into, but upon waking the in morning, he noticed two classroom open and the kitchen door and then came to get me. It was then I noticed some of the items from the school were missing. From the kitchen, missing was a brand new microwave, a heavy-duty mixer, a new blender and can opener. From the first classroom, a VEC fan and a small stereo, likewise from the other classroom.
“It’s more frustrating than I can explain. Those stuffs were gifts brought by Canada funds and they were just a month old, everything was just a month old.”
Today, Tomasa Smith, the school’s principal, says she does not know how they will replace the items that were stolen, but asked the general public not to buy any of the purloined supplies.
Tomasa Smith
“I’m appealing to the public that if they see anybody selling any of these items, please contact myself or go over by Holy Redeemer by the Bishop O.P. Martin’s office and speak with Miss Jean, or call me. I really need these items, school will begin on Monday.”
Reporting for News 5, Jacqueline Woods.
If you would like to assist C.D.C.D.C., you can get in touch with Tomasa Smith at telephone number 78646.
