Robbery rates have nearly doubled in Colombia’s capital Bogota over the past few years while the city at the same time is failing to keep the homicide rate from going up.
Figures released by the municipal Center for Studies and Analysis in Citizen Security (CEACSC) show that robbery and assault levels have risen in more than half of Bogota´s neighborhoods between the first half of 2013 and that of 2014.
These numbers add up to statistics maintained by the Chamber of Commerce that show that street robberies went up a staggering 68% between 2012 and 2013 when a total of 25,226 robberies were reported.
In the tourist hotspots of La Candelaria and Chapinero no murders were reported in 2014, which has been linked to police strengthening numbers and resources in these areas.
However, robbery and assault levels in these main tourist areas are extremely high. The Colombia Chamber of commerce data shows a steep peak in street robberies in Bogota from 14985 cases in 2012 to 25226 in 2013.
Bogota robberies
MORE: Bogota crime statistics
In 2013, there were 571 reported thefts in La Candelaria, 1,778 in Santa Fe and 2,454 in Chapinero.
Bogota robbery risk map
With the majority of youth hostels being located in La Candelaria and Chapinero, it is clear that the Bogota officials will not be shouting these results from the roof tops.
The areas with the biggest increases are Kennedy, Ciudad Bolivar, Bosa, Usme, San Cristobal Barrios Unidos, Santa Fe and Los Martires, where at least four different categories of crime indicators increased between January and September 2014, compared with same period last year.
While Bogota has traditionally enjoyed a comparatively low murder rate compared to cities such as Cali and Medellin, CEACSC figures show a rise in homicides from 2013 to 2014. In 2013 there were 826 homicides registered between January and September, 861 have been registered in the same period in 2014, an increase of 4.1%.
Bogota homicide rate (per 100,000 inhabitants)
While the homicide rate per 100,000 people in the capital remains one of the lowest in decades, figures show that there are some areas in Bogota with rates double and even triple the local and national average, such as the districts of Santa Fe (with 68 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants), Los Martires (58), Ciudad Bolivar (37), San Cristobal (27) and Usme (21).
Local sources have blamed the high levels of violence in these impoverished suburbs and the downtown area on poverty, gangs and drug trafficking.
Sources
- MUERTES VIOLENTAS Y DELITOS DE MAYOR IMPACTO ENERO-AGOSTO AÑOS 2013-2014 (CEACSC)
- Balance de violencia e inseguridad en Bogotá y Tunja (Noticias RCN)
- Aumenta la inseguridad en Bogota (El Espectador)
- Colombia 2014 crime and safety report (OSAC)