Roof Entry Suspected in New Road Gas Station Break-In

Police are investigating a burglary reported early yesterday morning at the Puma Gas Station located on New Road in Belize City.  According to police, at around 6:30 a.m. on Monday, January 12, information was received via the Police Control Room regarding the incident. Personnel attached to the Northside Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) responded to the scene, where they met 62-year-old Pablo Guerra, the Belizean manager of the establishment.  Guerra reported that he securely locked the gas station at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 11, leaving no one inside the building. Upon reopening the business the following morning, he observed that the cash register had been tampered with and coins were scattered on the ground. Further checks revealed that the back office had been ransacked.  Police say an undisclosed amount of cash was stolen. Initial investigations indicate that the culprit or culprits gained entry by prying open zinc sheets from the roof of the building.  Police have canvassed the surrounding neighborhood and spoke with persons in the vicinity; however, no useful information was obtained.  Investigations into the matter continue.