New tactic by robbers: “burn down the shop”
In the best of times most areas of Belize City are only a toppled candle or faulty electrical connection away from a devastating fire. But when a blaze is deliberately set, to intimidate or rob, the crime may best be described not only as arson or theft, but as something closer to attempted murder. Last night two similar incidents shocked Belize City. In both cases it appears that the same set of robbers set Chinese shops on fire in an effort to make the proprietors hurriedly leave the premises. When the occupants emerged, presumably with their cash and valuables, they would then be assaulted and robbed. While that scenario was thwarted twice last night, the physical damage was severe and the resulting climate of fear is likely to linger. News Five’s Jose Sanchez reports from the scene of the most serious incident.
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
At approximately 3:30 in the morning, Flames engulfed a two-story house at 9422 Pelican Street Extension. Enrique Silva, who owns the house and occupies the upper flat, was vacationing at Caye Caulker with his family.
Enrique Silva, Fire Victim
“This morning my brother woke me up about 4:30. He said he has news for me and I was wondering what this news was all about. I was not too frightened, but when he said be strong, I have something to tell you, that your house burned down. I never really registered it, as a matter of fact I think that I still haven’t registered it as yet.”
“There are a lot of things we cherish. For instance I’m a Lay Minister for the Assemblies of God and I cherish a lot of the study books, sermons, materials for maybe fifteen years, a lot of study tapes, teachings. I value these things and there are more things besides that, but as I said, I just have to accept it, you know.”
The roaring conflagration, it seems, was not the primary event that stirred area residents from their beds. Mavis Zuniga, who lives four houses from the Silva home, heard sinister sounds that preceded the yells of “fire”.
Mavis Zuniga, Neighbour
“Well, what woke me, what I heard was like a gunshot “bow.” I came out and I didn’t see anything, so I went back in. By the time I turned to get back into my bed, my neighbour came running and said “Miss Mav, please phone for 911, cause fire”. I phoned for the engine and they responded quite quickly, but when we came out the house was already on flames. We couldn’t do anything, so the fire engine came and they tried to out it, but it was already under way.”
While bystanders speculated, no one was more sure–and more frightened–about what occurred than nineteen-year old, Zhu Qiyun. Qiyun, a shopkeeper, occupied the lower flat of the building, and was the only person on the premises when she heard someone trying to pry open one of her windows.
Zhu Qiyun
“3:30 this morning, the boy came here by the window. I only saw one, I saw a hand cutting at my window. I called the police and the boy left already. After I heard the bomb, then I found the key, opened the window and got out.”
Qiyun got out of the burning house at the same time the police arrived on the scene. It seems that this is not the first or second time that the shop was hit by thieves.
Mavis Zuniga
“They were being burglarized frequently. They broke into the place. We know about it because they let us know. They always ask us to please look out for them. People always break into their place and stone them.”
Reporting for News 5, I am Jose Sanchez.
Fire Chief Henry Baizar says that the burn patterns on the wooden floor reveal that some flammable substance was thrown or spilled on it. The place where Zhu Qiyun heard the explosion also smelled of petroleum hours after the flames had subsided.
Meanwhile, two hours earlier and less than a mile away, a dress rehearsal for the Pelican Street crime was taking place. At around 1:30 a.m. at Seventy-Eight Cemetery Road shopkeeper Chou Win Shi was awakened by his wife who said she heard a noise outside. Upon checking the bathroom at the back of the shop and residence, he smelled kerosene and saw fire coming from the window. A group of young men was also seen running from the area. The fire was extinguished after causing only minor damage. Police and fire officials are treating both of last night’s incidents as arson, but no arrests have yet been made. A similar arson/robbery attempt was reported a year or so ago, also at a Chinese owned shop on Cemetery Road.
