Facing increased robberies, Puerto Vallarta issue safety recommendations

From January to September, 1,389 robberies were reported in Puerto Vallarta, 271 more than in the same period of 2017.

Robberies in this number include home, business, banks, vehicles, and pedestrians.

Despite the fact that the theft of pedestrians on public roads ranks fifth in terms of the rest of the other types of thefts in the city, this crime is the one that is reported most due to social media.

According to the data published by the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System (SESNSP), the first place is occupied by home robbery, since from January to September of this year 449 reports have been files; 19 more than during the same period of 2017 when 430 complaints were registered with the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

In the second position is the robbery of businesses with 332 robberies reported, 137 more than in 2017 when there were 195 reported.

The theft of vehicles (car or van) ranks third with 246 cases in 2018, 29 more than in 2017, in which 217 reported incidents were recorded.

Motorcycles are another of the targets of criminals, because from January to September of this year 203 robberies have been reported, which, compared with those that occurred in 2017 where 138 cases were recorded, registered an increase of 65 complaints.

Regarding the robbery of banking institutions, only one case has been reported in the city, this happened in September. In 2017 there is no record of a complaint with the SESNSP.

Emphasizing that security measures should not be neglected when making bank deposits, the head of the General Directorate for Citizen Security of Puerto Vallarta, Jorge Misael López Muro, stressed that on behalf of the dependency under his charge there is a commitment to safeguard the public order and the property of the inhabitants of this city.

“It is a primordial task, but not everything should be left to the law enforcement, but also certain and simple security measures should be followed personally,” said López Muro.

To avoid being a victim of theft on public roads, especially when going to banking institutions, the following recommendations must be met :

• Avoid as much as possible withdrawing large amounts of cash; if required, do it in stages and in small quantities.
• When you go to withdraw cash, do not disclose it.
• If you need to withdraw money frequently, you have to do it in different branches and at different times
• If inside the bank you see some suspicious person who sees you insistently, do not make the withdrawal and change the branch.
• If the operation you require involves large amounts of money, ask to do so in a private place of the bank.
• If you are going to do a business that involves the withdrawal of a large amount of cash, do the transaction electronically or through cashier checks or certificates.
• If leaving a bank you notice that someone is following you, call 9-1-1.
• When you arrive at your home or office after having made a withdraw, do not leave the door open.
• If an armed robbery is imminent, do not resist.
• If you were the victim of a robbery, you should always file a report.

“Many times the simple to follow security measures, which do not cost us much, prevents us from being victims of crime, so we must always remember that safety and prevention is a collective effort,” said the Commissioner.

This public demand for action implies a citizen’s commitment, not only to supervise security activities but also to participate in the prevention of crime personally, he added.