Home invasions in Dangriga and Belize City

Turning to crime news, a seventy-eight year old man and his family were the victims of a home invasion last week, which was not reported in the police blotter until today. It happened at mile twenty-five on the Hummingbird Highway in the Stann Creek District. According to the police, when Catalino Reyes got home at a quarter to nine on Wednesday, he was accosted by two masked men. Inspector Alden Dawson, Deputy Officer Commanding the Dangriga Police formation said that they believe the bandits illegally crossed the porous border between Belize and Guatemala to commit the crime.

Via Phone: Insp. Alden Dawson, Deputy O.C., Dangriga Police
“He was on his way from church in his Toyota Hilux pick-up with license plate FCC-6436. Upon reaching his gate and was in the process of opening his gate he was approached by two Hispanic male persons who were wearing clothing over their faces. One of them placed a point thirty-eight revolver to the head of Mr. Reyes and ordered him inside his house. Whilst doing so, his wife and his four year old son were inside the house. The two person gained entry after demanding that the wife open the door. She did and they gained entry along with Mr. Reyes. They made demands for money. However, Mr. Reyes at the time did not come up with nay money. They tied up both the adults, took the keys to the truck and they both got into the truck and made good their escape in the said truck.”

Jose Sanchez
“Was Mister Reyes, his wife or child harmed?”

Via Phone: Insp. Alden Dawson
“No one was harmed during the incident.”

Jose Sanchez
“Have you found any suspects for this incident?

Via Phone: Insp. Alden Dawson
“We have not, at this point, found any suspects, but we believe that these are bandits, Central American aliens—Guatemalans so to speak. Investigations led us to an area in San Ignacio where they took a back road and may have crossed with the vehicle into the neighboring Melchor area.”

The vehicle has not been recovered and the bandits are believed to be safely across the border. But that was not the only incident of a home invasion that occurred over the weekend. On Saturday night in Belize City a woman was attacked by her ex-common law husband. She was at home with a friend at number seven Pinks Alley when George Matthews with a butcher’s knife in hand, entered the home without permission. He lunged at her but was caught off guard by a man who was inside the apartment. A man identified as Edward Barrow saw what was about to unfold and before Matthews was able to inflict any damage to the woman, Barrow inflicted wounds on him with an unidentified object several times. Barrow was also cut with a butcher’s knife but his wounds were minor. The assailant was badly injured and received wounds to the back of his head, both hands on abdomen. The police found him injured on the floor of the apartment and took him to the K.H.M.H. where he received treatment and remains under police guard.