Belize Residents Safety Guide
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| The incidence of crime in
Belize, including violent crimes such as armed robbery, shooting,
stabbing, murder, and rape, is on the rise. Several victims who
resisted when confronted by criminals have received serious personal
injuries, including gunshot wounds. |
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Click any Pictures to enlarge
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General
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Be observant,
practice common sense, and keep safe habits. Never start trusting
people to fast and never give any money in advance.
No matter how safe your neighborhood may seem, there’s always the
potential for burglary or other residential crime. Stay off the streets
after 10 pm, in urban and rural areas, and avoid wearing jewelry, or
carrying valuable or expensive items.
Valuables should not be left unattended, including in hotel rooms and
on the beach. Always handle large amounts of cash discreetly. And
remember always to pay close attention to your surroundings.
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Construction and Labour
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This lack of forced
regulations in Belize, gives you freedom, but it also brings
disadvantages as labor, such as masons, carpenters, plumbers and
electricians, do not have to be certified, therefore anybody can (and
do) claim to be anything they want.
When it comes down
to money transactions with financially struggling people, it is always
risky. But when dealing with a reputable company, it is quite safe.
When hiring and paying workers by your self make sure Social Security
gets paid. It is advised not to pay your workers until the job is
completed, or they don’t shop up on the next day and the job never gets
finished. Inspect daily or as often as possible so that problems can be
rectified in time, without having to undo too much to fix the mistake.
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Starting a Business or a new Friendship
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It is sadly
pervasive in Belize and eight of then Belizean believe that gringos
have money and therefore should be taken advantage of to the fullest.
Always be careful before you trust any person. For the evaluation of a
business partner, ask for a current police report, a curriculum vitae,
2 written references to contact, a financial status and you can easy go
with the person to a drug test. Drug test are available in Belize for
75 to 195 BZD. This procedure helps you but it can not prevent from bad
surprises.
When you approach people in Belize,
for friendship or business,
be sure you know their hidden agenda.
Because they are trying to use anything they can to accomplish their goals,
without you finding out what that goal is.
“Anatmavada 2009”
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Prevent Burglary
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Do you feel safe in
your own home? Many people don’t think about home security until after
a burglary. Prevention is often common sense, but the methods are
easily overlooked.
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Lighting
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To prevent a
burglar from concealing his activities, exterior lighting should be
installed to illuminate all doors and windows. Numerous commercial
ornamental and functional lights are available with sensors or timers
which will turn the lights on and off.
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Doors
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A "Thumb Turn
Deadlock" can be used on all doors where windows are not in or near the
door. Be sure that the bolt has at least a one inch throw and that the
strike plate is attached securely through the door frame into the home
structure. Since Porch or Patio Doors they are usually more hidden from
view from the street or by your neighbors, extra care should be used to
secure them.
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Yards
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Thick foliage
provides the burglar with a place to work undetected. Keep shrubs away
from all doors and windows. Large trees near the house should be well
pruned so that the tree will not provide access to the second floor of
the residence. Keep all ladders locked inside the garage when not being
used. Make your home always look like someone is there.
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Neighborhood Relations
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| Your best security device is
your neighbors. Arrangements should be made with your neighbors to
report any person or condition which is not consistent with the
neighborhood. Statistics show that in neighborhoods where residents are
concerned with their mutual safety crime rates are lower. Many areas started for these reason their own Neighborhood Watch. |
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Guide to Belize, April 2024
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©
2002-2022 GTB Belize-UK-USA-Canada
