Belize City is facing renewed scrutiny over its public safety crisis after a brazen overnight attack at one of the city’s key transport hubs. In the early hours of Monday, June 29, 2026, three gun-wielding attackers struck Novelo’s Bus Terminal, catching the on-duty security team off guard and carrying out a calculated theft.
According to official statements from Belize’s law enforcement command, the assailants quickly overpowered the terminal’s security guards, restrained them with bindings, and seized access keys to the terminal’s locked business office. Once inside, the suspects stole an undisclosed sum of cash along with two personal cell phones owned by the bound security guards before fleeing the premises undetected. Assistant Commissioner Hilberto Romero, head of the National Crimes Investigation Branch, confirmed that while the exact total stolen has not been finalized, the cash amount taken does not exceed $800.
The high-profile robbery comes as Belize City has already seen a steady rise in public anxiety surrounding violent street crime, with residents and business owners repeatedly calling for stepped-up police patrols and improved security measures at public and commercial spaces. Investigators have confirmed they are currently reviewing all available surveillance camera footage from the terminal and surrounding area to identify suspects and piece together the full sequence of the attack. As of the latest update, law enforcement has not ruled out any leads, including whether the attackers had prior knowledge of the terminal’s layout or had connections to the on-duty guards. The investigation remains active and ongoing, with police asking any members of the public who may have seen suspicious activity in the area of Novelo’s Bus Terminal overnight Monday to come forward with information.
This report is adapted from a transcribed evening television newscast covering the incident.