Three Motorbikes
Stolen At
Gunpoint In San
José Daily
Riding a
motorcycle in
San José has
always been
risky, but now
even more as "hampones"
(thugs) are now
targeting
motorcycles,
with an average
of three
motorcycles are
taken by
gunpoint in San
José.
The term in
Spanish is "método
del bajonazo"
and the
favourite method
by at least
three gangs
identified by
police
authorities, who
have been very
active in the
past several
months, the
latest over the
weeking in
Aserri, where 18
year old, Deivis
José Vega
Covaleda, lost
his life trying
to defend his
two wheels.
Deivis was
unharmed and
died after being
shot point blank
in the chest by
one of the
assailants.
Police say that
the thugs have
no qualms in
shooting at
victims who
resist the
attack.
Unfortunately,
in the face of
the
circumstances,
all police can
say is "be very
careful".
Pablo Bertozzi,
subdirector of
the Fuerza
Pública (police)
recommends not
to ride in
solitary areas
and not to park
bikes on the
street.
"If you are
being held up at
gunpoint, do not
resist", are the
recommendations
of Bertozzi.
According to
police
statistics,
downtown San
José,
Desamparados,
Goicoechea,
Tibás,
Alajuelita and
Escazú are the
worst areas. The
statistics also
include areas of
Alajuela and
Pococí de Limón
areas of high
incidents of
bike thefts.
According to
figures of the
Organismo de
Investigación
Judicial (OIJ)
between January
2009 and March
2010, a total of
1.221
motorcycles have
been reported
stolen.
The majority of
the thefts were
of new or late
model bikes,
especially those
with motors of
125cc, 200cc and
250cc.
The OIJ believes
that the bikes
are taken apart
to be sold for
parts, while
others are sold
on the black
market in rural
areas.
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