Robbery at Northern Fishermen Coop; Was It an Inside Job?

As we reported last night, a security guard from the Northern Fishermen Cooperative in Belize City was robbed of twenty-five thousand dollars in cash on Thursday evening. Linsberg Diaz told police he was walking towards the office on North Front Street when he was accosted by two armed thieves. The men relieved him of a knapsack containing the cash and escaped through an alley off main road. Today, officers were back on the scene reviewing surveillance cameras from the area and canvassing residents who may have seen the crime as it unfolded. Communications Director of the Belize Police Department, Assistant Superintendent Fitzroy Yearwood says that the area is usually bustling with people so they are hoping that someone comes forward with information.

ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, Communications Director, Belize Police Department

“Investigators arrived on the scene and they made an extensive search but to this time, we have not recovered any of the cash or not even detained any of the two suspects that he said were wearing masks.”

Fitzroy Yearwood

Reporter

“Sir, now in a case like this, it indicates that there is inside knowledge of the movement of an employee with large sums of money. Are you able to say that you all believe the robbers had internal knowledge, was it an inside job so to speak?”

ASP Fitzroy Yearwood

“I don’t know what is their collection process, but he is claiming that when he arrived somewhere around Petticoat Alley that these men attacked him, took away the bag and ran through Petticoat [Alley]. He managed to make it to his office where he hurriedly reported what took place with him. Like I am saying probably it is a process that worked for them for many years, but street criminals usually study patterns and in that area it wouldn’t take long for wind to get around as to what you would be carrying in a backpack on a Thursday afternoon. So it is really difficult, but we know that we are canvassing that area and hopefully we will get some information. This is an area where people are always on the side of the street doing business.”