You might want to be very careful when stopping at police checkpoints. That's after a couple of police impersonators jacked a Travelers cargo truck last night on the Western Highway. Around 6:00, salesman Armando Perez along with 3 co- workers were heading to Belize city from Belmopan. At mile 20, they spotted 2 uniformed officers standing near this homemade checkpoint sign and a single cone. Perez stopped and one of the officers pulled out a gun and told him to park on the side of the road. They stole close to $50,000 in cash and cheques. Today, Ladyville police gave us more details about this frightening hold up. They also discussed what the drivers should look out for to keep safe.
ASP Juanito Cocom, OC, Ladyville Police
"The Ladyville detectives along with the rural rapid response team acting upon information of a robbery, visited mile 20 on the George Price Highway. Upon arrival they met Armando Perez, a 52 years old Belizean Salesman Representative of Travelers Liquor Limited. He reported that sometime about 5:40pm he was travelling in the direction of Belmopan to Belize City in a 10-wheeler Freightliner white truck along with other 3 employees of Travelers Limited. Upon reaching mile 20 on the George Price Highway they came across what appeared to be a police checkpoint where they saw two male persons, one dressed in the Belize Police Department Uniform and the other in a black BDU. At the time they came to a complete stop, the male persons wearing the police uniform requested the driver's license from the driver. After that he ordered them off the road to pull over to the right side where they complied. All passengers were ordered off the vehicle and taken to the back portion of the truck. They were then placed inside the back of the truck and locked up at gunpoint. During this process one of the occupants was robbed of a cellular phone. Occupants waited for about 5 minutes then they exited the truck. On doing so they checked and discovered a knapsack missing. The knapsack contained 2 cheques and about $45,000 Belize Dollars in cash in assorted denominations. All the values valued to a $49,395 Belize currency along with some invoices, the property of Travelers Liquor which was the proceeds of the day's sale. The scene was visited, processed, where a piece of 2 by 4 wood and a board with the markings 'police checkpoint' and an orange cone was retrieved. The matter is under investigation."
Reporter
"So is there any indication that it was in fact police officers involved or other perpetrators?"
ASP Juanito Cocom, OC, Ladyville Police
"It was other perpetrators using police uniforms."
Reporter
"And that's because it's been confirmed that there was no official checkpoint at that time?"
ASP Juanito Cocom, OC, Ladyville Police
"There was no official checkpoint at that time when the incident occurred. Everything was precise because they went and perpetrated this incident at a point where no vehicle was coming. Everything was just organized."
Reporter
"So you believe that this particular vehicle was targeted?"
ASP Juanito Cocom, OC, Ladyville Police
"Yes we believe that it was targeted because everything was precise. Maybe they were following the vehicle, I cannot speculate."
Reporter
"How can drivers distinguish between whether these checkpoints are actually that of police or these rogue people? How would they know or be able to differentiate?"
ASP Juanito Cocom, OC, Ladyville Police
"Actually in this incident there was only one cone. Police never sets up a checkpoint with one cone and the sign did not appear to be one of ours."
None of the products were stolen, only the bag with cash. Police are looking for the police look-alikes.
Again for drivers, here's how to know an official checkpoint: there will be six cones set up in the middle of the road, and you certainly should not see a wooden homemade sign with the words "police check point" painted on it. Also, at least one police officer at the check points will be dressed in Khaki shirt and blue trousers and a marked police vehicle will be present at the check point.
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