Thieves Make Off with 4 City Council Guns and Ammo to Boot
There’s a major burglary to report tonight which happened overnight and from the looks of it, the crime could be an inside job. Four guns and live rounds of ammunition were stolen from the offices of the Special Constables Department of the Belize City Council during the course of Tuesday evening and this morning. Reports are that the guns were kept in a safe on the second floor of the Commercial Center Building near Market Square in downtown Belize City. Sometime after seven this morning, employees discovered that the main doors to the office had been broken into and the safe had been pried open with a crowbar. When we visited the offices today, it was closed and that’s because at least six special constables are currently at the Crime Investigations Branch on Queen Street being questioned in relation to the missing guns. Investigations so far reveal that while the door to the unit was tampered with, the metal gates at the entrance to the building showed no signs of forced entry. Inspector Alejandro Cowo of Eastern Division South says that someone had keys to the facility.
Alejandro Cowo
Insp. Alejandro Cowo, O.C., CIB, Eastern Division South
“The office there this morning upon arrival, we observed that the two main doors that lead to that office was tampered and inside of the main office where the manager of the special constables sits, a safe was broken and after making checks, they discovered that four-nine mm pistols were missing from the safe. The safe was tampered; it was allegedly opened with a crowbar and the firearms that were stolen were two Glock nine-mm and two-CZ-nine mm along with fifty-five live rounds of ammunition GFL brand, nine holsters…all to a total value of seven thousand eighty-five dollars, property of the City Council. At this time, we have several of the special constables being interviewed for us to have an idea as to what happened during last night and this morning. The last time the place was closed was around six in the evening last night and when it was checked this morning around seven, it was noticed that it was broken into.”
Reporter
“Now they clearly knew exactly which office to look into. Does it have the appearance of an inside job or was there inside knowledge?”
Insp. Alejandro Cowo
“Well we have conducted an investigation at this time. We cannot just tell you that it was an inside job; we are not sure at this time. We have our ideas at this moment, but then as soon as we have further information we can guarantee that you will get additional news as to what happened there.”
Duane Moody
“Sir were any of the iron gates tampered with?”
Insp. Alejandro Cowo
“No, the iron gates were not tampered with…none of them were tampered with, but they entered through the iron gates, yes.”
Reporter
“…which again would seem to suggest…”
Duane Moody
“…someone had keys to those gates…”
Insp. Alejandro Cowo
“Yes, yes.”
