How Safe Is Your Vehicle
Parked At The Mall?
Given the rise in
vehicle thefts at the
malls in and around San
José, each commercial
centre has adopted
security measures to
combat this form of
crime, from handing out
"fichas" or special
marked tabs that are
required to leave the
parking lot to security
cameras and security
guards armed to the
teeth.
The local television
Channel 7 news team "Telenoticias"
decided to test the
security measures at
various malls and had
the following report -
no problem stealing a
vehicle and getting it
out past the security.
The team first visited
Paseo de las Flores mall
in Heredia. Using a team
of 2 and a hidden
camera, the news team
tested the protocols
used by the security
personnel at the mall.
The first entered at
9:0am and was given a
ficha that is required
to be used to leave the
lot. In theory, security
personnel are required
to collect the ficha at
the exit and failing not
allow the vehicle to
leave the lot.
However, in reality,
that doesn't always
occur.
At the Paseo de las
Flores, the second
person of the news team
approached the vehicle,
went into action,
simulating breaking in
and attempted to leave
the lot with the vehicle
and not having the ficha.
Of the two attempts
made, the first failed
but the second
succeeded. The alleged
thief in the simulated
theft, not having the
ficha, took out the
vehicle's registration
papers and although the
documents were not in
the name of the alleged
thief, the security
detail allowed the
vehicle to pass after
listening to a bogus
story.
The Telenoticias team
then visited Plaza
Rohrmoser and using the
same method went into
action. This time, all
it took was payment of
˘2.000 colones (us$4) -
the cost to replace the
ficha.
The result: the news
teams stole two vehicles
in two different malls
the same morning.
Security was stricter at
Multiplaza del Este, in
Zapote. Security
officials there did not
allow the vehicle to
leave under any
circumstances.
According to the
Organismo de
Investigación Judicial (OIJ)
46 vehicles were stolen
from 21 different
commercial centres in
2007.
The centres with the
most robberies are in
the Feria Norte en Tibás,
with 5 vehicles stolen,
the Centro Comercial de
Guadalupe and Plaza
Mayor with 4 robberied
each, the Centro
Comercial del Sur, along
with Hipermás,
Multiplaza Escazú and
Multiplaza del Este,
each with 3 robberies.
Given a decision by the
Sala I in 2007,
commercial centres are
totall responsible for
customers vehicles
stolen from their lots,
security at the lots is
slack.
The court decision does
not distinguish the
difference between a pay
or free lot. The courts
hold that a customer who
leaves his vehicle in a
lot provided by the
commercial centre can
expect a measure of
security that his or her
vehicle will not be
stolen or damaged while
in the care of the
commercial centre, and
forms part of the rights
of consumers. In the
case of a loss or damage
to a vehicle, the
commercial centre can be
held fully liable.
To ensure that you don't
fall victim to vehicle
theft while shopping, it
is recommended that you
not leave the ficha in
the vehicle, taking it
with you while shopping.
Also, though it is
difficult, it is
recommended that you do
not leave the
registration papers in
the vehicle, along with
any other valuables.
Parking your vehicle
close to the doors or
security guard stations
is also a good practice,
along with activating
the vehicle's alarm
system to deter thieves
and theft.
The Institutio Nacional
de Seguros (INS) -
national insurance
company - offers a
discount to policy
holder of the
"voluntary" theft
insurance on their
vehicles. To obtain the
discount, you need to
provide the INS proof of
the installation of a
security system in your
vehicle. |
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