Belize: Rise in thefts in Belize City

Event

According to a police spokesperson, rates of theft are on the rise in Belize City. While property theft tends to increase annually ahead of the September back-to-school period, this year’s upsurge appears to be sharper than normal, which has been partially attributed to economic difficulties affecting the country.

Context

Significant crime rates - primarily theft and burglaries - are reported throughout the country. Violent crime is also a serious issue in Belize, which has an annual homicide rate of 40 per 100,000 inhabitants; however, the vast majority of victims are locals and not foreigners. Travelers should nonetheless be especially cautious in Belize City (notably the south side of the city) and the capital Belmopan due to the presence of gangs. Visitors traveling to remote border areas should also be particularly vigilant.

Advice

Individuals in Belize City are advised to avoiding walking around at night (particularly if alone) and avoid nonessential trips to the south of the city. Individuals throughout the country are advised to take basic precautions, such as be aware of your surroundings, keep items of value concealed, avoid walking around with large sums of cash, be vigilant when exiting banks or using ATMs, etc. Keep in mind that criminals in Belize are often armed; never offer resistance in the event of an attempted mugging.