We also asked police about that disturbing robbery out out Ladyville where criminals dressed like police officers and pulled off a scary home invasion on a Taiwanese businessman.
As we told you, on last Thursday night, 64 year-old Liang Gee Fong and his wife were at their residence on Topnachick Street, which is a short distance away from the Ladyville Police Station.
2 men went to his house dressed up like cops, and and told him that they intended to search his home for illegal weapons and firearms. That was just a ruse and as soon as he opened the door, they subdued him, and tied him and his wife up, inside their bed room.
They ransacked the house and stole $5,000 US dollars, and 10,000 Belize dollars in cash.
Here's what police had to say about it today at the press conference:
Wilfredo Ferrufino - Inspector, CIB
"On the 31st of May, 2018, some time around 9:30 p.m., police were called to the residence of Liang Gee Fong, a 64 year-old Taiwanese national. He reported that at about 8:50 on that same day, 2 individuals arrived at his home. They were dressed in what appeared to be police uniforms. This would be the #1 dress for police officers. The individuals indicated to him that they would be searching his home for a firearm and ammunition. As a result, he unlocked his residence, or his door, and let the 2 individuals in. Whilst in there, they subdued him and tied him up, and proceeded to search the residence. They made off with cellular phones, and $5,000 in US currency, and an additional $10,000 in Belize currency. The investigation is ongoing, as we speak. No one has been detained in regards to this incident."
Reporter
"Surveillance footage available?"
Wilfredo Ferrufino
"Police are looking at that, at this point."
Reporter
"So, it must be a concern for the department that criminal have used the officer's uniform to fool this gentleman into opening his premises and trusting them. Any comments?"
Wilfredo Ferrufino
"At this point, we had had a similar report of someone dressed in what appeared to be police uniform and using that to enter the residence. At this point, there is an intense investigation ongoing by Ladyville police, to look into this matter. I know that there has been several house searches done from known persons, known criminals in that area, and the investigation continues."
Reporter
"How would you advise law abiding citizens who see this uniform? They recognize it as something "police", and you have that tendency to trust that these people are actually who they say they are."
Wilfredo Ferrufino
"If you have any doubt, major - or the entire police department have ID card that is assigned to them, if there is any doubt. And you could ask for the police ID, and that should be available to provide it to any individual that asks."
You'll remember on May 24, 1 week before the Fong family home was targeted, there was another incident where 2 men robbed 3 NICH employees on the Old Northern Highway. There are similarities between these 2 crimes.
In that incident, two pretend police officers set up what looked to be a legitimate police checkpoint on the Old Northern Highway. The employees stopped and were robbed of a licensed weapon, and $4,600 in cash, which belonged to NICH.
We asked police about it, and they said that no formal report has been made to them on it.
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