The Belize Diabetes Association office, located on the second floor of the Commercial Center on Albert Street, and a Chinese store in Ladyville were robbed yesterday in separate incidents – the first robbery occurring around 10:00 yesterday morning, and the other at about 7:00 yesterday evening. The thief who robbed the Diabetes Association office escaped with a laptop computer, while a pair of thieves took about $500 from a Chinese store in Ladyville before escaping. No one was hurt in the course of the robberies.
Michelle Godoy of the Belize Diabetes Association told Amandala that yesterday morning, she and others were in the office when a man gained entry into the office by prying open the door, and he grabbed a laptop computer that was on the desk near the door.
The man then ran out of the office. Police went to the scene, but could not find the thief. According to Godoy, this was the first time their office has been targeted for robbery.
Police remind the public that it is an offense to be found in possession of stolen goods, or goods reasonably believed to have been obtained illegally. Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the laptop is urged to contact the nearest police station, or the Belize Diabetes Association at phone numbers 203- 3333, or at their office on the 2nd floor of the City Center on Albert Street.
Ladyville police are also presently seeking the two thieves responsible for the second robbery yesterday. The robbers reportedly went into the Chinese Store, the Vin Li Shopping Center, pointed a gun at the storeowner and stole about $500 from the cash register. The thieves then walked out of the store.
The storeowner told police that he had just opened his store when a man, about 20 years old, walked in and shortly after called another man who was standing across the road. The man from across the road came into the store and took out a gun and pointed it at him and demanded money.
The other robber, who was in the store first, went into the cash drawer area and stole the money that the drawer contained.
At the time, a customer was shopping in the store. Since the two thieves were not wearing masks on their faces, the customer reportedly did not realize that the store was being robbed as he went about shopping. He later went to the counter and paid for his purchase, then left the store.
After taking the money from the cash register, the two robbers then exited the store. The owner raised the alarm and police, who were just about two blocks away, responded quickly, but could not locate the robbers.
Police said that they have begun their investigation and are reviewing the footage captured by the store’s security cameras. So far, however, the thieves are still at large.