Shootout In Corozal! Armed Robbers Target Peseros at Northern Border
A brazen armed robbery at the northern border this morning led to a shootout between police and armed robbers. Five masked men, at least three who were armed, robbed seven money changers at the border terminal in the Corozal District. Surveillance footage captured the entire robbery. It shows the men exiting a S.U.V. before stripping the money changers of their cash bags. By all accounts, it was executed like a planned robbery but the thieves did not factor in the presence of law enforcement officers in the area at the time of the crime. Four robbers were shot; one was critically injured and is at the K.H.M.H. News Five’s Hipolito Novelo reports.
Hipolito Novelo, Reporting
A planned armed robbery by known Corozal criminals unfolded this morning at the Belize/Mexico border in the Corozal District. As several unsuspecting money changers or ‘peseros’ were waiting in front of the border terminal, a green Marina SUV, seen here in this surveillance footage, parked near the men. A group of five masked men, three who were armed, pounced on the money changers.
Sr. Supt Marco Vidal, Commander of Operations
Sr. Supt Marco Vidal
“During that process that assailants, four assailants exited the vehicle and proceeded to hold up the money changers at some point, relieving then of their bags and monies.”
It took the robbers about twenty seconds to strip the peseros of their cash pouches. Seven men were robbed. In the process one was hit and forced to the ground. Meanwhile the sixth person behind the wheel of the Green marina SUV, perform a U-turn with the intention to escape with the thieves and the cash. The men quickly boarded the vehicle. They, however, were unaware that law enforcement officers were in the area. A shootout between police and the thieves followed. Those near the robbery scattered for cover.
Sr. Supt Marco Vidal, Commander of Operations
“A combination from the finest of the M.I.T., the GSU, national CIB, the SPU and Corozal police were on an operation this morning. These offices were at the border when they observed a green Marina SUV arrived at the border close to where the money changers change their monies. Our officers that were on the grown immediately opened fire at the vehicle as it was leaving the area and then boarded their police vehicle and set chase. Pursuit followed where there was an exchange of gun fire between the criminals and the police.”
The thieves led police to the Mile Four Lagoon. Four of the thieves were shot. Two can be seen here receiving treatment, as they lay on the ground near the lagoon.
Sr. Supt Marco Vidal, Commander of Operations
“The police vehicle received impacts however none of our officers were injured. Whilst the criminals were firing the police also fired upon them. As a result, four of the criminals received various degrees of injuries.”
One of the robbers is in a critical condition and has been transferred to the K.H.M.H. Police say they have recovered the monies stolen and the firearms used for the commission of the brazen crime.
Sr. Supt Marco Vidal, Commander of Operations
“The area was combed where the criminals ran and the officers were able to find a quantity of money, bags with money. They also retrieve a nine millimetre pistol, also a three-eighty pistol. Also retrieved was a two-two-three rifle with a magazine and ammunition.”
Police have five men in detention pending charges. Hipolito Novelo News Five.
