Local theft and security concerns reported in Chile and Peru

Reports from Chile and Peru highlight increasing concerns regarding local theft and inadequate security responses in residential and community areas.

In Chile, the Ulises Vera Sports Club reported that a thief on a bicycle targeted the facility twice in one weekend, stealing approximately one million pesos worth of equipment. The stolen items included sports gear, a lawnmower, snacks for children, a speaker, and footballs. The club's president, Dante Carreño, noted that the lack of street lighting facilitates such crimes and expressed frustration with law enforcement, stating that previous attempts to report incidents were met with claims that police could not act without definitive proof.

In Peru, residents of the Cocharcas Cooperative in the Villa El Salvador district of Lima have denounced a rise in street robberies near the Virgen de Cocharcas market. Neighbors report that criminals, sometimes using motorcycles or cars, target pedestrians to steal cell phones and wallets, occasionally using firearms. Local citizens have criticized the slow response times of both the police and municipal security services (serenazgo), claiming that existing security measures like gates have not deterred the activity.