I received the following for posting:

Good Evening Don Ray

A very disturbing event has happened in David. My friend, Celina Villaverde, raises Shih Tzus in Panama City. Two weeks ago she was contacted by a man in David, who claimed to be a Doctor at Mae Lewis Hospital. He told her he had seen her notice on the board in El Rey, that she had female Shih Tzus for sale. He then stated that he had 2 daughters and wanted to buy a female Shih Tzu puppy for each. She and her husband drove down from Panama City on Saturday with the 2 puppies. They met a man, claiming to be the doctor’s son, in Chiriqui Hospital, where he said his mother was a surgeon. He then asked if he could take the puppies in to see her. Feliz,, Celina;s husband, told him to only take 1 at a time. He took Daisy and that was the last they saw of him and Daisy. The police have been contacted and the they have the video from the hospital. Evidently, they are familiar with this man. At this point, all I know is that he has a twisted front tooth.
My friend is so afraid that she won’t get Daisy back. She fears she may be in an awful situation. I am hopeful that the police can be of help in that area. I know what a dog lover you are so that is why I’m asking for your help.
Could you put in a picture of Daisy, in case he tries to sell her. Daisy is 2 1/2 months old. They are offering a reward for her return, no questions asked. Celina can be reached at: 66785121.Anything you can do to help is so appreciated..
Thank you: Kathy Reny

There was an attempted break-in in Alto Jaramillo Boquete on March 13th by 4 masked men. There was a murder in Volcan on March 14 by persons unknown. I have recorded both events on Chiriquí Watch.

I continue to encourage posting events such as this to Chiriquí Watch so that a log of events is maintained. I feel it is important that they be recorded across Chiriquí, not just written up in Yahoo groups or special interest areas such as Boquete Ning.

It is thought that the perpetrators are not necessarily from the areas the crimes are being commented. Therefore, the criminals are moving to different districts within Chiriqui and only a larger database will provide a good picture.

Not only that, but a unified picture helps in communicating the problem to government officials. I believe they are more likely to respond when you can show history and location. Crime will continue to grow if crimes are not solved or adequately prosecuted. This will affect will future growth and future tourism should be important.

I don’t know of another tool offered in Panama that provides a graphical representation of where crimes are happening and a categorization of the types.

Not all of the crimes are against gringos, however the gringo community has more ability to use technology than many of their neighbors. Anyone with an Internet connection can report a crime, a suspicious car seen in an area, etc.

The gringo community also has the most to lose by not sharing the news (you may not have noticed the target on your back) and the most to gain by sharing the news.

In my opinion, crime is worse now than when I first came here and I think it is going to continue to grow unless checked.

It may be worth posting the link to Chiriquí Watch again and restating its purpose and what it can do.

The database maintained by Chiriquí Watch can be a very effective tool in recording and communicating all sorts of information related to Chiriquí.

Besides recording crimes it can be use to notify others of protests and highway blockages.

The product that Chiriquí Watch uses has been used effectively in other parts of the world.

I have tried to engage other similar motivated sites in Chiriquí to participate in Chiriquí Watch, but some feel that their information should be kept secret.

I on the other hand believe that information is power and the more that know about what is going in Chiriquí empowers everyone to be better prepared.

Anyone can enter information.

I am currently the only administrator. That is not by design.

I have no pride of ownership in this site, I just feel it is a needed tool to make everyone safer and wiser about what is happening in this province.

To see the actual site go HERE.

I received the following from the Potrerillos Neighborhood Watch & Public Safety Facilitator.

Criminal Activity Report:
There have been several incidents of burglary including an attempted burglary which resulted in a beat down of an American Citizen plus a theft at the David Airport and the detention of suspicious individuals by Police in the EL Terronal Mall parking lot.

New Case,

On 21-Nov-12 a home occupied by an American man located in the village of Santa Rita was targeted by thieves. The incident occurred when a lone suspect described as a Panamanian male approximately 18 to 22 years old attempted to unlawfully enter the private dwelling of the victim described as an American man of retirement age. The American heard the punk trying to gain entry when the American confronted the thief who responded by attacking him with a shovel that he was useing to bash the door, this according to Officials for Dolega PD.

Information provided indicates the perpetrator made his getaway through an adjoining property where a vehicle was waiting for him. No items of personal property were reported stolen however the victim did suffered some cuts and bruising on his forearms as he fought off the attack.

Next Case, Continue reading →

I received the following from the Potrerillos Neighborhood Watch Facilitator.

Crime Report:

Potrerillos has suffered another costly burglary of a commercial business plus a murder was committed in a private home on a nearby ranch 

New Burglary Case,

The Potrerillos Gas Station was burglarized (for the 4^th time) over night last Monday                      5-Novenber-2012.  The incident occurred when unknown individuals cut away the exterior locks of the office building and entered undetected.   Once inside they went to work on the cash vault containing $12,000,   this according to Police Investigators from Dolega PD.  Information provided indicates that the suspects spent some time bashing away at the cash vault until it was breached at which time the thieves made off with the money.

