Ring of Thieves Responsible for Robberies in the City, Elsewhere
Over the past month and a half, there have been a string of robberies within the city and elsewhere across the country and police are inching closer to the perpetrators. The versatile thieves pose as customers, dress as police officers and even as students when they carry out the armed robberies. But is it a case of serial robbers attacking the business community? Police say that accused thief Jiovanni Augustine, who was nabbed in the Moneygram Ladyville robbery, is one member of a ring of thieves responsible for the robberies at the Creole Wagans and other stores in recent days. Assistant Superintendent Alejandro Cowo says that storeowners need to be more vigilant.
Alejandro Cowo
ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Belize City
“Police has captured persons involved, however the business owners are reluctant to come in and give a statement. We know that this guy is part of a group that is plaguing us across Belize City. So we are asking and encouraging business owners to please come up front so that we can deal with these persons that we know are committing these robberies.”
Duane Moody
“Sir given that you said that, can you say what other businesses were targeted by this man that is charged?
ASP Alejandro Cowo
“There have been other robberies and we suspect that they are linked. We have the one at Creole Wagans and there are two more in the New Road area.”
Duane Moody
“Is it expected that more charges will be brought against this Mister Jiovanni?”
ASP Alejandro Cowo
“Well that is the reason why we are encouraging the different business establishments to come up front and cooperate with us so that we can at least but a halt on these robberies happening in the city.”
Duane Moody
“Sir how is the police addressing this issue, because I believe in the case of Tony’s Store on Daly Street, they posed as students and in other cases, they pose as customers. So how does the police address that?”
ASP Alejandro Cowo
“Well it is a very challenging issue because we notice that they are using police uniforms, security guards and now as students. That’s the advantage that they taking because the public is not aware or does not know them. But somebody has to be really alert to notice their movement because they don’t come alone; they come in twos, threes and you can clearly see when they start to walk in the business. Open up your eyes because when one person is walking around and not grabbing anything to buy, then that is where you have to be alert and they are not up to anything good. This is what you have to be really looking at. And we know that it is the same two groups that we have in Belize City that are going out district that are doing the robberies. Because of the pressure in Belize City that the police are putting, these persons are looking out districts where they are really not known to the different businesses and even to the police officers patrolling the grounds and this is the advantage they are taking. So we are advising business owners to please be alert and any suspicious movement to please report it or even tell another colleague inside of the business to be alert on these persons in and out of the business establishments.”
