And while the entire nation remains collectively stunned at the ruthlessness of that bank robbery, the armed gunmen are sustaining their campaign of terror. Today armed robbers pulled off another broad daylight heist at a major location in Belize City. It occurred at around 3:30 this afternoon at the Courts Belize Main Store at mile one and a half on the Northern Highway. The robbers – one of whom was armed - put a gun to the head of the cashier - and there are some reports that she was briefly held hostage. Additional unconfirmed reports are that they also robbed customers. Courts did not have comment. Police Press Officer Sgt. Fitzroy Yearwood told us how it unfolded.
Sgt. Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer
“Three men entered Courts Belize somewhere around the Western Union section upstairs where one of them pulled a firearm and demanded money. The cashier handed over about $2,000 to him and the three men made good their escape.
No one was injured in this incident.”
Keith Swift,
“Were any customers robbed?”
Sgt. Fitzroy Yearwood,
“No I cannot confirm that. I know from the cashier they got a little more than $2,000.”
Alfonso Noble,
“Did they manage to make it behind the counter?”
Sgt. Fitzroy Yearwood,
“They didn’t.”
Alfonso Noble,
“The cashier handed over the money?”
Sgt. Fitzroy Yearwood,
“Yes she did because they pointed a firearm at her.”
Keith Swift,
“Were both of them armed?”
Sgt. Fitzroy Yearwood,
“One of them was armed. Presently we have officers viewing the tapes and at the end of the day we can release a description to the public.
All robberies are of concern but this one in particular. I am sure that within the past three weeks all the businesses in this area were trying to organize to do a business watch. I am not sure how far they have reached but I know that it something that we were discussing, I attended one of their meetings, and I think this would speed up the process if it is not already in place.
Apart from the robberies we have our Easter anti-crime patrol that came into effect and before that we had additional patrols, we had additional personnel, and we have personnel coming from the districts. We have tried quite a number of measures but at the same time we need the business community to do their part, to meet us halfway. We are saying that we need our security officers and the businesses to be more alert and this will help if they are more related.”
Again police are reviewing footage from the security camera. The courts store is an agent for Western Union, Belize Electricity Limited, as well as Digicell and Smart.
