Downtown shop robbed by masked men

Some shoppers had just stopped in to pick up a few items before heading home, but they and the staff of Extra House on Church Street were held up and robbed at gun point on Thursday evening around 6:15. The five men, masked and armed with handguns and shotguns, then fled the scene with the cash register containing approximately five thousand dollars in a blue Toyota van which was strategically parked a few yards away. Acting on a description of the van and its license plate, police later located the vehicle on Lizarraga Avenue at the home of its owner, Erlin Young. Young revealed, however, that he did not have his van that afternoon but had lent it to his brother Artie. It was returned after six that same evening. Police met up with Artie on Faber’s Road.

A.I.P. Simeon Alvarez, Head of C.I.B.

“We executed a search where we found about eleven hundred dollars Belize currency in cash. He was questioned about the robbery where he is alleging that he was actually forced by five gunmen to this location and then taken back to a 123rd base which is situated at the corner of Gibnut and Currasow Streets.”

Alvarez, however, strongly believes that Artie Young, who has been detained, was involved in the robbery. It is expected that he will be charged for the crime.