Christmas Countdown Marred by Break‑Ins and Violence

The holidays are here, but so is a spike in crime, and police want everyone to stay alert. Just last week, two Sarita delivery drivers were brutally murdered during a robbery while on the job. And it hasn’t stopped there, this week alone, we’ve seen an early morning break‑in and suspected arson at the brand‑new Island Supermarket in San Pedro. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, a Belize Bank branch was hit in another break‑in early this morning. Now, with Christmas shopping in full swing, police are sharing practical tips to help businesses and residents stay safe during the season. News Five’s Britney Gordon has the details.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Christmas is just around the corner, less than two weeks away, and while Belizeans are busy wrapping gifts and planning family dinners, authorities are encouraging everyone to slow down and make safety a priority. This morning around, three-thirty a.m., a Belize Bank branch in Dangriga was burglarized and while nothing was reportedly stolen, several pieces of equipment were extensively damaged. Police are still on the hunt for those responsible, says Assistant Superintendent Stacy Smith.

 

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“The alarms of the Belize Bank Limited located on 2484 Ecumenical Drive, Dangriga Town went off. The officers proceeded to that location and upon their arrival they noted signs of force entry to the rear of the building. And upon making for the checks, they observed that the building was apparently ran up. The officers spoke to the branch manager who stated from her review of the. Bank, nothing was stolen so far. Neither finances nor electronic device. However, the investigation in this matter continues.”

 

 

Police recommend installing security cameras where possible and making sure every door is locked. In the early hours of Sunday morning, a supermarket in San Pedro was targeted, with burglars reportedly breaking in, ransacking the establishment and setting a shopping cart full of groceries on fire.

 

 

 

 

ASP Stacy Smith

“San Pedro police were informed that smoke was observed coming out from a business establishment, namely Island Supermarket, which is located in Tres Cosos area of San Pedro. The officers responded and did in fact observe smoke coming out of the building, and the personnel from the fire department arrived shortly thereafter and were able to extinguish the fire. What the investigation has disclosed so far is that two male persons with the use of force entered that building and they began to set a fire in one of the aisle of the supermarket. Video footages have been retrieved. They are being reviewed.”

 

 

Family and friends are still grieving the recent deaths of Sarita delivery truck drivers, Alexander Crawford and Raynard Garbutt who were killed on the job during a robbery.  The truck the two had been travelling in was found parked on the side of the road and the cash pan emptied. The company says the amount taken was likely not significant. Back in November, a similar incident unfolded when a Country Foods delivery truck driver was shot multiple times during a robbery, Fortunately, the victim survived the attack. Businesses are strongly advised to install dashboard cameras in all vehicles and avoid travelling with large sums of money.

 

 

ASP Stacy Smith

“I know in the last incident that relates to the Country Food truck, the way that those culprits in that instance were able to get the vehicle off the road was that they place some sort of obstruction in the road and when the vehicle would’ve slowed down to pass that obstruction as shot was fired. That was not done in this case. However, the suggestion is that something was done that caused these drivers to pull over and have this incident unfold the way it did. I will similarly want to advise businesses to move away from financial transaction that in involves money. Electronic transactions are the safest, and especially so when you do not have a security mechanism in place. This leaves those employees exposed because they are known to be troubling with proceeds of whatever delivery that they make.”

 

ASP Smith says vigilance is crucial when it comes to personal safety. That includes when citizens are entering their homes or roaming the streets.

 

ASP Stacy Smith

“We still ask that members of the public do their necessary due diligence in terms of taking care of themselves. This issue can only be addressed with a combination of police efforts as well as citizens playing their part in terms of sharing information and also those citizens being security conscious and alert when it is that they are traveling.”

 

Things can be replaced, your life can’t. Police are urging everyone to put safety first and report anything suspicious right away. Britney Gordon for News Five.