A
Vehicle
Every
Five
Hours
Stolen
In San
José
Driving
in San
José is
not only
a matter
of
dealing
traffic
congestion,
the
potholes
and the
increase
in the
number
of
traffic
officials,
but also
of car
thieves,
who on
average
steal a
car
every
five
hours.
 |
During
the
first
six
months
of this
year a
total of
888
vehicles
have
been
reported
stolen
in San
José
according
to the
Organismo
de
Investigacion
Judicial
(OIJ).
The OIJ
reports
that the
areas of
downtown
San
José,
San Juan
de Tibás,
Desamparados
and
Goicoechea
represent
more
than
half of
the
stolen
vehicles
reported
- 489 or
55%.
Although
the
outlook
seems
disappointing,
in fact
the
numbers
are down
from the
same
period
last
year
when a
total of
1.046
vehicles
were
reported
stolen. |
Jorge
Rojas,
the
director
of the
OIJ,
says the
drop in
numbers
is due
to the
hard
work of
his
agents
who have
been
successfull
in
breaking
up a
number
of gangs
specializing
in car
thefts.
The
director
says
that to
reduce
the
number
of
thefts
even
further,
vehicle
owners
have to
also
co-operate
in not
leaving
the
vehicles
anywhere,
especially
in
public
streets
and
areas
where
vehicles
are
easily
accessible
to
thieves.
The oIJ
figures
shows
that 58%
of all
reported
stolen
vehicles
where
left
unattended,
while
30% were
stolen
by way
of the "bajonazo"(gunpoint).
The
statistics
show
that
most of
the
vehicles
were
stolen
between
6pm and
9pm,
especially
on
Tuesdays
and
Wednesdays.
To curb
vehicle
theft,
director
Rojas is
calling
on
municipalities
to
intensify
their
controls
and
inspections
of junk
yards
and used
auto
parts
dealers,
since
many of
the
stolen
vehicles
end up
taken
apart
and sold
for
parts.
How can
you
prevent
your
vehicle
from
being
stolen?
Experts
recommend
the use
of
alarms
to foil
thieves
and
tracking
systems
to help
in the
recovery.
Available
also are
remote
systems
that can
cut the
engine
remotely
or
monitor
your
vehicle
by way
of
cellular
phone.
Although
not yet
available
in Costa
Rica,
using a
fingerprint
reader
to start
the
vehicle
would
greatly
reduce
thefts.
What are
the
favorte
vehicles
of
thieves?
According
to the
OIJ,
vehicles
manufactured
Hyundai
tops the
list,
followed
by
models
by
Nissan,
Toyota,
Chevrolet,
Honda,
Mazda,
Mitzubishi,
Renault,
Daihatsu,
Fiat,
Geo,
Isuzu
and Kia.
According
to the
OIJ, in
the
first
six
months
of the
year,
the
areas
with the
most
vehicles
reported
stolen
are: San
Juan de
Tibás
(50),
Desamparados
centro
(47),
Guadalupe
(42),
Distrito
Hospital
-San
José
centre
(35),
Pavas
(35),
San
Sebastián
(34),
Hatillo
(33),
Montes
de Oca
San
Pedro
(32),
Moravia
San
Vicente
(29),
Aserrí
centro
(28),
San
Rafale
Abajo -
Desamparados
(28),
and
Distrito
Catedral
-
downtown
San José
(28).
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