In a dramatic pre-dawn operation, Belizean authorities successfully prevented a major vehicle theft through rapid technological intervention. On December 31, 2025, seven masked individuals breached security at the Ministry of Agriculture’s Central Farm compound, overpowering and restraining the night watchman before seizing keys to four government pickup trucks (three Toyotas and one Nissan).
The perpetrators, described as Creole-speaking locals, immediately headed toward the western border with Guatemala in what appeared to be a coordinated escape plan. However, the quick actions of the freed security guard triggered an immediate response chain. Ministry officials activated a sophisticated remote vehicle shutdown system that forced the thieves to abandon all four trucks just before reaching the international boundary.
Agriculture Minister Rodwell Ferguson confirmed the vehicles were recovered near Arenal and Benque, praising the coordinated efforts between his department and law enforcement. While acknowledging the brazen nature of the pre-dawn heist, Minister Ferguson declined to speculate on whether insiders were involved, stating investigations were ongoing. The incident has raised questions about compound security despite the presence of surveillance cameras, with authorities examining potential cross-border connections while emphasizing the thieves appeared to be Belizean nationals based on linguistic evidence.