Neighborhood watch is a crime prevention programme the police have been pushing for quite sometime but in the days of insular individuals, it's been tough trying to muster that old neighborly back watching. But the next two incidents we'll report on which involve burglaries in Ladyville Village and Belize City may just prompt you to get active. Jacqueline Godwin reports.
Samuel Bonilla, O.C CIB - Ladyville
"We have a number of burglaries that have been taking place within the community but so far we have been able to solve the majority of them thanks to the citizens inside Ladyville, they have been cooperating with the police."
And it was a tip from a local resident that led Ladyville police to this young man.eighteen year old David Castellanos claims that it is his first burglary but he did managed to break into the home of Ladyville resident Alvan Haynes
and steal fifteen thousand dollars worth of assorted gold jewelry, a DVD player, compact discs and a suitcase of clothing and shoes. The Haynes' residence was burglarized on Friday when the family was out for the day.
Samuel Bonilla,
"There is a burglar bar to the back door and also the back door itself which is wooden, was pried open. I do believe the person who we have in custody had been monitoring the movements of Mr. Haynes and movements of you know when they go out to work and when they come back home so within the working period time that is when they commit the crime. We had information from a reliable citizen gave us a tip and as a result we responded and apprehended David Castellano. He cooperated with the police and he led us to some of the items that he took from out of Mr. Hayne's residence."
Ladyville police anti crime efforts were recently strengthened through the addition of a vehicle that has help them to respond more quickly, but the community as well can do its part.
Samuel Bonilla,
"I would like to advise them to have this neighborhood watch you know.
There are times when your neighbor would be at home but you will not be at home. If you do go out you must inform your neighbor that you won't be at home and they can take a look at the residence and if any crime committed I am sure they will call the cops and we can respond."
But it is not only homes being burglarized. In Belize City early learning institutions have also been targeted.
Barbara Bennett, Principal - Lloyd Coffin Pre school
"The floor was all filled up. They had the trays thrown on the table. They even ate the sausage that we had left in there so that was on the floor. The packet right but they had already eaten so what they ate they threw on the floor and they just leave us like that."
That was mess Principal Barbara Bennett confronted when she reported to work
Monday morning at the Lloyd Coffin Preschool on Mahogany Street.
Barbara Bennett,
"The door was already opened like that right. So I said, 'oh my Lord.' So I took the key holder and I just did this and pulled the door back way like that."
But as the back burglar bar door was pushed back that is when Bennett noticed that the main wooden door lock had also been tampered.
Barbara Bennett,
"And I went to the other door where they had this door was like this right so all I did was that because this is also anew lock also if you notice and I pushed the door in. So when I walked in the first thing I noticed was that the refrigerator was gone."
These two boxes that were on top of the refrigerator had been placed on the kitchen table. The thief or thieves also removed from inside the appliance several juice bottles that were later found on a cabinet. The burglary occurred Bennett believes the burglary occurred sometime between Sunday night and early Monday morning and just a short distance away from the area's police sub station..
Barbara Bennett,
"Sugar was on the floor that was left in the refrigerator, they threw it on the floor. Because if that had happened long ago that sugar spot, that lump of sugar would have been filled up with ants all over. The juice in the
mug would have fermented right and it wasn't."
The thief or thieves then removed the refrigerator from its place and outside to a vehicle believed to have been used to transport the stolen items that also included a fifty pound butane gas cylinder. There are no leads in this case but it is strongly believed that whoever committed the crime may be familiar with the building. It is a great loss for the staff and children because it has now affected their feeding programme.
Barbara Bennett,
"We serve snacks right and sometimes the snacks that we serve we would use the stove to do that and then the refrigerator if we have stuff that is left over we would always put in there and then like when rallies and so on we usually have the children treats in there so we really miss those because they are very important to us."
The stolen items were donations from area representative Cordel Hyde. The school is not sure how they will replace the refrigerator and cylinder but today Bennett sent out this appeal.
Barbara Bennett,
"That the public should not buy stuff from anybody unless they are buying it from the store. Well you know sometimes you are selling your own items because you are going away or you want to buy another item, so if you sell this then but you can know. I mean you can feel when something is not right like the price of it, the price of it. I don't know but I know like me when something sounds too good to be true...
Jacqueline Godwin,
...It is not true.
Barbara Bennett,
"That is right, that's right."
Bennett says she will ask the police since they area already in the neighborhood to do regular checks at the school to help increase security. Jacqueline Godwin for 7News.
In a very neat ending, the man accused in the Ladyville case pleaded guilty in court today and was sentenced to 5 years in prison.
