Too “Overworked” to Track a Gun? Matura Questions Police Inaction 

Belize City attorney Audrey Matura is offering a $2,000 reward for the return of her licensed firearm, stolen during a burglary at her home last year. 

Matura had hired Prince Copious for maintenance work. However, Copious broke into her property while she was away on Easter vacation and stole the firearm along with jewellery, a school bag and a knife collection belonging to her son. Copious later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to ten months in prison. None of the stolen items have been recovered. 

Matura says she has conducted her own inquiries into the weapon’s whereabouts. She said that according to Copious’s account, he took the gun to Belmopan and gave it to a man known only as “Will.” 

She says she has passed that information on to the police, but believes the lead has not been properly followed.”I don’t know if they [police] don’t see an importance of tracking every weapon,” she said. “I guess they’re overworked.” 

“My main concern with the gun is that it is still out there,” she told News 5. “From my end, I would want to get it off the street. I feel terrible about that. I feel that as a citizen, it was my responsibility to protect that even more. And I would hate to think that that gun is used to hurt other people, to damage and steal from other people.”

She has since put up the $2,000 reward and says whoever has information can return the firearm without having to identify themselves.

“I am offering a reward of $2,000, no questions asked, for the return. Return it however you want, and you get paid cash up front, no questions asked. My main thing is to get it off the street and back into the proper system.”

None of the other stolen items have been recovered.

For Matura, the firearm remains the most urgent concern. “Return it however you want, and you get paid cash up front, no questions asked,” Matura said. “My main thing is to get it off the street and back into the proper system.”