Last week a thief broke into fifty nine year old Georgia Belisle’s car near her Gill Street home. Feeling down and unsafe staying at her home Belisle went away this past weekend to stay with relatives. But nothing could have prepared her for what she saw when she returned home on Monday. And that’s why tonight Georgia Belisle who has been awarded for her many years of contribution towards education is in need of your help. Jacqueline Godwin reports.
Georgia Belisle, House Burglarized
“I know the way they broke in, they had to make noise and they took some big items and the way they trashed the place, some kind of noise had to be going on but I know it rained heavily the same night.”
This metal tool that resembles a crowbar is what Belize City police believe was used to destroy the wooden panel from this door that leads from the laundry room into the main part of the residence. These two broken door locks found
on the steps of the back door suggest that the thieves gained access to the home of former well known educator fifty nine year old Georgia Belisle through the back burglar barred door.
She was not at home at the time of the break in however neighbours remembered hearing noises late Saturday night into early Sunday morning – which is when police believe is the time the crime was committed. An inspection of the home also revealed that the burglars first tried to enter the concrete building by prying at the burglar bar from a side window but were unsuccessful Georgia Belisle says when she returned home on Monday and sensed something was wrong.
Georgia Belisle,
“I noticed that my gas tank was missing and the window, an attempt was made to get in through the window to pry the burglar barred. Then when I looked down I saw the lock for the grilled door was on the ground and I immediately went outside and called the police. I didn’t enter the house. When the police came and I tried to get in through the front door, I couldn’t get in because they had put the bolt so that if I came home I couldn’t get in and then they exited through the back door. We had to come in through the same way they came in.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
When you and the police entered your home, what is it that you see?
Georgia Belisle,
“Devastation. Every room was ransacked, every draw was out, every door was open, things were all over the floor, my bed had so many things on it, I couldn’t even enter some of the rooms.”
Georgia says the first thing she noticed missing was a jack she had take inside the home after her car was broken into two days ago
Georgia Belisle,
“I did not even go into room, I asked the police if my TV was in the room. They said no TV is there. So those were the first two big items. I noticed the wash room was clean and I had lots of boxes and different things in there with items that I wasn’t using immediately but I had for emergency.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
So a lot of kitchen appliances?
Georgia Belisle,
“Yes they went with all my kitchen appliances; toaster, blender, electric fork and so on. So besides the gas tank they went with everything that you could cook.”
The burglars even helped themselves to a few snacks found in the house.
Georgia Belisle,
“I noticed chocolate paper on the ground so they took down to the chocolate out of my refridge they took. And then they took food out the refridge and all the liquor bottles and so on were all over the place.”
The break in has devastated Georgia Belisle who says in the past twenty two years that she has been living at number forty three Gill Street this is the sixth time that her home has been burglarized.
Georgia Belisle,
“It is the worst that I felt because they had just broken into my car two days before and I still haven’t recovered from that yet so I really felt bad. I just sat there and didn’t do a thing.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
It is almost like an invasion of your privacy.
Georgia Belisle,
“It makes you feel helpless because you don’t know what to do; to try and secure as best as possible. What else can you do? That is how it makes me feel.”
While Belize City police have no evidence that a suspect detained is the person who broke into the home for this homeowners, there’s reason enough to charge him.
Jacqueline Godwin,
Why have you decided to remain at this address?
Georgia Belisle,
“Well it is mine and I have lived here 22 years before the neighbourhood got bad so I don’t know how much longer I can stay here because everything is just, you don’t know what to do and that’s why I can’t stand to feel helpless.”
And that is why Georgia Belisle would like to get a program established in her neighbourhood where break-ins are reportedly rampant.
Jacqueline Godwin,
You got some bit of good news this morning when you visited the police station. I understand you were able to recover two of the stolen items?
Georgia Belisle,
“Yes the laptop and the CD writer, external CD drive for the computer.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
You know where these items were found?
Georgia Belisle,
“They found somebody with them and they were planning to sell them so when police picked up the person, they called and asked me if I could identify the things.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
We know at this time the suspect, while police might not have any evidence that he did the actual break-in he was found with the items so no doubt he has been charged with what, handling stolen goods?
Georgia Belisle,
“Yes they said they would charge him with handling stolen goods.”
7News understands that residents living especially on Gill Street are concerned about burglaries.
Georgia Belisle,
“This is why you feel so helpless. I guess I was speaking to one of the other people and they said we really have to try and organize some kind of neighbourhood watch and put up some security cameras and so. But I don’t know, it is difficult.”
Jacqueline Godwin reporting for 7News.
Though he is in custody, the suspect has not been charged with handling stolen goods.
