Gunmen rob bus driver of cash pan, wallet

While delivery trucks have been this season’s target of convenience, last night it was a National Transport bus with passengers onboard that was hit by armed robbers. The bus was en route from Belize City up the Northern Highway when the two masked culprits took the bus driver, twenty-seven year old Jose Dera, by surprise just as he reached the Lord’s Bank junction. However, while they apparently intended to jack everyone on the bus, they only got away with the company’s cash bag, the driver’s wallet and two cell phones. National Transport Operations Manager, Philip Jones, said the attackers fired a shot through one of the windows before they left.

Philip Jones, Operations Manager, National Transports Ltd.
”They told him to stop. They took the key out. It was only him and one person, they just took away his cash and his wallet and cell phone. That bus doesn’t carry a conductor, so it was about five to seven passengers onboard at the time.”

Marion Ali
“And they only robbed him and another person?”

Philip Jones
“Yes, it was only him and I believe it was a family member of him. He had a family member with him at the time.”

Marion Ali
“And they didn’t rob the other passengers?”

Philip Jones
“No, no one was robbed beside the driver.”

Marion Ali
“Could have been a personal attack against this guy and his family?”

Philip Jones
“We don’t think so, we were expecting something to this extent that would be happening due to the Christmas season, you know crime usually rise unfortunately. But we have made arrangements with the Ladyville Police Department and they insure us that they will up the security in the area. They have a mobile patrol that they will be utilising in that area.”

Marion Ali
“So how do explain the other passengers not being robbed though?”

Philip Jones
“Well, I guess they just wanna get in and get out. Where the robbery happened, it was at the junction and that junction have good lighting so I guess the wanna do what they gotta do and fled the scene”

Jones says the company is collaborating with the police to have officers aboard the buses at night during the Christmas season.