By Breaking Belize News Staff: A Ladyville construction worker is out on bail after being charged with stealing a $150 Stanley rechargeable flashlight from inside a parked vehicle in his neighborhood.
28-year-old Freddy Alberto Vasquez, a resident of Mile 13 on the Philip Goldson Highway, appeared unrepresented before a Senior Magistrate in Court #2 on Tuesday, where he was arraigned on a single charge of theft. The allegation stems from a report made by the vehicle owner, who claimed Vasquez removed the flashlight and a Diet Coke from his Land Rover pickup truck on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at La Vida Lake Garden.
In court, Vasquez initially asked about the penalty for theft but, before receiving an explanation, abruptly told the Magistrate he wished to plead guilty. He then stated that when police detained him, he told them he only borrowed the flashlight but was unsure of its current whereabouts, saying he had left it with officers.
After hearing his explanation, the Magistrate rejected the guilty plea, ruling that a defendant cannot plead guilty simply because they have no one to bail them. Vasquez later explained that his decision was influenced by his financial situation and lack of support.
The court granted Vasquez bail of $2,000 plus one surety, which he met this afternoon. He is the father of two young children—a newborn and a four-year-old.
According to the police report, the vehicle owner visited the Ladyville Police Station around 5:37 p.m. on November 19 and reported that earlier that morning, at about 3:00 a.m., he discovered a man inside his yard and inside his Land Rover pickup truck. The intruder, dressed in a purple shirt and black shorts, claimed he was locked out of his home and waiting for his father.
The man then exited the vehicle carrying a $150 Stanley rechargeable flashlight and a Diet Coke taken from inside. Later that morning, the vehicle owner noticed several other small items missing from his yard.
At 7:30 a.m., the same man allegedly returned to the vehicle owner’s home asking to borrow tools. When confronted about the missing items—including the flashlight—he walked away without answering.
The complainant managed to take a photograph of the man and shared it in a neighborhood WhatsApp group, where a resident identified him as Freddy Vasquez, who had previously been charged with burglary in October.
Police visited Vasquez’s home soon after and found him in possession of the missing flashlight, leading to his arrest.
Vasquez returns to court on January 21, 2026, as the case continues.
The post Man charged for allegedly stealing $150 flashlight and Diet Coke after spending night in Ladyville man’s Land Rover and returning to borrow tools appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: A Ladyville construction worker is out on bail after being charged with stealing a $150 Stanley rechargeable flashlight from inside a parked vehicle in his neighborhood. 28-year-old Freddy Alberto Vasquez, a resident of Mile 13 on the Philip Goldson Highway, appeared unrepresented before a Senior Magistrate in Court #2 on
The post Man charged for allegedly stealing $150 flashlight and Diet Coke after spending night in Ladyville man’s Land Rover and returning to borrow tools appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
