2 shop thieves, 1 bike thief caught red-handed
It was a case of good neighbourhood watching which led police to catch a thief in the act this afternoon. According to Belize City police, a call came in that there was a burglary in progress at “Corrugated Pipes” located at mile five on the Northern Highway. When police arrived at the scene, they discovered thirty-six year old Chester Requeña with an assortment of items including watches, perfumes and other goods in a brown kitbag. Requeña was promptly arrested and charged for the crimes of burglary and handling stolen property. The value of the goods he almost made off with is over three thousand dollars.
Tonight a young man remains in police custody pending charges of handling stolen property. The detention follows a report made by Maria Sorto, a shop owner of Belama Phase Two. According to Sorto, sometime on Wednesday night someone broke into her business, “Come and Go Snack Shop,” and stole a number of items including a C.D. player, a Discman, and two hundred dollars worth of groceries. But it was not until the following day that police got a break in the case. Authorities say around eight on Thursday morning, while police were responding to a report in the Martin de Porres area, they saw a man carrying a bag over his shoulder acting suspiciously. The suspect was searched and inside the bag police discovered a number of items that was later identified as the goods stolen the previous night from Sorto.
Eighteen-year-old Jason Gillett may have thought he was getting a free ride when he stole a bike this afternoon, but its owner and the police had other ideas. Genuvevo Salam was making a purchase at a shop on Dolphin Street when his bike was grabbed by a dark-skinned youth. Salam gave chase and fortunately met up with a police mobile patrol, which helped him intercept Gillett. Gillett has been charged with theft and was remanded to Hattieville by Magistrate Sharon Flowers when it was discovered that he still owes the court six hundred dollars for a marijuana possession fine. He is due to reappear in court for the bike theft on July twenty-seventh.
