Police crack tax office burglary
It was a break-in that threatened to derail the smooth transition from Sales Tax to G.S.T. due in July. But thanks to some quick work by police the government should not have to worry.
A.S.P. Chester Williams, Head, C.I.B.
?Persons who have the propensity to commit crimes must get the message loud and clear that they will not be committing crime and be getting away with it. Whatever we can do to solve the case we will do.?
Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
Less than twenty-four hours after the Sales Tax Office was burglarized, Belize City police have not only detained six persons but all of the stolen items have been recovered. Head of the Crimes Investigation Branch, A.S.P. Chester Williams, say they strongly suspect the stolen goods were intended for sale. The four flat-screen Dell computers, laptop computer with accessories, VCR, printers, and other office items are worth twenty thousand dollars. Williams says all items were found at a house in the St. Martin De Porres Area.
A.S.P. Chester Williams
?We have presently in custody six persons with whom the items were found and hopefully by this evening or early tomorrow morning they will be charged with the burglary of the Sales Tax Department.?
Williams says he does not want to speculate, but the investigation has led the police to believe that it was a random burglary.
A.S.P. Chester Williams
?From what we gathered yesterday whilst at the Sales Tax, we did not see any sort of evidence that we could pinpoint on anybody who works in that office to say that they may have been involved in the incident, so I am not going to say that.?
Williams credits the hard work of the police and community participation for the quick arrests and recovery of the stolen items. Jacqueline Godwin for News Five.
The thieves gained access to the Sales Tax office by breaking a window to the rear of the Mahogany Street building. News Five understands that at the time of the incident there was a K.B.H. security guard on duty who was apparently unaware that the building had been burglarized. Police believe the crime occurred sometime between eight on Tuesday night and eight the following morning.
