Belize Police Department registers an increase in crime for 2014
Thursday, January 1st, 2015
2014 Crime statistics released by the Belize Police Department are showing that there was an increase in crime this year when compared to 2013. While the report demonstrated a 6.3% increase in crime, arrests made for 2014 registered at a 15.3% decrease. In sum, a total of 2,548 crimes were reported to the Belize Police Department across the country.
2014 saw 121 murders, 22 more than in 2013. San Pedro alone registered 10 murders: Michael Wallace, Dennis “Chingy” Palacio, Jeffrey Eiley, Alfred “Cat“ Kelvin, Felix Alamilla, Santiago Trapp, Rolando Espat Jr., Moses Coc, Samuel Dawson and Peter Castillo. The statistics also indicated that out of the 121 murders, only 34 cases saw arrests. Out of the 10 murders committed in San Pedro, five were solved with either the culprit being charged or the incident being justified.
Rape and theft also saw an increase, while robbery and burglary decreased. In San Pedro, there was a significant increase in robberies, burglaries and theft from May onwards. Police accounted the increase in these incidents due to an influx of people during the tourism season.
Arrests made for all major crimes, except rape, fell in 2014 when compared to arrests made in 2013. Arrests made in incidents involving rape increased 145.5%, police recorded 42 cases of rape out of which 27 arrests were made in 2014.
To contact the San Pedro Police to report an incident call at phone number 206-2022 or visit the San Pedro Police Station on Pescador Drive. To report crimes anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 0-800-922-8477.
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