By Belize Live News Staff: It was a case of catch the culprit red-handed, as police in the Toledo District recovered two stolen roosters and made an arrest shortly after they were reported missing.
The Belize Police Department says the matter began when a 48-year-old Belizean truck driver of San Isidro Village visited the Bella Vista Police Sub-Formation to report a theft. He explained that on the night of Monday, June 29, 2026, he heard his chickens creating a commotion outside his home. Upon going to investigate, he said he spotted a man in gray shorts and an orange T-shirt fleeing his yard clutching a chicken in each hand, before disappearing into the bushes. He later realised that two brown feathered roosters, worth a combined $65, had been taken.
The break in the case came soon after, when officers patrolling the Thomas Vincent Ramos Highway near mile 45 noticed a man seemingly concealing something in his orange T-shirt. A search reportedly revealed two roosters, and when the man and the birds were brought to the truck driver’s home, he confirmed the roosters were his.
After recording a statement and requesting court action, police arrested and charged the suspect, a 26-year-old unemployed Belizean of San Isidro Village, with theft. He opted to remain silent after being cautioned.
It is worth noting that the accused, like anyone facing a charge, is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until proven guilty before the court.
