Gunmen hit St. John’s Credit Union

It’s a place where hardworking Belizeans come regularly to save and borrow. Today, unfortunately, it was also a place where those too lazy, crazy or desperate to work for an honest paycheque decided to strike–in broad daylight in the heart of the city. Janelle Chanona has the story.

Janelle Chanona, Reporting

Just after 2:00 this afternoon, in the midst of normal activity on Basra Street in Belize City, St. John’s Credit Union was robbed.

Eyewitnesses inside the Credit Union at the time of the incident tell News 5 that two young men entered the building armed with what appeared to be a sawed-off shotgun. They grabbed the security guard, forced him into a corner and relieved him of his 9mm pistol. One of the robbers then went behind the cashier’s counter and helped himself to a cash pan.

There was only one cashier working at the time and the credit union has not released the exact amount of money the robbers managed to steal.

Eyewitnesses say the men then ran up Basra Street and into Tigris where they had parked their getaway vehicle, described as an older model Ford Ranger with no tailgate or license plate.

At news time tonight, the investigating officers have not found the vehicle used in this incident or the robbers. The credit union opened again for business shortly after the incident. Reporting for News 5, I am Janelle Chanona.

At news time the amount of money taken from St. John’s has still not been made public.