Businesswoman Tied Up During Armed Robbery at Belize City Shop

Police in Belize City are investigating a brazen armed robbery after a young businesswoman was reportedly attacked and tied up inside her shop last night.  Shortly before one o’clock this morning, 25-year-old Yujuan Li of Mahogany Street Extension, visited the Mahogany Substation, and told Police that around nine o’clock last night, while closing her business, Qin Shop, she was confronted by four male assailants.  According to her report, Li was placed in a chokehold and forced back inside the establishment. She stated that one of the men was armed with a firearm and two others carried knives, while the fourth restrained her. Her hands were reportedly bound with tape as the suspects proceeded to ransack the shop.  Li reported that the men stole four hundred Belize dollars along with an undisclosed amount of coins. They also made off with her iPhone 15 and an iPad 11, as well as a black Alcatel cellular phone used at the shop.  She further told police that while she remained tied up, the gunman pointed the weapon at her neck and demanded more money. Out of fear, she informed them that additional cash was upstairs in her room. Two of the suspects searched the area but initially found nothing. She was then taken upstairs, where the men reportedly located and stole an additional six hundred U.S. dollars in various denominations.  Before leaving, the suspects allegedly tied her feet and fled the premises without physically injuring her. After some time, Li managed to free herself and exited the building. She went to the nearby library where she sought assistance from security personnel to make a phone call requesting police help.  Police recovered a bag behind the building containing the stolen Alcatel phone. Investigators also retrieved a pair of gloves, a knife, and a machete from the scene. Officers noted that surveillance cameras were present at the establishment.