As we approach the end of the year, crime always picks up. Following is information about a recent crime spree in Boquete.

We need to alert all residents of Alto Boquete about the confirmed activity of a burglary gang operating in Alto Boquete. They have reportedly been responsible for more than 6 burglaries of locally owned homes in the area. The police are investigating, but need your help.
If you see anything out of the ordinary, please immediately call Rodny Direct. We will forward your information to the police.

The gang is suspected to be using a pickup truck with gardening equipment in the back. We believe that they are using this as a cover for casing houses to be burglarized. If you see a suspicious truck, or are approached by someone offering gardening services, or anything else suspicious, take a picture of the truck and the license plate. Email or Whatsapp it to Rodny Direct immediately. Call if you need help sending your pictures.

In particular, you need to get cedulas from any worker who comes on your property. Again, just take a picture of the cedula with your phone. If you are uncomfortable asking for cedulas, please call Rodny and he will get the information for you. Be alert to look for tattoos, which may indicate gang affiliation. This is very important.

Thanks in advance for your help! Alert citizens have broken many cases like this in the past.

Rodny Direct.

www.RodnyDirect.com

6446-8850

I just received the following email

Just wanted to let everyone know about a home invasion that happened three weeks ago, Wednesday at a cattle farm in the Sortova area North of Concepcion. The victims were Panamanian locals, not expats.

The home invasion happened around 1:30-2:00am. The five male intruders entered through a window. None of the windows on the house have security bars, which made it easy for them to enter. The family never new anyone was in their house until the intruders got them out of bed. All the intruders wore masks and gloves, and were armed with guns. The family was tied up with their eyes covered. The intruders ate the families food, took $200.00 and a cell phone. One of the intruders told the family that they were lost, and that is how that happened onto their home. At this point, all five of the intruders put the family into the family pick-up. All seven adults and two small children road in the cab with one of the intruders driving. The guy was driving like a bat out of hell and hit a cow in the road, but not bad enough to disable the vehicle. At this point, the mother took off her mask and sad what happened. She was told they hit a cow and to put her mask back on, but one of the other intruders told her she didn’t have to. Apparently the intruders were being friendly; they even went as far as telling the family they should have had bars on their windows and a mean dog to deter criminals. While they were driving down the highway towards David, a PNP vehicle passed them. They finally stopped some where on the South-side of David, and the gang got out of the truck. Because the pick-up was almost out of fuel, one of the intruders gave $40.00 back to the Father, out of the $200.00 they had take, to pay for gas so the family could get back home. Then the family was told not to say anything to the police, or they knew where they lived.

The family did not go to the police. Not so much, as for fear of their lives, but because they don’t believe the police would do anything. Many locals have been robbed. Many times more than Expats, but don’t report it.

Two things ironic about this incident are that this family had been told repeatedly that they needed to put bars on their windows by multiple family members. In addition, yesterday the father came home and caught a burglar trying to steal their television. After all they had gone through, they still hadn’t put bars on the windows. It’s now a priority.

My advise; increase physical security measures on your property and start a Neighborhood Watch program where you live.

The following was posted on the Volcan Yahoo Group.

There is a meeting with the press and officials scheduled for Thursday afternoon at the Cancha( the big cover) in Cuesta De Piedra. 12 km below Volcan.

Please show up and offer your support towards changing things so that the ladrones-crooks have to pay consequences for their actions.
There have been a series of robberies in Cuesta de Piedra lately. ( among many other neighborhoods in Panama)

A few days ago another was in the process when it was foiled by the owner’s workers. Several of the community responded quickly and were able to catch one of the robbers who ran on foot and was subdued. 3 others fled in a vehicle and escaped even though a neighbor parked his car across the road. The fleeing vehicle when off road through rough terrain and back onto the road and fled.

The police DIJ responded in force and later in the evening, again with the tip of a neighbor, caught the other 3.

The recently formed neighborhood watch group is working and producing results despite all the naysayers.

After a couple days the alleged criminals were released. The case, however, continues to stay open.

The alleged criminals returned to Cuesta de Piedra last night and again the Police and DIJ responded to protect the victim and to look for the accused who allegedly brought a total of 8 associates with them.
Thus, a meeting has been called for Thursday afternoon with media presence and officials in order to address this grave shortfall in the laws surrounding criminals.

PEOPLE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF GETTING ROBBED OR OTHERWISE AND HAVING THE PERPS GET FREED ON TECHNICALITIES OR OTHERWISE.

PLEASE COME OUT AND SUPPORT THIS MEETING AND HERE INFORMATION DIRECTLY ON HOW THE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. THIS IS NOT A DEMONSTRATION BUT RATHER A MEETING AND YOUR ATTENDANCE IS REALLY NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE CAUSE FOR ALL OF US.

THOSE OF YOU WHO SPEAK SPANISH AND CAN BRING ANY AND ALL OF YOUR LOCAL FRIENDS AND FAMILIES, PLEASE DO SO. PLEASE COME TO ATTEND SO WE CAN ALL BE EDUCATED!!!!

ANY OF YOU WHO HAVE MEDIA CONTACTS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GET THEM TO THE MEETING!!! WE ARE HAVING CHAIRS BROUGHT IN, BUT, IF YOU HAVE SOME YOU CAN EASILY BRING DOWN FOR YOURSELVES PLEASE DO SO.

On today’s TeleMetro morning news the commentator was talking about the increase in violence in Panama. TeleMetro is one of the country’s most watched TV stations and the one Lilliam listens to every morning to know what is happening.

The commentator said that currently, Chiriquí is the most violent province in Panama. Let that soak in.

The bread basket of Panama, where the majority of all agricultural produce originates. The home of Boquete, listed in International Living as one of the best places to retire. Chiriquí is the most violent province in Panama.

You have most likely heard the old saying, that it is actions and not words that make a difference.

I have been thinking about that some as a result of the two recent meetings in Chiriquí. The one in David, attended by Panama’s President Varela and the one in Boquete, attended by the Panama’s Minister of Security, Rodolfo Aguilera.

I think there was a large show of new vehicles including off-road 4x4s, talk about increasing police force and other signs which implied action taken. Continue reading Chiriquí Is The Most Violent Province in Panama →