when santiago they stole the car He knew he was lost forever because it would be very difficult for the authorities to find him.
It was October 2016 and he and his sister had a Renault Twingo To go to college. They went in order according to their schedule, and those who did not comply used the bus.
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That day, one Wednesday, Santiago had to travel by bus, and just as he was about to get home, he saw his car speed past and two unidentified men on board. “They robbed us” was his first thought. He came home and saw his sister crying on the floor.
Just as he got out of the vehicle, the two men aimed their guns at him and took the Twingo.
The young man says the vehicle is insured and fortunately they know a certain amount of money. However, he didn’t know anything about his whereabouts. He even says he has filed a complaint with the authorities, but this is mostly due to the insurance process.
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He believed that they were always followed for a few days to learn their schedule. He also says they were warned a few weeks ago in the capital Antioquia that they had stolen that model because they needed spare parts. She thinks she was quickly smuggled out of town and scrapped.
This was one of 8,049 cars stolen in the country that year, and 860 cars stolen in the city.
Vehicle theft auto partsit is a crime not to surrender Colombia and even increasing since 2016. According to figures from the National Police, 91,474 were stolen in the country between 2012 and 2021.
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While there were 9,225 complaints after 2012, a slight decrease began, which lasted until 2015, to 7,759. But there has been an increase since 2016 and there were 10,659 cases in 2021 and 5,806 cases by July 31 in 2022, which indicates that even the 2021 records could be exceeded if the same rate continues. This is the worst year of the last decade for crime.
For the security expert Jairus BookstoresThe fact that this phenomenon has remained stable and increased over the past decade means that gangs and traffic networks are consolidating and increasingly capable of power and coordination.
In this sense, he is also an expert in security. Hugo Steel. “Crime structures have increased with a commercial and commercial structure and are becoming more and more organized.”
Therefore, they point out that it is one of the most worrying issues in terms of citizen safety, considering that the majority of cases take place under procedures that put the lives of victims at high risk.
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While authorities are working on salvaging the vehicles, more than 70 percent never show up, as in 2021, when 3,077 were recovered.
However, there are better results this year, as there were 2,960 as of July 31.
For Libreros, the low recovery rate is worrying, reaffirming the thesis that gangs are getting stronger and improving routes to get cars to other countries. junkyards.
Capitals intensify the majority of cases, Bogotaand Medellin where the problem is bigger. There were 29,821 robberies in the nation’s capital between 2012 and 2021; 17,290 in Cali and 11,324 in Medellin.
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As for the most common modalities in this past decade, it is firearms, skeleton keys, and the use of scopolamine.
These methods have been used for years. There were 2,342 firearm cases in 2012 and 1,993 in 2021. As for the master key, there were 2,631 and 1,124 thefts, respectively, and with scopolamine these were 223 and 105.
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Statistics the authorities dealt with include models, brands, colors, and even more theft times.
For example, in recent years, the most desired cars by crime networks are white, gray, red and black; and in terms of models chevrolet spark, kia picanto Y Hyundai I10 Gl.
The robberies mostly take place between 6 pm and 12 pm on Thursdays, Sundays and Saturdays, as criminals take advantage of the solitude of the streets and the darkness when it comes to cars parked on the streets.
Statistics Danish He notes that, as in Santiago, three out of every ten vehicle thefts in the country occurred during this time, after days of tracking by gangs.
Cars can go abroad, be scrapped and even enter conflict zones, which mobilize capos and gangs of criminal groups.
Experts explain that within a few hours after the theft, many vehicles were taken out of the city and taken to areas such as Catatumbo. arauca and Cauca.
“In addition to scrapping them or selling them as new, some high-end cars use them to adapt and transport drugs in Colombia and other countries,” Acero said.
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Actually, north of Santander and Cauca offer higher levels of theft compared to divisions with the same population or even divisions with a larger population. These are 1,901 and 3,385 registered, respectively, in the last ten years.
Another department with high problems is Nariño, which has 2,195 people in the last 10 years. The explanation for this is that many cars are taken to Ecuador as it is a border area.
“The event is no longer national but transnational, most of the high end or new cars stolen in Colombia are transferred to other Latin American countries and sold as new, and those stolen in other countries are sold new here. “Acero is a criminal market that requires corrupt public officials to export, import and market them like new,” he said.
However, no doubt experts point out that most of the thefts are for the sale of spare parts and some parts are difficult to obtain due to the shortage in the country these days.
This would be an explanation for the increase in recent years as well as the pandemic. Auto parts also go to other countries.
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“One of the crime markets that has become more dynamic is the automobile and motorcycle market, as, among other reasons, there is a shortage of new vehicle supplies. By having a lower supply of new cars, second-hand markets gain more value, and so do spares and auto parts. There, a window opens into the illegality driven by the need to take items that have not arrived in the country,” explained the Bogotá Minister of Security, Hannibal Fernandez de Sotoat EL TIEMPO a few weeks ago.
In some sectors of different cities, spare parts can be purchased for up to 50 percent of the value of the original.
In Bogota alone, the black market for auto parts can move more than 2,000 million pesos a year.
according to the records AsopartsThe most stolen thing from cars in June of this year is the side mirrors with 29 percent; plates with 28 percent; electronic control units with 14 percent; 12 percent tires and 3 percent wheels.
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Security experts point out that there are three predetermined ways to combat this crime: attack gangs and junkyards, illegal markets -Librarians say “we all know where they sell cheaper parts” and reinforces safety culture issues in citizens.
“In order to detect and destroy the different criminal organizations dedicated to this crime, intelligence and criminal investigation work needs to be strengthened, Police focus on surveillance, control and citizen information actions in places where this crime is concentrated, and organize to citizens. and communities on the local security fronts” recommend Acero.
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And Libreros, for his part, argues that if these places and methods exist, it’s because when they buy something from a place like this, it’s citizens who don’t realize that part is covered in blood. If we don’t refuse and go for it, the site will be protected, we have to avoid it”.
In addition, he advises that citizens should always leave their cars in safe places and advises Acero that strengthening the culture of reporting both attempts and thefts should be strengthened as this will facilitate the authorities’ efforts to prevent thefts and that this problem will not escalate. .
MATTHEW GARCIA
Nation Editor
On Twitter: @teomagar
[email protected]
Source: Exame
