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Romance to Reality and my Showdown With a Robber

by tacogirl 11/05/2015
written by tacogirl 11/05/2015
belize crime

I am not going to lie and pretend crime does not exist. I think we all need to be educated and aware especially going into the low season.

I was almost robbed Sunday afternoon at 4:00 pm at the street corner by Taste of Thailand and Amal Hardware. A guy riding his bike rode up behind me and started to grab my bag off my shoulder. My first response was to shout “Hey” loudly. I managed to grab the straps as they were passing down my arm, timed with the motion of him riding past and pulling it forward. Thankfully he did not have a tight grip and I was able to gain control of my bag fast.

At that point, I really wanted to shove him hard and knock him over but since there was no one else around I pushed forward instead and shouted at him “don’t be rude that’s mine.” He kept going north on the back road and never looked back, I turned the corner fast and booked it east to the beach and to awaiting friends.

It all happened so quickly I did not get a good enough look at him other than to say short black hair and navy blue shirt, never saw his face or caught the color of his bike. My immediate feeling was the same as when my beach cruiser tire popped while riding and rang loud and sudden like almost like a gunshot.

As for the romance part of this post’s title and the reason I was walking down that side street in the first place. I was contemplating a big center for San Pedro Red Cross. It has always made me feel inspired to go look at one of my favorite empty buildings, visualize the possibilities and ask the universe to send us something great so we can move ahead with our work. What happened makes me even more driven for the San Pedro to have a large Red Cross Center so we can run community programs to help those that are open to learning a better way to get ahead. It will also be a place for youth to learn skills to help them make the best choices they can as they rush towards adulthood.

What I did and did not do after the fact

– As soon as I got away from the corner, I immediately Facebook messaged Paul and Kendall (the last 2 people I had been talking too) to let them know I was almost robbed.

– Next, I booked it fast to Crazy Canucks, my original destination. Jo Belize spotted it right away that something was up. Along with Paul and Kendall getting back to me right after seeing my messages, a whole bunch of great people comforted me and made sure I was okay and got home safe.

– Alerted Owners Rob and Krista of Canucks and Wade and Kathy of Roadkill Bar what just happened in their neck of the woods.

– I did not go to the police right away as my details were not good enough.

– Although Jane and Kendall told me not to walk home and Colin offered me a ride, I opted to take the main road and walk home before dark. I stopped and checked myself first and the bottom line was I felt safe and as I told  Kathy who thoroughly agreed, walking and listening to music is what “I do” and I will not allow anyone to take that away from me.

The Morning After

I posted to Residents only Ambergris Caye Crime stoppers and San Pablo/Marcos neighborhood watch Facebook pages along with the picture of the corner where it happened. From there I learned about 2 self-defense options detailed below and 2 security cameras that the unsuccessful thief would have passed. Thanks to having just sent pictures of my favorite empty building and the text after my scuffle I was able to track the time it happened down to a 2-minute window and am hoping Taste of Thailand or FC’s Aluminum can catch a picture on their cameras.

I am a firm believer of the 24h – 48h rule depending on how impulsive and or irrational you can be. I tend to recommend that as a waiting period before someone is about to send an emotionally charged email. In this case, it is allowing time for a real-life event to process what happened and how I feel about it. My body has a less jacked up feeling but still not back to normal. My emotions are the same as yesterday, a mixture of sadness and anger. Walking while running mind movies to visualize and problem solve while listening to music is one of my favorite pastimes and I am not ready to let some desperate ill-mannered person take that away from me.

This morning in Gchat, my friend Shirlee told me she was glad I stood my ground and how the message at Sagebrush church yesterday was very fitting to my experience – The sermon about how we can’t let fear guide our actions. I also believe we have to balance that with awareness and smarts. Far too many people let themselves get too drunk on this island and open themselves up to negative opportunities late at night. If it can happen to me, a feisty sober taco at 4:00 pm on a Sunday, imagine how easy it would be to target late-night people wearing alcohol goggles.

I just followed up on both security camera leads. Unfortunately, John’s Camera at Taste of Thailand isn’t live right now due to needing a new hard-drive. (Anyone have a spare tech stash and may have the right thing to help make that corner safer?) FC’s Aluminum has the ability to save video and the guy I spoke to said he would get his boss to check and took my number. I mentioned to him time is of the essence in case the feed is only stored so long.

I would like to thank the Mayor for having Jorge and his assistant Yolanda and reach out to me to get my contact info for him so he can personally check on me and see what he can do to help.

