Why insecurity has increased in Bogotá during quarantine – Bogotá

Last May 17, for resisting the theft of her bicycle, she was killed in Bosa Yenny Cerquera. Three days later, when it was released as a home, Juan Carlos Gálvez was shot in the abdomen for stealing his cell phone, in Antonio Nariño.

On June 17, three apartments in a residential complex were robbed in Usaquén. And there was an assault of 600 million pesos last Wednesday at a jewelry store in the Gran Estación shopping center, in Teusaquillo. These are events that have alerted citizens and authorities. However, In the towns where these cases occurred, and throughout the city, crime indicators have decreased, with the exception of bicycle theft and violence against women.

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There are those who, like the councilor of the Bogotá party for the People, Marisol Gómez, consider that it is not correct to affirm that there was a decrease of 21,069 thefts to people in the first five months of this year – down from 58,678 to 37,609 cases -, since They are comparing March, April and May 2019 – when the city was operating normally – with months in which there was a quarantine.

Despite this, In February alone, prior to isolation, there was a 22% reduction in the number of heists compared to the same month in 2019. But the mayor of Bogotá, Claudia López, declared this week, in the presentation of the new actions with which the city will face crime, that she is not only concerned about the figures, but also the perception of insecurity of the people.

“In light of the statistics of the security indicators, the situation in Bogotá improves; However, facts that are very noticeable and that have a great media impact on society can impair our perception of security, which is as important as the statistics of criminal indicators, “said the president.

(Also read: Claudia López asks the President to return the strict quarantine)

The most recent security perception and victimization survey of the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce (CCB) shows that the appreciation of insecurity decreased by 3 percentage points between the second half of 2018 and the same period of 2019, going from 61 to 58 %. That is to say, The most up-to-date data on this indicator that worries the president show that there was a slight improvement.

Despite this, the downward crime figures do not leave the authorities alone, who announced a series of strategies to contain the increase in crime that the Attorney General of the Nation, Francisco Barbosa, warns may occur once the quarantine is exceeded , but that is already beginning to give some brushstrokes of what could come for the capital of the country.

The doctor in sociology and professor at the Universidad del Rosario Carlos Charry said that It is normal for there to be spikes in crime after a period of confinement like the one we are experiencing.

“I think we are seeing the most intense part, but as it becomes more normal and there are more people on the street, and as crime becomes more visible, it will decrease,” he said.

Néstor Rosanía, director of the Center for Security and Peace Studies, considers that lThe gangs are trying to get back the money they have lost. “Illegal structures, like any company, have felt the economic impact of confinement and are going to seek to have control of the criminal economy portfolios they manage: drop by drop, freight, theft; in their specialty, each criminal gang will go to recover their sector and recover the income, ”said Rosanía.

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He added that cases such as the one that occurred in Gran Estación and in the residential complex in Usaquén are an example of the tactic that criminals will use. “Very big blows. They need to generate cash and capitalize, they are going to play it for very big shots that imply a high level of intelligence and operability, “he warned.

Andrés Nieto, security expert at the Central University, agrees with Rosanía, since he considers that Bogotá is on a rebound of insecurity. In this time, criminal structures may have strengthened their capabilities.

“The gangs have specialized, they train, they carry out induction processes for their members, they equip them with weapons, they divide roles, they even do camera intelligence, blind spots, at which point there is a change of surveillance, where they can enter,” he explained. Grandchild.

And it is fair considering this specialized criminal dynamic, after a security council with the Prosecutor’s Office, the Police and the Security Secretariat, that the mayor, Claudia López, emphasized that Strengthening intelligence and criminal investigation, given the deficit of 20% of the city’s force foot on account of the new coronavirus, will be one of the priorities.

“Bogotá can be sure that this year those who were robbing residences as it happened in the town of Usaquén, or those who robbed like the one that happened in the Gran Estación shopping center, we are going to capture this year, not have the slightest doubt; in the same way that we captured the assassins of Yenny and Juan Carlos, “warned the president.

(You may be interested in: New measures for entering shopping centers in Bogotá)

Another scenario that worries once isolation passes is the socioeconomic situation. Barbosa prosecutor estimates “that surely Lost jobs will amount to about 5 million (…), which leads us to think that there may be certain increases in crime; and as they told me in the private sector, we have already begun to see the figures. A greater outflow of people to the street could increase these crimes, “he said.

Johan Avendaño, public policy specialist and security analyst, said that in addition to traditional forms of stealing, scams and virtual assaults can be intensified.

He added that given the economic consequences that the pandemic will leave, a difference must be made regarding the condition of vulnerability in which many will find themselves. “To affirm that people because they have more need are going to steal, that is to fall into that the one who is poor steals, and I do not agree with it,” said Avendaño.

Finally, homicides, although they fell during the first five months of this year, did not do so at the speed of theft or other crimes. Between January and May 2020 there were 403 murders, 11 fewer than in the same period of 2019. However, there were towns such as Ciudad Bolívar and San Cristóbal where they increased.

It is for this reason that, having identified seven localities and more specifically 52 neighborhoods where homicides are being concentrated, the Prosecutor, Police and District will intensify their joint efforts. “With units of the Bogotá Police we are going to focus efforts where homicide, the sale of drugs and thefts are being concentrated,” said Hugo Acero, Secretary of Security.

Revolcón to the quadrant plan and the new line 123

Various strategies will begin to be implemented by security authorities in the country’s capital to contain the possible increase in criminal indicators, and improve the perception of insecurity.