Burglary victims can claim recovered goods

Police say they receive reports of at least three burglaries per day and since Hurricane Keith a total of fifty-one burglaries have been recorded in Belize City alone. Many of these crimes are being solved and today the police department invited the press to see the results.

Sr. Superintendent Crispin Jeffries, O.I.C., Eastern Division

“There’s a lot of human attacks on property. The criminal elements have found it necessary and possible to enter into homes in varying and very ingenious ways. The breaking into a home is considered a burglary. The architectural design of houses in Belize, the security features, the length and level of security measures that people take are not adequate to combat the crime problem.”

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting

The items include televisions, VCR’s, stereo equipment, mechanical tools, cellular phones and even a carton of Happy Cow cheese. But the situation is nothing to smile about especially for those residents who worked hard to purchase the items only to have them stolen. The police not only recovered the items but they have detained a number of persons.

Jacqueline Woods

“The persons you all have detained, are they repeat offenders?

Inspector Mario Vernon

“Yes they are repeat offenders in fact, this operation was born out of the idea that there were people who capitalized on the distress of the times, people who we know that that’s their modus. They prey on unfortunate people. These are the people we targeted and these are the homes that we raided. We also have information on people who buy stolen goods and encourage these sorts of things.”

If you suspect the police may have your possessions, you are asked to go and make a claim as soon as possible.

Sr. Superintendent Crispin Jeffries

“We are starting just after this meeting now and we’ll try and extend it as much as possible tomorrow and then we’ll transfer the items and have them placed elsewhere.”

Jacqueline Woods

“And they should bring some sort of identification.”

Sr. Superintendent Crispin Jeffries

“Certainly, that is a pre-requisite. They should be able to identify the property with some receipt, some document that we will be able to verify elsewhere.”

Those items left unclaimed will eventually be auctioned.

Police are working with Courts Belize Limited to identify items purchased in their stores for eventual return to the buyers.