Downward blip in crime rate

PANAMA. Criminal activity has fallen for one weekend period in July according to the daily police registry of the country. The statistics revealed that there were less felonies committed from July 17 to 19 than in the period of July 10 to 12. There were 146 incidents between July 10 to 12 and that figure went down to 124 cases in the following weekend 17 to 19. The number of robberies diminishes from 56 to 47 and the assaults from 33 to 22. The only sector that showed an increase was thefts which went from 48 to 51.

The daily register of crimes and police action showed that there have been less incidents in the problem areas such as Metropolitan West that had diminution of 10.53 percent, while in the Colon province criminal acts went down by 50 percent. The San Miguelito district also demonstrated an improvement with crime dropping 41.46 percent.

However, violent incidents increased by 37.50 in Panama West during the July 17 to 19 period.

The Judicial Investigation Department Search Unit has a record level of captures with 90 percent of the criminals they were looking for being arrested during months of May and July. During the operation known as Genesis there were 44 captures, while another 82 took place in July.

However, the population especially in the capital city is still feeling vulnerable and believes that the police could do more to fight crime, especially in areas such as Curundu, Bella Vista, Pedregal and Veracruz.

Civil leaders want the implementation of scheme such as Neighborhood Watch in problem areas as a deterrent for common criminals and at the same time fight gangs in certain sectors such Colon City and San Joaquin.