Police Investigate Stolen License Plates in Southside Belize City

License plate thefts on Maris Deena Street in Southside Belize City have left residents frustrated and facing unexpected expenses. The incident, which occurred early Tuesday morning, saw at least nine vehicles targeted by thieves who made off with license plates and two car batteries. Some of the stolen plates were reportedly left behind, damaged beyond use.

Now, residents are dealing with the hassle of filing police reports and making several trips to the Traffic Department to replace their plates—an inconvenience they say is both time-consuming and costly.

Police Commissioner Chester Williams confirmed that investigators are actively working on the case. “I know it’s something the police is looking at,” said Williams. “I’m not sure if they have received any leads on that issue, but again, they’re working in tandem with the traffic department to see what, if anything, can be obtained.”

“It seems to be something that… forms part of the tourism industry because, again, I know that sometimes tourists may want to buy a license plate and take it back to their respective country so that they can show, ‘Well, I was in Belize, and I got this license plate from Belize,’” he said.

But he warned that stolen plates could also be used for criminal purposes. “It can also be another issue where the license plates have been stolen with the intent that they be used… to place on other vehicles to commit crime. So, we have to look at it from all angles.”

In the meantime, police are encouraging anyone with information on the stolen plates or those responsible to come forward.