$57,000 in cash alone - that's how much money armed gunmen stole in a brazen robbery in broad daylight. It happened this morning at 11:00 in the parking lot of Scotia Bank's Branch on the Northern Highway. But they didn't get far with the stolen cash as their getaway was foiled by a very quick response from the Police Department. It ended with a high-speed chase in the Belama area. That is where our story begins.
Keith Swift Reporting,
Police cars swarmed this un-named street off Albert Hoy Boulevard in Belama Phase One at 11:30 today. Armed police with shotguns and assault rifles roamed the area because inside this yard at the end of the street, the cops had nabbed two men suspected of armed robbery.
That armed robbery happened minutes earlier here at the Scotia Bank's Northern Highway Branch. An employee of the Fort Street Tourism Village was making a deposit - when the men who are believed to have been following her, snatched
the moneybag in the parking lot. And they got a lot: reports are that the moneybag contained $27,000 in U.S. dollars, and $3,000 Belize dollars. They also got off with her nine-milimeter pistol.
During the robbery a shot was fired, and the Anti-Drug Unit which is headquartered in the area, heard it and responded immediately.
They chased the car to the end of this street where the men ran into the yard of this house and threw the money in two bags like this unto the roof. They then threw these two loaded nine mm pistols into the yard, one of the pistols is the one stolen in the robbery. Police searched the car with the suspects
on hand. It is a beat up Honda Accord with taxi license plates.
Eastern Division boss Crispin Jeffries wouldn't let us videotape the faces of the suspects but Press Officer G. Michael Reid says they are known to police.
G. Michael Reid, Police Press Officer
"Yes these are individuals who are known to the police."
For this quiet neighborhood with kids at home for the Easter vacation it was
quite a shock.
Resident #1,
"It was surprising to me that something as that could happen in such a peaceful neighborhood because usually nothing usually happens in our neighborhood. It is very peaceful and it came as a shock to us."
Keith Swift,
Did you hear anything?
Resident #1,
"I personally didn't hear anything but my neighbor she heard and she said the policeman was actually at her door and with such a big gun. She said if she had a heart problem, she would have just fainted and died. It really shows that robberies and stealing are occurring more now in our country because this has never happened in our neighborhood before. This is the first time."
Resident #2,
"I was at the shop at the same time. I only heard the sirens, that is all I heard, nothing else. I just ran back."
Keith Swift,
Has this happened in your area before?
Resident #2,
"No, first time."
Keith Swift,
What does it do to your sense of security?
Resident #2,
"Its frightening. It is the first time I have experienced something like that. I am very frightened."
For police - the quick arrest is a major victory against brazen street criminals.
G. Michael Reid,
"This is undoubtedly a big arrest. We are frustrated when individuals pull off crimes and are able to get away scot-free so certainly it is a feather in the cap and particularly for the guys from ADU who were alert enough to respond and to follow these guys and apprehend them."
Police have both men detained tonight. Apart from the $57,000 in cash, police also recovered checks and traveler's checks amounting to over $20,000.
