By Breaking Belize News Staff: A 46-year-old Benque Viejo mechanic who admitted stealing a laptop bag containing more than $7,000 worth of electronics belonging to a Smart manager has escaped jail time after pleading guilty to theft.
Enrique Moralez appeared unrepresented in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, where he pleaded guilty to stealing the property of a manager at Smart.
The theft occurred on August 28 at Benny’s Restaurant on the Philip Goldson Highway, where the manager reportedly left behind a black laptop bag after purchasing food.
The bag, valued at $400, contained a laptop valued at $6,072, along with a $200 charger, a $50 USB adapter, a $75 USB-C adapter and a $300 USB DVD device. The items had a combined reported value of approximately $7,097.
According to the facts presented in court, the owner did not realize the laptop was missing until August 31, when he was preparing to go to work. He returned to Benny’s and inquiries led to a review of surveillance footage.
The footage reportedly showed Moralez, who had been sitting near Balan, picking up the bag after Balan left and walking out of the restaurant with it.
Police later identified Moralez and circulated a wanted notice for him. His wife subsequently turned over the laptop to police in Benque Viejo before Moralez surrendered himself on September 23.
In court, Moralez admitted taking the bag and its contents, telling the magistrate he had been drinking alcohol at the time and simply saw the bag and took it.
He told the court that what he had done remained on his mind, prompting him to return the property and turn himself in.
“I never knew I meh wah get into trouble,” Moralez reportedly told the court.
In mitigation, Moralez said he was a first-time offender, had recently buried his father and was responsible for caring for his sick mother.
Taking into consideration his early guilty plea, lack of previous convictions, recovery of the stolen property and his expression of remorse, the magistrate imposed a non-custodial sentence.
Moralez was fined $500 plus $5 cost of court, which he must pay by November 30, 2026, or serve two months in prison.
The post Benque mechanic fined $500 after stealing Smart manager’s laptop left behind at restaurant; Manager didn’t realize his laptop was missing until 3 days later appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: A 46-year-old Benque Viejo mechanic who admitted stealing a laptop bag containing more than $7,000 worth of electronics belonging to a Smart manager has escaped jail time after pleading guilty to theft. Enrique Moralez appeared unrepresented in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, where he pleaded guilty to stealing
The post Benque mechanic fined $500 after stealing Smart manager’s laptop left behind at restaurant; Manager didn’t realize his laptop was missing until 3 days later appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
