The report of two policemen and one civilian arrested in relation to a “handsome” robbery at the Corozal Free Zone on Saturday evening, September 10, 2011, could be, if it is proven that these men are involved, another huge embarrassment for the Police Department, since during this year alone there have been a number of police officers arrested and charged for various crimes, including drug trafficking.
Police say that around closing time on Saturday at the Corozal Free Zone, an employee of North America International Limited store, which is located within the zone, was held up by a gunman who stole an undisclosed amount of money.
An unconfirmed report to us was that the total amount of cash stolen was US$35,000 but police say that an official total has not been released by the store.
The police release states that the gunman who entered the North America International was of Creole descent. The business employee, a Chinese national, was counting the day’s earnings when the gunman entered the store and held the firearm to her side.
Police said that the gunman, in escaping, jumped into a green Geo Tracker and the vehicle took off. Police have confirmed that this Geo Tracker has since been impounded.
Police Press Officer Sergeant Fitzroy Yearwood told us that two police officers, one working in Corozal and the other in San Pedro, were detained in Corozal Town. Yearwood did not say whether they were linked to the robbery, or divulge whether any of the officers were found to be in possession of money from the robbery, or were found in the impounded vehicle.
Yearwood also told us that a third man, who is a civilian, was detained yesterday, Sunday.
However, according to information from the CEO of the Corozal Free Zone, Raul Rosado, immediately after the robbery, the employees of the store alerted the zone security, who quickly responded by locking off the entrance and exits of the zone.
The quick response from the security team, Rosado said, proved successful as, “they [the alleged perpetrators] were eventually detained.”
Police have not yet officially charged any of the men detained, and Yearwood confirmed that, “If they [the policemen] are involved, then they will be charged. We are treating this report as any other robbery report.”