There was a broad daylight armed robbery in Belize City this afternoon. It was the same m.o. that we report on almost nightly: two men on bicycles riding up, pulling out guns, and raiding the store. The difference tonight is that today’s armed robbery was all caught on camera and tonight you’re going to see it, probably before even the police do. The target was Miami Store on Euphrates Avenue and the fed up storeowner showed us how it went down. Keith Swift has the tale of the tape.
Keith Swift Reporting,
The security video captured the robbers slowly riding past the warehouse and reappearing seconds later. The first assailant – quickly jumped off his bike with a gun on the ready and accosted security guard Charles Edwards. They
wrestled for the gun but Edwards say there was little he could do.
Charles Edwards, Security Guard
“Two guys came from behind the truck and they attacked me. I had the gun on the chair and so there was nothing I could have done than just do what they say. They pushed me down on the ground and then one of them said to keep your face down and that’s all I could have done. I couldn’t do nothing else besides that.”
Keith Swift,
What was going through your mind at the time?
Charles Edwards,
“All that was going through my mind is that I hoped they didn’t hurt me or nobody inside.”
And with Edwards forced on the ground – the robbers took command of the store. The gunman, who now had two guns, ordered everyone on the ground and stood watch – while his accomplice was behind the counter – filling a school bag with cash. The store’s owner Mukesh Makhwani who spoke to us off camera.
Mukesh Makhwani, Store Owner
“They came in and they took all the money, all the business that I did from morning, everything and after that they laid me down one side and they just gone from there.”
Keith Swift,
How much money did they take?
Mukesh Makhwani,
“I am not sure. That’s all the money I made from morning and I don’t know how much money it is, I have to check it and everything.”
The robbers were in the store for less than five minutes and when it was over
the suspect in the green, who entered with a stocking over his face, put on his back pack, took off his hat, and walked out. And after trying unsuccessfully to get into the cash register, so did the gunman.
Makhwani has been in business for two years and in that time he has been robbed 9 times. 5 of those robberies have occurred since the start of this year. Makhwani is of course understandably frustrated.
Mukesh Makhwani,
“This is like the 9th time it’s happening to me and I don’t know what’s going on. Last time I was thinking to give up and I tried hard but I don’t know what to do. This is happening every month or two months with me and I don’t know what to do with these guys.”
Keith Swift,
Have the police been helpful? Have they been giving you the help you need in terms of following up on the investigations?
Mukesh Makhwani,
“No I don’t see any none at all. This is the ninth time it has happened to me and if they were really serious before, it wouldn’t have been happening to me but I don’t think they are helping me.”
The robbers stole the Anchor Security Guard’s 9 milimeter handgun. Police say they are investigating but at 6 pm had yet to view the video because of a technical glitch. The last time Miami Store was hit was on mother’s day. And as for the 8 previous robberies, an arrest has not been made in any. Police are optimistic that with this surveillance video – it will be easy to identify the suspects.
