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A series of armed hold ups and robberies against tour guides tourists and Belizeans in the Mountain Pine Ridge Area about three years ago promoted the police and the BDF soldiers to establish a presence at popular sites. In fact the crime had gotten so bad that tour buses travelling into the area must be escorted to and from the sites by armed security personnel - a practice which continues today

And it was working, because for quite some time there were no brutal armed attacks in the Pine Ridge area. But on Tuesday, it failed when two tour guides along with six tourists were robbed by armed men at the Rio Frio Cave. The thing is that from what we’ve been able to find out, the group was escorted to the Rio Frio Caves by armed soldiers as per standard procedure. But around two thirty that afternoon after the convoy of vehicles reached the site, the security personnel allegedly left the area to go and meet another group of tourists who were waiting for a BDF escort.

Unconfirmed reports are that as soon as the BDF soldiers were out of sight, five armed men wearing ski masks over their heads and all dressed in long sleeve black shirts, holding what are believed to have been black pump action shotguns emerged from nearby bushes. The men spoke in Spanish and told the head tour guide thirty four year old Everald Tut that they were demanding that everyone hand over their cash, jewellery and other possessions. Based on the men’s accent the ring leader who appeared to be in his thirties and his accomplices who appeared to be teenagers are believed to be Guatemalans.

They acted quickly stealing eighteen hundred U.S. dollars and six hundred Belize dollars in cash, as well as jewellery including a wedding band, and electronic items including cameras and binoculars. The men then made escaped through into the thick jungle. Police say no one was physically harmed.

The armed hold-up and robbery in the Mountain Pine Ridge area is the first for 2009 and the Police and BDF have heightened and tightened security in the area. Belize police are now working along with their Guatemalan counterparts to find and arrest those responsible.

When 7News contacted the BDF, they could say if there had been a breach in procedure and the army would not confirm whether or not the soldiers did leave the area at anytime. The standard procedure as we understand it is to have the BDF soldiers remain with the tourists on site and escort them back out of the area when finished with the tour. The BDF stressed that it remains under investigation. Meanwhile the Belize Tourism Board is forming a security cooperation committee to work along with law enforcement agencies and others to address crimes that target visitors.