Lucky Strike Information Technology center wiped out by thieves

The Lucky Strike Information Technology Center is a project funded by the European Union, the government and the University of Belize to provide internet services at the government school. It was useful for the students and teachers but all that changed last night when burglars cleaned the building of all the equipment, leaving behind only a desk and chair. Andrew Chacon had been operating the internet café for almost a year and he is appalled that the culprit or culprits would target what he believes is an asset to their community. Chacon says the loss tallies up in the region of twenty-seven thousand dollars and he believes that the perpetrators were familiar with the center because the act was committed with great precision.

Andrew Chacon, Manager, Lucky Strike IT Center

andrew chacon

“This morning the teacher went in to use the bathroom and they gave me a call and tell me that they broke into the place. So immediately after I get the call I come over and when I come over and check the building was completely clean. Dehn ker di five computers, the entire set up. Everything; the batteries, monitors, everything dehn gone with. The two printers cause we have a color printer and we have a printer that is three in one – a fax machine, a photocopier and a scanner – dehn also gone with that. And all the wiring, the server, everything; they completely wiped the building. The person who broke in the building, they know exactly what they’re doing. Dehn neva cut no wire; dehn unplug everything properly and they screwed everything properly.”

Delahnie Bain

So you think it was someone that’s actually been in there before or just someone that knows about computers?

Andrew Chacon

“I think it must have been someone that actually visited the site before. We recently put up some signs and I was obligated about putting up the signs but then I had to do it due to the project. This person is probably someone who knows about the place properly that is involved in it, the way how they broke in and everything. Just recently last week they stole the keys and Friday one of the students off my school bus stole the keys and Friday immediately I replaced the locks. Probably that was their purpose. I’m not sure but it could be leading up to this now. The thieves they got in through the bathroom because we have an access to the bathroom when they come to use the system and also the teachers. So they removed two blinds, unscrewed the blinds and then they pried open the next one higher. Then they climbed through the window, stepped down on the sewerage then pry open the other doors and got into the internet café.”

Chacon says he will have to find out from the University of Belize if the equipment was insured.