Crime Rates Rise in Puerto Vallarta: A Closer Look at the First Quarter of 2023

Puerto Vallarta (PVDN) - In the first quarter of the year, Puerto Vallarta experienced a significant increase in seven high-impact crimes, despite local authorities' claims that it remains a low-crime tourist destination. These figures indicate that insecurity in the city has worsened, contradicting the municipal government's promise to reduce crime rates.

Official data reveals that during the first quarter, there were 537 reports of eleven high-impact crimes, a 47% increase compared to the same period in 2022, when 365 crimes were recorded. The crimes that saw a rise this year include extortion, vehicle theft, residential burglary, commercial robbery, assault, rape, and domestic violence, according to data from the Criminal Stoplight platform in Jalisco, which is based on complaints filed with the Public Ministry agencies.

The crime with the sharpest increase in the first three months of the year was rape, soaring by 200% from five cases in 2022 to 15 cases in 2023. The digital platform also highlights that commercial robbery, which experienced a 189% increase, remains a significant concern. In the first quarter of 2022, there were 19 reported cases, compared to 55 in 2023.

Extortion saw a 67% increase, with nine cases in the first three months of 2022, growing to 15 cases in 2023. Vehicle theft rose by 51%, from 91 cases in 2022 to 137 in 2023. Domestic violence increased by 50%, from 115 cases in 2022 to 173 cases in 2023. Assault grew by 23%, with 80 cases in 2022 compared to 98 in 2023. Residential burglary increased by 18%, from 34 cases in 2022 to 40 in 2023.

However, the Criminal Stoplight platform in Jalisco also reported a 60% decrease in homicides compared to the first quarter of 2022, with five murders in 2022 and only two in 2023.

So far, local authorities and the Municipal Police have been unable to contain and reduce these crime rates. However, the Puerto Vallarta Citizen Security Commissioner asserts that they are working on implementing operations in the most problematic areas to address these issues.