Two computers were stolen from Ralph Fonseca’s divisional office in Ladyville three weeks ago. Police launched a major investigation: a special team was deployed from Belize City, teenagers were roughed up, one man had his hand broken and his face busted open, two people were charged and countless man hours were spent trying to get those precious computers back for the Police Minister. Compare that to the situation at IT-VET in Belize City where almost $15,000 worth of computers and industrial kitchen equipment were stolen and there’s been no arrest, and police have no leads. Now, as school opens tomorrow, administrators are scratching their heads, because the welcome back will be sour for some. Here’s why.
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
On Thursday morning at 2:30, a gang of criminals slipped into the IT-VET compound on St. Thomas Street. The first thing they did was tie up the security guard, and then went up to the second floor of the main building, slipped off this louver, and got into this, the resource center. From there, the broke through the wall and went into the computer lab, where they stole 10 CPUs like this one, two flat screen monitors, and a computer server. From there, they went on to the kitchen where they stole blenders and would have stolen these fans if they could get them through the roof area. Sheldon Samuels is the director for IT-VET.
Sheldon Samuels, Director – IT-VET
“Our personal feeling is that it has to be past students because of the way how the break in has been done. We had a break in quite some while aback
and it seems that it is those same people who had come in, came back for computers because the first time they had come in, they stole the monitors and this time they came and stole the CPUs. They went through the same windows that we had changed and this time they were more equipped because they had drills, they had screwdrivers, and the sort to take down the door and then they made their way over there before they escaped. It seems very much that when they tied up the watchman downstairs they asked him the name of special people who work here.”
And while it depletes morale and provides a major setback – Samuels says they are unbroken
Sheldon Samuels,
"At ITVET we will continue to do what we have always done. We will not let an incident like this break us down. We will ask our business partners and I am sure that the business community will assist us in terms of getting back our computer lab and we will continue to strive for excellence and at the same time while people might look at these students and say they have no hope, here at ITVET we give them the opportunity to get possible education so nothing is lost in terms of their education. We remain committed, we remain dedicated to giving the best possible education that we can.”
And one thing is the same in this case as in the Fonseca investigation: police have not recovered any of the computers.