The investigation reviled that the perpetrators used a low lying drainage ditch located on the back side of the station to make their getaway,  a 4-door sedan described as a taxi without license plates was also reported to be circulating in the area at the time of the burglary but has not been definitively linked to this crime.  The Dolega Police are asking the public to be on the lookout for any suspicious taxies operating in the area without a license plate.  Anyone spotting a taxi matching this description is urged to immediately contact Dolega PD @ 776-0160.

Next Case, Continue reading →

I received the following from Potrerillos Neighborhood Watch Facilitator:

Public Safety Advisory

Potrerillos has experienced two serious vehicle related accidence involving pedestrians who were hit by passing cars, one of the victims is dead and another is in a David hospital on life support,  plus another smash and grab at El Terronal Mall to report.

On the date of 26-October-2012 at approximately 10-AM a pedestrian was hit by a passing car near the village of Acequia just below Potrerillos. The incident occurred when the victim described as an 83 year old Panamanian man who was possibly collecting aluminum cans on the edge of the roadway was struck and killed by a vehicle operated by a 28 year old Panamanian man from Potrerillos Arriba, this according to Law Enforcement Authorities from Dolega. No additional details or vehicle description was provided however it was believed that excess speed was a factor.

Next incident, Continue reading →

I received the following from Potrerillos Neighborhood Watch Facilitator

Potrerillos has no reportable crimes perpetrated against the Expatiate Community however the nearby town of Boquete has had a series of robberies and other criminal related incidents including another home invasion plus a vehicle accident occurred in Acequia and a Town Hall Meeting was conducted by the National Police in Potrerillos Abajo.

On the date of 10-OCT-2012 at about 11-AM a vehicle described as a commercial delivery van was involved in an accident near the Acequia Primary School. The incident occurred when the driver of the delivery van lost control and flipped over causing major damage to the vehicle and partially blocked the road. The driver described as a Panamanian man approximately 30 years old was seriously injured and was transported to a hospital in David by the Dolega EMS, this according to Police Officials from Dolega.

A traffic police investigation reviled that excessive speed and the suspected use of a cell phone were contributing factors. Continue reading →

I received a request from Alto al Crimen in Boquete to post the following:

Recently a single woman house sitting in downtown Boquete reported that she was sexually assaulted in her house.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

The woman reported that she was raped during a home invasion.  This is all of the information that we have to report at the present. Alto al Crimen is working this case and will provide more information when available.

All residents, whether you permanently live here, or are visiting for any length of time, and especially single women, need to take steps to protect themselves in their houses.

This includes:

• registering for a Resident ID Number,
• obtaining a Resident ID plaque to place on the outside of your residence,
• and having a personal protection boat horns, alarms, dogs, etc.

As a newcomer, you may be moving into a strange house which most likely has no protection whatsoever, a fact well known to the bad guys.
When you move into a new rental house or temporary residence the FIRST THING YOU NEED TO DO, ON THE FIRST DAY AND BEFORE THE FIRST NIGHT, is to TAKE RESPONSIBILITY that you personally and your possessions are safe from predators.

• Check the property carefully to make sure that there are no easy entry points.
• Set up informal alarm systems that will alert you if someone is trying to get in.
• Call the Hotline (6477-6662) if you need priority delivery of a personal protection boat horn or any assistance.
• Talk with your neighbors and demonstrate the horn so they know what to do if you use it.

Read the AAC Newcomer’s Guide to Security

Be very visible in taking these precautions. Just doing this will spread the word that you are protected and reduce the possibility of an intruder.

For more information on protecting yourself and your property in Boquete, visit the  Alto al Crimen Website Library.

We now have Hotline Visitor Cards, which can be handed to tourists and your guests in Boquete. Should they encounter any difficulty during their visit, the can call the Hotline for help. They are available free at Mailboxes, Etc.

A reminder:  Use the Hotline 6477-6662

• Report any criminal or suspicious activity
• Request medical assistance
• Request road assistance
• Request translation assistance
• Inquire about services & resources in Boquete area

The Alto al Crimen Team

I received the following from the Potrerillos Neighborhood Watch Facilitator.

Potrerillos is experiencing a dramatic increase in burglaries and other criminal activities. There have been 5 residential burglaries including a report of chickens stolen from a home in Potrerillos and 2 DUI arrests all in the last 8 days. There was also a costly burglary reported near Dolega Township.

First Case;
On the date of 23-AUG-2012 a home owned by an American in Potrerillos Arriba was burglarized some time during the hours of darkness. The incident occurred when unknown individuals cut their way through the window bars to gain entry (attached photo) near the front door of the home causing moderate damage. The Local Police were notified who quickly responded to the scene and started a formal investigation.
The home owners who were out of the area at the time of the incident were notified by a neighbor who contacted them. Information provided indicates that the perpetrators ransacked the entire house before ripped off several items of unspecified property from the victim home. Continue reading →