Future Actions

Compile in writing and get printed point-form facts and pic of the location to bring to the police. Depending on who I am talking to I will mention that I would love to see the addition of a pinpointed map so people know which spots to look out for and we can all do our part to beef things up,  stay safe and make it harder for criminals to fly under the radar.

I am strongly considering checking out Zen Arcade MMA classes with Martin Dawson every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7:30 for self-defense and the Brazilian Martial Art Capoeira with Marissa Tellez on Thursday afternoon at 3:30 kids; 5:00 adults.  I figure doing one of those in addition to Rose Alcantara’s Pilates will help me be more of a force to reckon with in all aspects of life. For now, I am visualizing myself strong and safe while practicing my hooping. Note to Kevin and Heather (my new neighbors) – if you hear an occasional crash, I am practicing 🙂

I also told Shirlee we need to get Renee Wentz back here to teach more self-defense classes. She is an excellent instructor that specifically works with girls. Her class covers what to do in extreme situations as being choked, smothered by a pillow or gun involvement and gives some very good tips for general safety in daily life.

Although realistically I would classify it as a bad short-term decision. Had I been a little more brushed up on my defense moves I would have loved to tangle him off his bike and open a can of whoop @ss. Well, I least in my empowered whooping state of mind 🙂 – in reality, I would try to get my memory-challenged dyslexic brain to capture details and get the hell out of dodge.

Except for the fact that I am not going to live in fear, what happened to me almost makes a good case for carrying my tazer and zip-ties 24/7. If someone messes with me after dark they run the risk of getting bug zapped and hogtied 😉

This was not my first brush with Belize Crime, and have done 2 previous posts about it:

  • From Crime to Cream Puffs – featuring my take on things getting stolen. A worldwide issue.
  • Tips for Surviving Low Season on Ambergris Caye – featuring tips to help you be smart and possibly help catch a criminal through evidence. Since I wrote that post, I know someone who caught a thief because of his footprints in the sand. The pics in my post definitely show a shoeless footprint that is clearly recognizable should it have been needed as evidence.
belize crime

I was a bit closer to the intersection when it all went down

Since my glass is always half full I am leaving you with better pictures than the scene of the crime. I figured since it was my destination before the unpleasant afternoon incident, a nice dancing on the beach series from Sunday Jam at Crazy Canucks to lighten the mood just like it did for me yesterday – thanks to everyone who had a hand in that 🙂

things to do in belize

Dancing and socializing on the beach

things to do in Belize

Crazy Canucks Sunday Jam

things to do in belize

Being around happy people and good live music helped take the stink out of what happened

belize crime

Where’s Waldo? Many of you know a few people in this shot

Related

tacogirl

Laurie Norton grew up dyslexic and was very challenged by the school. She never dreamed she would move to Belize and become a writer. A year after her move to Ambergris Caye, Laurie became an entrepreneur and professional writer starting tacogirl blog in 2007. Since then she has helped many people plan their vacations or move. She also has been published in Great Destinations Belize Guidebook, Moon Guide to Living in Belize, Insight Guides, Island Magazine several times and USA Today. Currently Laurie resides in downtown San Pedro and enjoys being a "city girl" on a tropical island.

previous post
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4 comments

Deb 27/07/2015 - 5:51 pm

i am visiting San Pedro again end if Sep/ first part of Oct.. I am staying @ exotic Caue. I have never been afraid to travel to Belize in the past; however, I am now a bit concerned. Any ideas which areas to look out for? And is this also happening in the daytime?

Reply
Dayna 11/05/2015 - 10:26 pm

Glad to hear you are well and safe and that you are following up with reasonable steps. Sounds like a crime of opportunity and that you were not personally targeted. You certainly had the presence of mind to not antagonize and potentially escalate the situation. This happens everywhere and not just the island. It is always best, especially for those of us who travel, to be cognizant of our surroundings.

Take care and keep us updated on your results!

Reply
Susan flaherty 11/05/2015 - 3:35 pm

Laurie so sorry to hear you had to go through that. We are staying in the south end this time and it seems that crime is increasing. Little nervous.

Reply
Sarah 11/05/2015 - 2:22 pm

Laurie,
This is the second incident like this I have heard of in this neighborhood. I live right near here and I definitely try to get to the main road as soon as when no one else is around.

