Global Courant 2023-04-20 09:45:20
In a country like Guatemala, where the Office of the Prosecutor against Organized Crime of the Public Ministry (MP) persecutes at least eight car-robbing gangs that concentrate their operations in the departments of Guatemala, Escuintla, Sacatepéquez, Chimaltenango, Quetzaltenango and San Marcos, it is necessary to take all precautions to avoid the theft of assets that are used for personal, work or commercial mobility.
Obviously, those who should be most alert are those people who live in Guatemala City, because according to said prosecutor’s office, between 70 and 75 percent of the incidence of vehicle theft is concentrated in the 25 areas of the capital.
And no wonder, because from 2020 to 2022 this number of complaints were filed: 2,652; 3 thousand 026 and 3 thousand 658. What’s more, some figures show that 20 vehicles are stolen every day in the country, including more motorcycles.
The area of the capital where more aggravated robberies have been reported is 10. In this demarcation, in 2021 were 120; Meanwhile in 2022, 193. Zone 7 follows, with 179 in 2021, and 269 in 2022.
Zone 13 registered in 2021, 79, and the 2022, 112. In the case of aggravated robbery, zone 5 has 25 in 2021, and 52 in 2022. Zone 10 reported 47 in 2021 and 82 in 2022. In zone 13, 40 in 2021, and 60 in 2022. But before all this, what should I do to avoid, in the first instance, the theft of my property, and secondly, how should I report it to the authorities.
What should I do if my vehicle is stolen?
The first thing, and urgent, is to notify the authorities through the 110 of the PNC and the 1561 of Crime Stoppers. With this the trace begins.
The second thing is to go to a nearest Police station, substation or police station or to a Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP) to ratify the complaint.
This is important so that a file is created and assigned to an official for the corresponding follow-up.
But it doesn’t end here. With the copies of complaints from the MP or PNC, you should visit the section against vehicle robbery or theft or the departmental investigation unit of the Specialized Criminal Investigation Division (DEIC).
Here a team of agents is assigned to follow the case and gather the necessary information to recover the stolen vehicle.
The robbery and theft of vehicles section of the PNC reports that from January 1 to date they have recovered 369 vehicles throughout the country. Most are motorcycles.
What is the process for returning stolen vehicles to their owners?
1.- It is vital to have a copy and original of the complaint filed in MP and PNC. In addition, other documents that have been generated in other security and investigation units.
2.- Carry the property title, the circulation card and other documents related to the stolen vehicle.
3.- Go to the MP to establish who has the case and request the return of the vehicle by means of a memorial to the tax assistant.
4.- The return is not immediate. The process is bureaucratic and corroboration of the documents that you must carry.
5.- You should always be persistent and ask frequently until the car is returned to you. Just as it can be in a week, depending on the workload of the tax assistant, it could also take months to return the vehicle.
How do I protect my vehicle?
According to the specialist in security systems for four and two-wheeled vehicles, Julio Rojas Darodes, who has been installing alarms and other options for 20 years, the most important thing is to know where a vehicle is parked. “That’s basic,” he says.
Also, for those who have the option to do so, purchase theft insurance. But in the cases that he occupies, what they request is the power cut system (which works between the gasoline pump and the ignition) and seeks to prevent them from taking the vehicle if it is parked. “Theft is avoided,” he says.
The other would be an anti-robbery system (when they open a door and the vehicle is running). This prevents the car from being taken more than 45 seconds after the robbery.
“Another would be an anti-theft alarm system (such as power failure and anti-robbery) with the problem that in Guatemala they take the owner of the vehicle to the assault and it turns out to be non-functional,” explained Rojas Darodes.
And finally, a GPS, which is almost the safest way, although not infallible, because criminals today disarm it in a short time.
In the case of motorcycles or bicycles, the recommendation is to use locks and chains, in addition to the systems used for four-wheeled vehicles.
