San Pedro launches anti-burglary campaign
While the Ministry of National Security looks at the overall policing of the country and the composition of the high command, police in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye are giving new meaning to the words “community policing”. Today local police and the community came together to work out the details of a program everyone hopes will work. Hyacinth Latchman was in San Pedro today.
This afternoon the San Pedro Town Board conference room was filled with business owners, hoteliers, security guards and the police. They all came together because they want to solve one of their biggest problems: burglaries. Assistant Superintendent Rudolph Orio says the new venture will help police as well as the community.
A.S.P. Rudolph Orio, San Pedro Police
“The venture came about from a meeting we had the fourth of this month. They suggested to us that it would be a good idea to have a dialogue with all security guards, watchmen and other security from other business establishments. As a result we are here to meet with these people and speak about the fight against crime. And we want to find out how they can help us with information. We hope to work it on a daily basis and throughout the months as they come.”
Orio says that since the first of January they have experienced eight burglaries on the island and the total amount of money stolen was over seventeen thousand dollars. He believes these incidents threaten the tourism industry. Area Representative Patty Arceo feels that with all the business and hotel owners and security guards working together this program will be a significant accomplishment for San Pedro.
Patty Arceo, Area Rep., Belize Rural South
“We are very happy. At the same time we could see that the atmosphere of the business people is finally coming through. They are having confidence with the local government and the central government. With the participation that they are showing today, not only with their security people but they themselves, owners and managers of the hotels coming together with the assistant superintendent and the crimes committee working here in San Pedro, we are very enthusiastic and excited about this project that is starting.”
Arceo says by everyone being on the alert they are protecting one of Belize’s most valuable resources. One participant of the seminar says he will do everything to make his hotel more secure.
Will Lalo, Caribbean Villa
“We have done a number of things. In terms of lighting, in terms of hiring a new watchman, in terms of enclosing the grounds so that only the beach is accessible at night and not other parts of the property. We always give our guests both in writing and verbally we tell them to lock their doors.”
Lalo says that he must commend the police for taking up the initiative to work with hotel owners and security guards to make San Pedro a safer place for all. Reporting for news five I am Hyacinth Latchman.