Reply

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I just returned from my trip to Belize in mid-June 2022. I had been planning the trip weeks / months in advance and... Laurie (taco girl) wasextremely helpful in preparation for my trip. Her intimate knowledge as an expat who was ONCE a tourist, really helps because she is able to share first hand knowledge of how a tourist can explore Ambergis Caye like a "temporary local". An example of this, was she recommended 2 yoga classes for my wife to enjoy while on vacation that we would not have known about otherwise and the class was far better than a class arranged by a hotel, as you get the local experience not a staged one. In addition, she was helpful in providing recommendations for dinner and sharing some discounts she has arranged with local retailers. Reviewing the taco girl blog and reaching out to Laurie is like having a tour guide, but more important a tour guide that KNOWS Belize.read more
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From the perspective of a couple preparing for a permanent move to Belize, Laurie has been enthusiastically helpful in... both answering our questions and connecting us with local resources for our move. Highly recommend you contact her and make use of her valuable services!!!read more
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Laurie was super helpful in providing places to eat, things to do and best yet had ongoing blogs that allowed us to... look back on other places that she pointed out. A fantastic resource for both first time and return visitors of Ambergris Caye!read more
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Fantastic service .I needed to find a place where I could buy a local sim card as my UK sim doesnt work in belize and... Tacogirl put me on the right path .Decided to walk across town and discovered so much more in beautiful San Pedro.Many thanks.BWread more
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We have been using TacoGirl for what feels like decades when planning our trips to Belize! It has only been a few... years but she is the first place we stop to see what is happening in our favorite vacation spot. She knows all the best spots to get away and do so many fun things - whether it is relaxing or exploring! We are planning our next trip with our twins and she was the first person I reached out to. Knowing we have a resource like her, makes trip planning a breeze!read more
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Found tacogirl while doing some research on an upcoming trip to Belize. This is the place for all the information you... need to plan your vacation. Incredibly helpful and responsive. I sent an email with lots of questions and received a very quick and detailed response that helped us finalize our plans.read more
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We have been following TacoGirl for years now and before booking any trip to San Pedro we check to see what is... currently happening. We love the emails to let us know when a new blog has been posted. Keep up the great work Laurie, we feel like we know you.read more
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I first got my Passport in 2012 and Taco Girl was my first connection back then Great then and Marvelous Now! She's... blossomed and developed into a wonderful contact for any and all information Belize. She goes above & beyond to respond with information that you need whether visiting Belize or relocating! I wasn't able to fund the move then but now that I have much more equity I am doing it.This time she was the 1st person I reached out to! Now I am selling and moving to Belize. She responds immediately! Like I do in my Pet Sitting Business! I was so impressed I followed her all this time. And was not disappointed!Pamela Nixonread more
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Wanted to give a shout-out to tacogirl belize for helping us! She is a plethora of knowledge and was super helpful and... responsive in helping us find longer term stay on the island. Thank you so much for your help!read more
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I've spent the last month exploring Belize. I'm retired & seriously considering moving down to Belize permanently from... the US. I contacted the local San Pedro expert "Taco Girl" to help me get started in finding an apartment to rent. With her help, I've located several places that meet my needs & budget requirements. Thank you Laurie!read more
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I am very glad I found you and asked you a question about a spice in Belize. You helped me figure out the name of it... and where i could buy it. You went above and beyond to help. Thanks again.read more
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I am so grateful for the time and energy Laurie has taken to share about her experiences traveling to and living in... Belize as well as provide thorough recommendations for planning a trip there. I was so thankful (and honestly surprised) that Laurie took the time to respond to several of my questions via email. I highly recommend reading Laurie's blogs and helping to support her business. Thank you Laurie!!read more
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tacogirl was very nice to share her knowledge with us and assisted with planning our trip to Belize; thank you for the... help and info, it was helpful and allowed us to plan utilize our time accordingly while both on the mainland and islands of this great country.read more
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As a Canadian—tired of long winters—I cannot wait to spend some time in Belize. I haven't set foot yet, but I am... yearning for lots of Caribbean adventure. Thanks so much to tacogirl for her endless enthusiasm and generosity of spirit. She is a constant stream of up-to-date information. Her knowledge and love of the area is priceless, and I will need her expertise for future endeavours!read more
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We started coming to Ambergis Caye in 2014 and stumble on to Tacogirls blog, so glad we did! We used her 15% discount... at The Premier Duty-Free shop in the airport! It worked great all we did was let them know we read it on her blog . She has great information awesome pictures, we have tried several places she has recommended, all were amazing. Highly recommend reading her blog. Kathleenread more
