5 charged in attempted robbery
Five men are behind bars tonight after they were charged in connection with an attempted robbery that occurred last Thursday. Calbert Carcamo and Vitalino Galiano, both age twenty, were formally charged with the attempt, along with thirty-two year old Carl Westby and forty-four year old Liborio Tun after they allegedly tried to rob thirty-five year old Raul Magana, a money changer of San Narciso Village, Corozal. Galiano and Westby are also charged with possession of a prohibited firearm. The fifth person, thirty-eight year old Valerio Santos, was charged with abetment to commit robbery and possession of a prohibited firearm. Police believe Santos used his vehicle to transport the men to the scene at Magana’s house.
Magana reported to police that he was driving home around six on Thursday evening when he spotted three men in front of his house. He said he stopped to speak to a neighbour and was approached by Galiano. When Magana elected to drive past his home Galiano, assisted by the others, tried to block his path. Police, who were on patrol in the area, were informed of the suspicious incident and when they responded, found the men leaving the neighbourhood. Their search resulted in the retrieval of a sawed off shotgun and a kitbag containing two toy guns, a butcher knife, a stocking mask, tape and a cap. A search at Santos’ house in Orange Walk unearthed a point three-eighty calibre pistol and over four thousand dollars worth of jewellery police believe to be stolen items. Police are asking residents in the area who have been robbed or burglarized of their jewellery to visit the Orange Walk Police Station to identify what may be their lost possessions. Positive identification of the jewellery may result in additional charges for Santos.
Police believe the plan to rob Magana was conceived by Liborio Tun, who lives in Santa Clara Village, only two blocks away from Magana’s house. The other men are from Orange Walk Town. Bail was denied for all five defendants by Corozal Magistrate, Kathleen Lewis.
