Police Step Up Patrols after Another Stick-Up in Town Center

Meanwhile, in Belize City over the weekend, there were two incidents reported where Chinese businessmen in the Lake Independence and King’s Park areas were accosted by thieves.  In a brazen attempt on Saturday night near Lopez Mateo Park, a pair of would-be robbers fled the scene of a shooting when the grocer opened fire on them.  No one was injured during the incident and the bandits have reportedly been captured.  But for residents who live in the immediate vicinity of the store, they have had an issue for the past several months with the proprietor whom they say harbors a number of uniformed police officers on the premises allegedly consuming alcohol while on duty.  Assistant Superintendent Alejandro Cowo provides details of both incidents.

Alejandro Cowo

ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Belize City

“The one on Oleander Street, yes there was report there but however, the owners of the establishment are up to now refusing to cooperate and with the police.  Yes police responded to their assistance.  They went and dealt with their report but up to now we have nothing documented that they have given an official statement.”

Reporter

“Okay, I heard that in that one on Oleander Street that the suspects, as seen on security camera, are well-known thieves and also that a shot may have been fired.”

ASP Alejandro Cowo

“Yes they have footage there but it’s not of the best quality.  We are still trying to ascertain to see if we can identify the persons on the video, but up to now it has been of no assistance to us. The other attempted robbery happened on the Saturday, December twenty-third.  Sometime after eight in the night, Mr. Wong Zhan Huang, a forty-year-old Belizean businessman of Sixteenth Street, Belize City was inside of his shop, Joey’s Supermarket, when two male persons entered the said location.  One of them was armed with a firearm and pointed it at the complainant and demanded cash; however, Mr. Wong took his licensed nine millimeter firearm and fired several shots at the assailant who ran away from inside of the shop, dropping the said firearm that they were having.  Police have recovered a nine millimeter pistol at the location that the two robbers dropped whilst escaping from being shot by the owner of the establishment.”

Reporter

“Was the nine millimeter loaded?”

ASP Alejandro Cowo

“Yes, it was a loaded firearm with ten rounds of ammunition.”

Reporter

“Now in that case, perhaps regrettably, someone has circulated a video… Seeing what is on that video, which most of us have seen, in your estimation, did the shop owner take a wise course of action?  The man already had his gun drawn although he was a kid or a youth?”

ASP Alejandro Cowo

“Well according to what the information has is that he had seen them coming because of the several footage that is around the business place.  So he was prepared.”