Attempted robbery and shooting at Atlantic Bank

A daring mid-afternoon robbery by two thieves who stole a service weapon from an Atlantic Bank security officer was thwarted when one of the assailants got shot on the left hand. His partner in crime was quickly apprehended by Belize City police. The two had fled the scene when they were stopped dead in their tracks and up to late this evening, police and bank officials were reviewing the surveillance video for further information. News Five’s Isani Cayetano was at the scene of the crime and files this report.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

Shortly before three o’clock this afternoon a security guard at the Atlantic Bank Collet Agency came under attack by two individuals who tried desperately to strong-arm him for the pistol.  The struggle ended with shots being fired and quick police work according to Police Press Officer Fitzroy Yearwood led to the detention of the criminals.

Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer

“The investigations reveal that at about two thirty p.m. the security officer, the security officer from Atlantic Bank right here at the corner of Magazine Road and Cemetery Road, was on the front verandah to the main entrance of the bank when he was approached by a female who was inquiring what time the bank would close.  He stated that at this time a dark complexion male person armed with a firearm pointed a weapon at him and demanded that he handed over his firearm.  Instead of cooperating and handing over the firearm he hit away his [the assailant’s] weapon and struggle ensued between both men and then he is saying that a second assailant joined in whereby they ended up overpowering him when they brought him down to the pavement and his weapon fell from his side.  One of them picked it up and they ran off but by the time they ran off into Magazine Road a second security officer from inside the bank came out and he opened fire at them. By this time one of them apparently was hit and then a police patrol was coming from that direction, ended up apprehending both men and they were transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where one of them is undergoing treatment right now.  They’re under police guard because they subsequently will be charged for this crime.”

Isani Cayetano

“Have either of them been identified so far?”

Fitzroy Yearwood

Fitzroy Yearwood

“Well we have the identity but cannot reveal it as yet because of protocol.”

This latest incident comes on the heels of a brazen daylight robbery Wednesday morning in which employees of popular downtown store Doony’s were robbed of personal belongings and a handgun.   According to Yearwood, the department has stepped up patrols in the downtown area as well as around other businesses.

Fitzroy Yearwood

“On all business premises right now we are trying to have—we have the business watch that is coming on stream.  We have patrols and vigilant patrols in all business areas I know you see the motorcycle patrols.  We have police all over the place so it would be very, very, very a lucky chance I must say for a would-be robber to get away right now from one of these establishments because this establishment had alert security officers and they’re not officers that would just lie down and play dead.  This officer decided that I must protect the place that I work and with his bravery probably delayed them enough for the police patrol to be in the area at the time coincidentally.  I wouldn’t say it’s mere coincidence it’s showing that our police are working.”

Initial reports were that the bank was being robbed; but police have not as yet determined if that was the motive.

Fitzroy Yearwood

“We don’t know if they wanted to get in the bank but because of the bravery of that security officer they did not manage to get in the bank so it’s a robbery gone bad because we don’t know what was their intent; probably to take away the gun and probably walk the security officer in the bank.  We cannot speculate but at the end of the day it’s an attempt robbery.”

This incident has been the second within the past two days in which robbers have relieved or attempted to relieve security personnel of service weapons. The Atlantic Bank did not wish to comment on the incident. Reporting for News Five, Isani Cayetano.