Quick action by cops foils major heist
Two men who snatched a bag full of loot as it was about to be deposited in the bank are behind bars tonight, thanks to some quick thinking by police. The action unfolded in the Belama area of Belize City around eleven-thirty this morning.
Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
This black Honda Civic car with taxi license plates number 4240 is the vehicle police say a duo of robbers used to steal sixty thousand U.S. Dollars from two employees of Diamonds International located in the tourism village. The business persons had just exited their vehicle to make a deposit at Scotia Bank at mile two and a half on the northern highway when two armed masked men held them up. Shortly after, shots were fired that caught the attention of a police anti-drug unit in the area who quickly jumped into action.
G. Michael Reid, Police Press Officer
“When they heard gun fire and responded and they saw a vehicle, a small black car driving from the area and they followed the car and was able to corner it and intercept the vehicle somewhere in the Belama Area.”
The high speed chase came to a sudden stop as the robbers turned into this dead end street. The suspects then jumped out of the car, parted and ran off in separate directions. The cops also split up and managed to catch their suspects described only as individuals in their twenty’s. The duo had apparently gotten rid of the stolen loot by throwing the bag on a nearby roof top. Cops retrieved the evidence including the two guns and ammunition used in the crime.
G. Michael Reid
“They were able to recover two firearms, two nine millimetre pistols and two bags containing quite a large quantity of cash. They later returned to the Nova Scotia area and learned that a business person from the tourism village had been there getting ready to deposit some money when that individual was accosted by these gentlemen and as a result were robbed. And it just happens to be quite timely that the police were there, the police responded rapidly and were able to apprehend the suspects.”
Jacqueline Godwin
”Do you believe this was a random robbery that occurred or probably this person may have been followed from the time he or she left the tourism village?”
G. Michael Reid
“We believe they were followed. As a matter of fact we believe that they were studied for a while and the police have been trying for a long time to advice individuals to not be so systematic and methodical about what they do as far as when money is concerned. When there is a large amount of cash it is wise to get security services. Certainly you don’t want to be putting your deposits at the same time and the same date because you might become complacent and certainly you don’t know when these criminals are looking at you.”
Jacqueline Godwin
”Or even using the same route.”
G. Michael Reid
“That is correct, it is not wise to use the same route either.”
Police have reportedly recovered all of the stolen money. But because the suspects have not yet been charged, their names have not been released. They are expected to be taken over to Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday where they will be formally arraigned.
