BELIZE CITY, Mon. Feb. 5, 2018– The vehicle of a Belize City magistrate was stolen, and then set on fire.

Magistrate Shanti Morrison, 34, of Ladyville, told police that she parked her Ford Escape in front of her house at about 6:00 Saturday evening. At about 6:00 Sunday morning, she checked for her vehicle and it was nowhere to be found. Police were called and the search for the vehicle began.

Yesterday morning, the Ford Escape was found on Chetumal Street Extension, completely destroyed by fire.

During a police press brief held this morning at the Racoon Street Police Station, ASP Alejandro Cowo said that the vehicle had no vehicle identification number (VIN), and neither did it have license plates. The magistrate identified the vehicle as belonging to her and said that it was valued at about $65,000.

It is not known why the vehicle was stolen and destroyed.  At press time tonight, police have not identified any suspect.