The last two months have seen a series of at least four terrifying home invastion robberies in the Alto Boquete and Volcancito areas, in addition to more minor burglaries. As we have observed in past difficult cases, it is often an observant citizen that breaks the case. So it was this weekend.
Most of you know that a violent robbery took place last Thursday night in Volcancito, sending the victim to the hospital, the forth such attack in less than two months. On Friday, Alto al Crimen commissioned a private investigator to follow up. On Saturday, he was working with the police in Volcancito.
At about 1:15PM, the Boquete Hotline operator received a call from a resident reporting suspicious activity at a neighbor's house that was unocupied. He immediately contacted the officers who were working in the area. They arrived at the scene within minutes and observed two men running away from the residence.
A chase ensued, warning shots were fired and the suspects attempted to flee down a steep cliff, with the result that one of them fell to his death. His companion was captured and on Sunday, three additional suspected members of what the police described as a gang, were arrested.
The police suspect that these men have been responsible for the majority of the break ins and violent assaults in the last few months. In particular, they suspect that the man who died was responsible for the violent aspects of these crimes.
Over the weekend a variety of residents called in to the Hotline to report suspicious activity or to have vacant houses checked out. They reported that the police have invariably responded quickly, cheerfully and efficiently. Indeed, it was one such call that resulted in the arrest of these suspected predatory criminals.
It is evident from a number of reports that two men were going up and down Volcancito Road asking questions about residents, pretending to be buying mangos or other tricks to get close to houses and scope them out.
Perhaps the most important security feature for every residence is some kind of entry control for your property - a gate with a doorbell, some sort of fencing or wall. Just like you have a front door on your house, you need one on your property as well. Every legitimate visitor will pass through your entry after being acknowledged by you or your workers. It should never be possible for a stranger to wander onto your property, talk to your workers, peer in your windows, without being invited.
Every one of the recent violent home invasions occurred in a house without any entry control. None of them had a working security system, nor a panic alarm. These facts were carefully scouted before the big boys with the guns were called in. If scouts can't get in, the big guys most likely won't visit.
Obvious cameras and motion sensor lights will also discourage the scouts from entering your property and thus will reduce the chances of your house being put on the hit list. The same applies to workers who enter your house. They have the opportunity to scope out your defenses, and since you need them from time to time, the best stategy would be to let them know that your defenses are robust.
We will update this bulliten when more information becomes available.
Alto al Crimen and the Boquete Hotline is supported by your donations. If you already have a Resident ID, consider going to the membership web site https://altoalcrimen.wildapricot.org and upgrading yourself from a legacy member to a Donor Member. If you would like to join AaC and receive a Resident ID and house plaque, please visit https://www.altoalcrimen.org and follow the links for "Register for ID."
The Alto al Crimen Team
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