News | Armed Robbery in Spanish Lookout

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  It was early in the morning yesterday when we entered Spanish Lookout at the southern end, on our way to work. We observed a long flatbed trailer full of crates containing live but spent breeder hens being towed into the yard of the Hen Depot, a center for hen sales created after an avian influenza severely affected the chicken industry in Spanish Lookout some years ago. As a result of biosecurity measures, the Mennonite farmers designated this place as the official outlet for selling spent laying hens and breeder hens. Previously customers could drive up to the farmer's yard and purchase spent hens from the owner; the biggest customers are Guatemalans who cart them over the border by truck loads. We discussed the hens on the trailer then forgot about the subject, never imagining that the Hen Depot would later be the target of an armed robbery.
  It was around 3 in the afternoon when we heard the Mennonite manager at the Hen Depot was robbed of around $17,000 in cash. According to some reports, the thieves even fired shots but from what I understand noone was injured. Constables from Spanish Lookout pursued the two armed thieves, who were on a motorbike, on the unofficial highway (a well-traveled back road) that connects Spanish Lookout to San Ignacio. Late in the evening the update stated that the robbers had still not been caught. Hopefully they will be soon.
  The Hen Depot is located on the southern end of Spanish Lookout, right at the junction of Center Avenue, Bullet Tree Road, and Riverside Road; across from Jireh Fundamental Education compound.
  There was also an attempted robbery of a Toyota Hilux in Spanish Lookout on Sunday night. The driver of the Hilux was pursued by the assailants for quite a distance but managed to escape. However the following day a Toyota Hilux was stolen from a village bordering Spanish Lookout, just across the river. The Hilux pickup, which is one of the toughest, most reliable off-road 4-door vehicle that combines luxury with farm work, has become a popular vehicle in Belize but unfortunately it has also become a popular target for car thieves. The stolen pickups are believed to be driven over to Guatemala where it appears they are in even greater demand. The theft of Toyota Hiluxes has risen sharply in western Belize this year. Just another facet of life down here in the tropics.















       
                                                   A. Mendoza

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