Robbers in Bogota have 10 “preferred sites” to commit their crimes

Mr. Hollywood says on Apr 22, 2007, 20:53:

Curious if this translation is bad. I don't think a lot of people are getting "robbed" in the Zona or on the Transmilenio. I think most of them are getting pick-pocketed. Somehow I think that detail was lost in translation.

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jay1234 says on Apr 22, 2007, 20:56:

Thanks for the info aztec I am going to Bogota on May 1 for ten days. This is helpful to keep me aware of "problem" areas.

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Apr 23, 2007, 01:16:

Robbed and pickpoketed Mr Hollywood, but i am surprise it took so long to publish these list ,many people in Bogota know this areas are famous for this kind of activities, they were even before I moved to the UK. nothing new here.
One they have forgot is avenida 19 CON Octava and Jimenes with tercera.

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aztec says on Apr 23, 2007, 07:04:

OK, I will post the untranslated version. Abril 19 de 2007

Seguridad Ciudadana de la Alcaldía Mayor.

En el listado se encuentran:

* TransMilenio, portal Norte
* TransMilenio, portal Américas
* TransMileno, portal Calle 80
* Transmilenio, estación Avenida Jiménez
* Zona Rosa, entre las calles 72 y 85 y las carreras 11 y 19
* De la calle 90 a la 95, entre carreras 11 y 19
* Calles 49 y 63, entre carreras 7a. y 16
* Calles 11 y 22, entre carreras 5 y 4
* Avenida Boyacá con Av. Primero de Mayo
* Avenida 68 con calle 80

El listado evidencia la fragilidad en materia de seguridad del servicio de transporte masivo TransMilenio.

Los expertos se dieron a la tarea de escudriñar en las cifras de la Policía Metropolitana, la Fiscalía y Medicina Legal, debido a que el hurto a personas se está convirtiendo en un problema insostenible en Bogotá.

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juancegomez says on Apr 23, 2007, 12:39:

Well.. ...it may just be an anecdote, but I haven't been robbed or pickpocketed yet, even though I visit several of those places on a regular basis.

I doubt it's just my luck, though that factor does ultimately decide many things.

The risk certainly exists, I'm sure of it, but it would be helpful if they mentioned other contributing factors (say, at what time of the day?), not simply the general locations where more muggings have been reported.

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JMCana says on Apr 23, 2007, 12:39:

Yup right there The number one spot on the list (I do not know if they are in order of severity or not) is the Portal Norte. That is the main place I use at least 3 times a week. Indeed it is frequently very crowded with people pressing against you. So I could see how it could be a pick-pocket heaven. On Saturday it displayed partially of why it got the reputation, but also showed why it may maintain its position on the list. I watched two guys get into first a heated conversation, then a yelling match and then a fist fight over who was first in line to purchase TM card. The funny part was that despite people's request to police to get the two fist throwing men out of there, the police did nothing. I mean nothing except make a half-ass attempt to clean up the blood.

And I can say that over the last 6 months I have noticed an escalation of rudeness at the station. In the first couple months everyone behaved buying cards, going through the turnstile or waiting for the bus. Now I am seeing much more of people pushing and shoving and gangs of 3 or 4 youths physically pushing little old ladies and others out of the way just as the bus doors open so they can be on first with a seat. And every time it has been with impunity.

Noting that the first 4 areas are transmilenio sites, the city should really consider nipping that one in the bud before their jewel of transportation ingeniousness turns into another example of the country's problems.

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Mr. Hollywood says on Apr 23, 2007, 13:19:

Zona Rosa and Parque 93 I've spent probably hundreds of hours in both those areas by virtue of living close and both going out there and simply passing through on foot a lot. I've never seen a single mugging or been threatened myself. Not saying it doesn't happen, but I have a hard time believing it's common.

Weirdest things that happen to me there are conversations with a well-dressed old scammer who hits me up repeatedly with the same sad story about his wife having been taken to Clinica Del Country today and needing some money to cover her medicine. He's told me that story over and over again. I usually wait patiently and then say, "Don't you remember giving me this line about 2 months ago?" And he then just says, "Ay, que pena!" and makes tracks.

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