Cops crack Caye Caulker burglary ring

Tonight Caye Caulker police are patting themselves on the back after they successfully shut down a burglary ring that has been haunting the island for more than a month. According to the cops, beginning in September, three houses in the South Point area–fully furnished vacation homes owned by foreigners living abroad–were robbed of more than eleven thousand dollars in various items including televisions, stereo equipment, fishing and diving gear, and tools. Using information supplied by villagers, the police today charged four people: twenty-eight year old Jesus Aguilino and nineteen year old Hugo Lionel Lopez-Miguel, both Guatemalans, along with Belizeans twenty-seven year old Elena Valle and twenty-nine year old Elma Caliz. The men are charged with burglary, while the women answered to charges of handling stolen property. News 5 understands that the foursome moved to the island about two and a half months ago, doing odd jobs in the community. At the time of the arrest, police discovered the bulk of the stolen goods at an apartment rented by Jesus Aguilino in the Marshal Alamina Estate area. Because of this incident, officials from the Caye Caulker Village Council say that at the next meeting, neighbourhood watch programs will be discussed to prevent any recurrence of this type of activity.