Unity Presbyterian School Targeted by Burglars
Unity Presbyterian School in Belize City has been targeted by burglars more than once. Last month, the school was burglarized twice and standard-three teacher; Stephanie Wade says she has had enough. According to Wade, the thieves made away with schools supplies she intended to use to teach some thirty plus students. Both incidents have been reported to the police department which has yet to arrest the perpetrators who, Wade says, live just yards away from the school. News Five’s Hipolito Novelo reports.
Hipolito Novelo, Reporting
We met a frustrated Stephanie Wade in her standard-three classroom at Unity Presbyterian School in the Collet Division of Belize City. At first glance, the classroom seems to possess all the amenities to mold the minds of her students but school items have been stolen recently. In September alone, the school, specifically Wade’s classroom and the adjoining classroom have been burglarized not once, but twice and she has had enough.
Stephanie Wade
Stephanie Wade, Teacher, Unity Presbyterian School
“I am frustrated because every year they break into my classroom and it’s not like I am a rich teacher. Everything I do, I take out from my pocket. Unlike the rest of public service place, teachers have to take out from their pockets to fix their classrooms. They took just about everything that I bought from A and R. They went into the other teacher’s classroom and they stole glue gun. They stole her decorations and a number of items. This recent robbery which occurred this past weekend, when I came to my class on Monday I found the whole place ransacked. They took our fans. They took the water bottle from my class. They took my children scissors, the toiletries. They went through the other classroom. They took her stuff but that time they went through the windows. They tore apart eth louvers and went into the class through the windows. I have twenty-nine kids in my classroom and the teacher next door she has twenty-seven kids. They are affected because they stole their scissors, my stapler. They stole art stuff that they need to do their projects with.”
According to Wade, the thieves are from the surrounding community. In fact, she says that one of the burglars brought back some of the items. Police have been notified and that case remains open, with no arrest or charge levied against the perpetrators.
Stephanie Wade
“I contacted them like three times. I was so frustrated I called every day. The led me to CIB, all about. They just pushed us around. When one of the guys heard that I was seeking the attention of the police, he came and brought back some of the stuff to a guy that lives in our school yard.”
Hipolito Novelo
“You mean one of the burglars brought back some of the items that he stole?
Stephanie Wade
“Yes but what he brought back was just a minimal amount of things, burst open my construction paper, brought back like half pack. The guy that lives in our yard brought back the stuff and gave us the name of the person who gave him the stuff. I called the police that same day. The police came and saw the items and said they will go pick up the guy. Actually my coworker and I were so frustrated, we stood on the verandah and watch the police watch the guy’s house that stolen the stuff from us.”
Wade reached out to News Five after her pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
Stephanie Wade
“I hope that somebody would reach out to be to have these guys charged because they did nothing for us. I also have the Minister of the area number. I am so bold because some people are afraid. I was so bold, I have him on Whatsapp. I texted him and I know that they open that text because the check mark turned blue and no one answered me. That was the first one. When the next robbery happened this weekend I texted again and no one answered my text. It is like everybody turning a deaf ear to my cries and I am really frustrated.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Hipolito Novelo.
