In an early-morning brazen theft that has now opened a probe into potential cross-border criminal activity, authorities in Belize recovered a stolen government-owned pickup following a rapid police pursuit that ended near Calla Creek Bridge just 15 minutes after the heist was reported.
The incident unfolded just before 3:40 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at the compound of the Football Federation of Belize (FFB) in Belmopan. Two masked assailants forced their way into the on-site security booth, where they overpowered and restrained the lone on-duty guard before stealing the keys to the FFB’s white Toyota Hilux and fleeing the scene.
Within minutes of receiving the alarm, Western Region Belizean law enforcement mobilized across key strategic locations, rolling out standard operating protocols designed specifically for motor vehicle thefts in the area. According to Assistant Superintendent Stacy Smith, Staff Officer for Belize Police, authorities proactively set up checkpoints and patrols because stolen vehicles from Belize are frequently trafficked across the nearby border into Guatemala.
That rapid response paid off: just 15 minutes after the theft was reported, officers spotted the stolen pickup traveling along Santa Rosa Road. A short police pursuit concluded near the Calla Creek Bridge, where the vehicle was recovered. While the truck was found empty when authorities intercepted it, one male suspect has been taken into custody, and a manhunt is currently ongoing for two remaining accomplices who remain at large.
Investigators say the bold heist is not an isolated car theft, and evidence collected so far points to the operation being tied to a larger cross-border trafficking ring. Law enforcement now has security camera footage of the incident to advance their investigation, as they work to identify and apprehend the remaining at-large suspects and unpack the full scope of the suspected criminal network.
This report is adapted from a televised evening news broadcast, transcribed for online readers.