# Crime trends in South American urban areas

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/crime-trends-in-south-american-urban-areas
> Updated: 2026-08-21T12:01:36.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

Criminal activity trends in South America have shown varying patterns across different regions and crime types. In mid-August, residents in Colombia and Paraguay reported rising insecurity. In Pasto, Colombia, community leaders noted that criminals were exploiting poor lighting and insufficient patrols to conduct nighttime robberies. Meanwhile, in Paraguay, organized gangs in Lambaré and Asunción utilized signal inhibitors and intelligence to target victims, leading to public questioning of police effectiveness.

By late August, statistical data revealed diverging trends. In Argentina, vehicle thefts on public roads in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area saw a significant increase, rising from 73.91% in June to 95.65% in July. Conversely, Bogotá, Colombia, reported a 16% decrease in theft against persons compared to the previous year, with notable declines in localities such as Ciudad Bolívar and Usme. Authorities in Bogotá attributed this reduction to specific preventive and operational strategies.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-21: Crime trends show rising vehicle theft in Argentina and falling robbery rates in Bogotá

Crime reports show rising vehicle thefts on public roads in Argentina, while Bogotá, Colombia, reports a 16% decrease in theft against persons during 2026.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/crime-trends-show-rising-vehicle-theft-in-argentina-and-falling-robbery-rates-in-bogot

### 2026-08-19: Rising crime rates spark calls for increased police presence in Colombia and Paraguay

Residents in Pasto, Colombia, and the Lambaré and Asunción areas of Paraguay are demanding increased police presence following surges in robberies and organized criminal activity.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/rising-crime-rates-spark-calls-for-increased-police-presence-in-colombia-and-paraguay

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Cite as: Crime trends in South American urban areas. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/crime-trends-in-south-american-urban-areas