Rise In Kidnappings
Worries Authorities
Jorge Rojas, the
director of the
Organismo de
Investigación Judicial (OIJ),
says that those driving
luxury vehicles and with
"international" debit or
credit cards are the
prime targets of "secuestro
express" or kidnapping.
For his part, the Fiscal
General, Francisco
Dall'Anese, has sounded
the alarm given six
cases of kidnapping that
the OIJ has had to
handle in the last 40
days.
Dall'Anese is clear that
the crimes are being
committed by organized
groups and is pushing
legislators to pass the
bill that would allow
authorities to deal with
organized crime more
adequately.
According to Rojas, the
victims, in general,
have been people driving
automobiles "llamativos"
(that draw attention)
and in their wallets
carrying internationally
enabled credit or debit
cards.
Rojas added that the
victims are randomly
chosen off the street
and that his
investigators are
currently working on the
cases mentioned by the
Fiscal General.
"They see certain types
of vehicles that show a
certain economic
status", said Rojas.
The criminals use
violence to make their
point and force their
victims into submission,
taking them by force to
different ATM locations
around the city to
withdraw large sums of
money.
Rojas recommends not to
resist and if possible
not to carry credits
cards that won't be used
and to keep low limits
on the card, as Rojas
explained, if the
criminals cannot
withdraw cash, they will
then force their victims
to a shopping spree.
The OIJ director added
that in some cases the
victims are forced to
take the criminals home
where they can ransack
the home for cash and
other valuables,
something that was
learned in Colombia,
Rojas stressed.
Rojas concluded his
statement that it is
most important to file a
complaint. "Some pay up
without calling the
police and this promotes
the criminal activity",
said Rojas.
Victims can call the OIJ
directly at 800 8000 645
to file a complaint or
the emergency service,
911.
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