And, from COVID numbers, to those using COVID masks to pull off robberies.
On Friday's news, we told you about the robbery of "My Lights", a store located in the Kings Park area of Belize City which specializes in lighting and electronics.
As we told you, sometime after 11:00 a.m., 3 dark-skinned men, reportedly wearing masks and caps, ran into the store and robbed them at gunpoint of cash and jewelry.
Today, the police spokesperson had a few details to share with the media about this incident. According to ASP Yearwood, police have taken noticed an upsurge of robberies being committed by assailants who are using fishermen's masks. Here's how he explained why these types of masks don't fit the criteria as a legally required COVID face and mouth coverings:
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood - Director of Communications, ComPol's Office
"My Lights Store, an undisclosed amount of cash was stolen. The owner of the business and his worker were at the establishment when 3 masked men walked in, relieved them of their cell phones. The worker was relieved also of a gold chain valued at $150, and they took an undisclosed amount of cash from the cash register. We are still investigating this matter, but as soon as we have information, that will be released also. As I said, it was 3 masked men, and when working in these times, COVID-19, everybody is wearing a mask these days. We are asking that these persons wearing the fishermen's type of masks, we're reminding that this is not the legally prescribed mask for COVID-19. And when officers meet you wearing that kind of face covering, because it's not medically approved for you, you're also committing an offense. We realize that all these robberies being committed, they're using the same kind of face covering."
"Early in the pandemic, we had to ask police officers also not to use those, if they are not police-issued, because, yes, we do have units that are police-issued, where it clearly marks police that, are used on operations, not for regular patrols within the city. So, we have discouraged police, even more so now, that they're not even to be used now on operations. These should use these types or the other cloth masks, not the ones that completely cover your neck, and makes it difficult for persons to Identify you."
