Chile sees crime decline as police expand patrols and prevention
Chile's police and municipal authorities report notable declines in crime across several regions as preventive patrols and security measures are intensified.
In the Antofagasta region, including Calama, authorities logged 17,000 identity checks, more than 2,200 infractions, 694 arrests and the seizure of 39 firearms; homicides fell to 16 this year from 26 in 2024, a 31.8% drop. Chillán Viejo registered a 3.7‑point drop in violence to 2.3% and a 7.8‑point reduction in robberies to 9.3%, while the perception of night‑time fear fell 19.4 points. Pichilemu noted fewer crime cases compared with the same period last year thanks to focused drug‑control patrols. Aconcagua’s STOP meetings highlighted a decrease in overall offenses, an increase in "rondas impacto" to 19 this year, daily night patrols, and a rise in intrafamily‑violence reports linked to more complaints. Ñuñoa saw robberies with violence drop 51.8% (44 fewer cases), surprise robberies down 23.3% (30 fewer), and other robberies down 31.1% (19 fewer). Antofagasta reported a 135% rise in police procedures, seizing over 250 kg of drugs, recovering 41 vehicles and expelling 170 foreign nationals. In Magallanes, police procedures rose 29.2% to 174,220 actions, with drug seizures doubling to 25.8 tonnes and 3,056 arrests.
Municipal safety councils in Chillán and other communes have intensified patrols, fiscalisations and coordination with Carabineros, the PDI and civil society. Programs such as Senda Previene and Cosam provide prevention and rehabilitation for alcohol and drug use, while the Ministry of Security’s advisory council gathers experts to address organized crime.
Entities: Antofagasta Region · Camilo Benavente · Carabineros de Chile · Chile · Chillán Viejo · Lautaro Arias · Ministry of Security (Chile) · Patricio Cisterna · Sebastián Caldera
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Chillán municipal security council agreed to intensify preventive patrols, fiscalizations and focalized operations in high‑need areas. (Chillán municipal security council)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Crime cases in Pichilemu decreased compared with the same period last year. (Carabineros of Pichilemu)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The anti‑drug controls and focused patrols are part of Pichilemu’s communal security plan. (Carabineros of Pichilemu)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Aconcagua province experienced a reduction in overall crime, aligning with Ministry of Security data. (Provincial STOP meeting)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Programs Senda Previene and Cosam presented prevention and rehabilitation services for alcohol and drug consumption. (Senda Previene and Cosam presentations)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] 19 rondas impacto have been conducted in Aconcagua province this year, compared with 23 the previous year. (Provincial STOP meeting)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Reports of intrafamily violence increased because more complaints were filed. (Provincial delegate Sebastián Caldera)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Daily night patrols are being carried out in Aconcagua province under Ministry of Security orders. (Provincial STOP meeting)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Chillán Viejo reduced its violence rate by 3.7 percentage points to 2.3% and robberies by 7.8 points to 9.3% in 2025. (3be9ff56-602d-4cfe-aa7c-587122ceb5f4)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Antofagasta region saw a 135% increase in police procedures in 2026, seized over 250 kg of drugs, recovered 41 vehicles and expelled 170 foreign nationals. (37cda2dc-bdba-4523-9a4e-fcb6db3e0472)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Homicides in the Antofagasta region decreased to 16 in 2026 from 26 in 2024, a 31.8% drop. (d7d5f06e-93bb-4a24-962d-4ca9f756af11)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Pichilemu reported a decrease in crime cases in 2025 compared with the same period in 2024 due to targeted drug‑control patrols. (00984351-bd60-472d-9e9a-df35abe2d0da)