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It was my first time visiting Belize and San Pedro so naturally I had a ton of questions when it came time to planning... the travel. Taco Gril's blog was an invaluable source of information for all the travel questions in Ambergris Caye. I was able to learn a lot of basic information, as well as many tips and tricks. In addition when I reached out to Taco Girl for advice on finding a local photographer and a restaurant recommendation, she was very quick to respond and gave me many helpful suggestions. She also provided a lot more information from a local's point of view, which was much for valuable than than a typical guidebook. Thanks to her helpful suggestions we were able to celebrate my daughter's birthday at a nice restaurant, and had a great photo family session with a local photographer. I'm very thankful for all her resources and knowledge.read more
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I started coming to San Pedro Belize in 2007 and that is when I met the online presence of Taco Girl. Her blogs on the... island and area are very personable and informative. She gives out promo codes from time to time so watch out for those. You cannot go wrong with someone who was a tourist and now lives here for quality info. Thanks Taco Girl for helping make my trips memorable!read more
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I take the seniors from our academy to Belize every year for their senior trip. One of the first people I contact when... I start planning the trip is Laurie with TacoGirl Belize. She knows the island of San Pedro better than anyone else out there. Trust me, I have looked. If you are looking for the best restaurants, hang outs and shops then Laurie help plan your vacation.read more
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Love Taco Girl Blog @LaurieNorton!I've been reading this blog since I started visiting Ambergris Caye in Belize almost... 10 years ago. It is filled with helpful up-to-date information and recommendations that I wouldn't necessarily find on my own. Laurie Norton's knowledge and extensive network on the island provides her with the ability to share perks/discounts/coupons with her readers, which come in handy year after year. Things on the island change daily - new businesses pop up constantly and LaurieNortonstays on top of these developments. Whenever I plan my return trip to the island, I always check her blog first - and I recommend you do the same. Trip Advisor ain't got nuttin' on Taco Girl!read more
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Laurie's blog is my official “go to” source for tourist and local information on San Pedro. Of course, it’s always nice... to see her guides on “what to do” in San Pedro, but I also appreciate her “insider” advice and human interest stories on what it’s like living as a local on the island. There is so much information it's amazing! Thank you Laurie!!!read more
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I am considering a move to Belize and I have serendipitously found tacogirl.....what a treasure! She is full of great... advice, helpful hints.....knows everybody on Ambergris Caye and has a thousand useful recommendations and suggestions. Whether you are planning a vacation or relocating, you should make use of the many services she has to offer…..read more
KellyDivePhotography
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I’m so pleased to see tacogirl's blog on Google. Laurie's blog is my official “go to” source for tourist and local... information on San Pedro. Of course, it’s always nice to see her guides on “what to do” in San Pedro, but I also appreciate her “insider” advice and human interest stories on what it’s like living as a local on the island. I especially enjoy her guest articles, providing a different perspective of all things San Pedro. Her tipping quide is a classic, and don’t forget her Tropic Air flight code and on-island discounts. You’re not up-to-date with what’s going on in San Pedro if you’re not regularly reading tacogirl's blog.read more
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I have known Laurie (Taco Girl) for several years. She has been a wealth of good information for me in all of my... pursuits in Belize. I highly recommend her for any services you may require.read more
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Do yourself a favor. Read this BEFORE any trip to San Pedro - Ambergris Caye or Belize in general. Not saying “do what... everyone else says”, but Laurie has frank and honest info which will make your stay in country a little more fun, a little more informative, and often at a great cost savings. Best thing: it’s unbiased, honest, and factual. Personal note: thank you for your personal tailored help in answering mine (and my wife’s) questions.read more
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Taco Girl (Laurie) is amazing. She has so much knowledge about Belize and has great connections with many of the... businesses in Belize. Because of her connections she is able to offer many perks and discounts that you wouldn't have been able to find otherwise. She is super responsive and I always go to her for all my travel needs. From golf cart rentals, to spas, to places to eat. She's got the inside scoop on all!read more
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20:22 21 Apr 19
Since 2003, my wife and I have been to Ambergris at least once a year to experience the fantastic diving. About twelve... years ago we me Tacogirl on a blog giving us discounts on golf carts, local airfares, and restaurants. Over the years we have grown a friendship and I look forward to her weekly blogs about he changes on my favorite home away from home. The island changes every year, and she always shows you what to see, do, and eat.read more
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Belize Blog Est. 2007

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ABOUT ME

I took the plunge and moved to San Pedro Town on the Island of Ambergris Caye, off the coast of Belize, Central America. Originally from Canada, I made the life-changing move to escape winter for good (in 2006) after one three week vacation. If you have any questions or want Belize help planning and booking, please feel free to contact me.

SPARKING MY DESIRE

A few childhood memories that shaped my desire to move to Belize from a young age. Sailing in the Virgin Islands, seeing a rainbow out the window of an island hopper as we flew from Virgin Islands to Puerto Rico, Christmas in Hawaii and many trips to Florida.

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