As if they were bait for fishing, criminal groups operating in the capital use minors as distractors to commit thefts or robberies in crowded places.
Each month, the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) handles an average of around 390 complaints for theft. But in December last year the figure increased by almost 100 cases.
The most vulnerable points for the amount of people that come together are the 4 districts in the central canton of San José: El Carmen, Catedral, Merced and Hospital.
There are groups of people who go out daily to commit such crimes. There are groups of only women, but sometimes men and women are combined. There are even people who walk with kids trying to distract pedestrians…”
said Eddy Roda, head of the OIJ robbery section.
The most vulnerable hours to becoming a victim of these crimes extend from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Criminals seek crowds in streets, bus stops, markets or shopping malls.
In San José, criminals steal wallets and handbags in the surroundings areas of market Borbón, market of Coca Cola and Central market,”
said Roda.
Therefore, people must be careful and avoid using backpacks or wallets in the back pocket, flashing jewelry or cash.
The most desired objects by these criminals are cellphones, wallets or jewelry.
According to data provided by the judicial police, the number of thefts increased in the capital in 2016 compared with 2015. It went from 3,653 to 4,240.
In the first 18 days of the year, 192 thefts have been recorded in the central town of San José.
Montes de Oca is also highly visited by these gangs.