Tourists Jacked at Altun Ha

Eight tourists who came in on a cruise ship today and opted to visit the very popular Altun Ha Archaeological Site off the Old Northern Highway are probably regretting that decision. That’s because six of them were robbed by two armed men as they walked along a nature trail on the ninety acre reserve. While today is cruise ship day and the site is generally crowded, the robbers either by coincidence or plan picked a time when cruise buses had already left. This afternoon, the site was closed as police combed the area for the two robbers who they believe are likely from the area. News Five spoke to Assistant Commissioner of Police Edward Broaster as he waited for word back from his officers on the scene.

ACP Edward Broaster, Regional Commander, Rural Eastern Division

“At 1:10 yes, we did receive a report of a robbery at Altun Ha site where we dispatched Rural Rapid Response Officers as well as the Sand Hill and Maskall police. Right now we are scouring the area. We had a tour whereby eight tourists were on that tour; six of them chose to take a nature walk through a trail where they were exploring the different medicinal trees and so forth. When they neared the pond, two dark-skinned male persons came out and accosted them—one with what appeared to be a black nine millimeter pistol and the other one with a machete—held them up and relieved them of their valuables. At this time we are searching the area and interviewing other people from the area to see if we can discern who the suspects may be.”

Mike Rudon

“In terms of other tourists at the site at the time, we know that today is cruise ship day, were there other tourists around?”

Edward Broaster

ACP Edward Broaster

“From what I gathered, the last tour bus had already left the area so that tour was independent of the other cruise ship tours. The bigger buses, the last one had left.”

Mike Rudon

“In terms of a tour guide…was there a tour guide along with these tourists, the six of them that were accosted?”

ACP Edward Broaster

“Yes, there was a tour guide who had took them at that location.”

Mike Rudon

“Now we visited the site just now…it is a remote location. I believe it is ninety acres of land. Have you all been able to determine the presence of park ranger at the time when the robbery occurred?”

ACP Edward Broaster

“From our investigation, there was not adequate security at that time.”

Mike Rudon

“Is this something that you will be looking at? I know that you are very concerned about all security within your jurisdiction and this is something…Belizeans tend to take examples from the wrong things.”

ACP Edward Broaster

“Right, we had this discussion already with operations from Belize Tourism Board and as well as the Tourism police unit. There should have been police officers there from the tourism unit until the park is closed so we’ll have to find out the reason why they were not at the location at the time.”

Mike Rudon

“Have you been able to speak to them because we saw the tourism police vehicle patrolling around with officers?”

ACP Edward Broaster

“Right, the tourism police vehicle now is there along with some of my officers to check out the area and see if they can locate these robbers.”

News Five understands that the eight tourists were ferried back to their cruise ship immediately after the accident, since it was scheduled for departure. The two perpetrators got away with an undisclosed sum of money, assorted phones, jewelry and electronic items.