The work to dismantle organized crime in strategic sectors of the Metropolitan region is giving results. This, according to a report from the Department of Analysis (DAC) of Carabineros, dependent on the Directorate of Order and Security, which reports a considerable drop in the commission of crimes of greater social connotation in Plaza de Maipú and San Bernardo.
This decrease occurs in the midst of the Intervention Plan led by the Presidential Delegation of the Metropolitan Region (RM) since July 2022, which was carried out in different neighborhoods of the capital simultaneously to combat robberies, thefts, attacks, among other crimes that concern citizens.
Constanza Martinez (CS), presidential delegate RM, in conversation with the Investigation Unit of Radio Bío Bíoexplains that “we have observed concrete results with the reduction of Crimes of greater social connotation in strategic places such as Barrio Meiggs, Plaza de Maipú and Plaza de San Bernardo, demonstrating that coordinated work improves people’s safety.”
The drop, details the militant of Social Convergence, President Boric’s party, is “36.7% in the Meiggs neighborhood, 35.4% in Plaza de Maipú and 45.5% in Plaza de San Bernardo in relation to 2019, prior to the pandemic where there were a series of restrictions on mobility ”.
It also adds that “to this, we add a series of police operations that have led to the dismantling of organized gangs and the persecution of those who have committed crimes. Undoubtedly, we have enormous challenges ahead, but we are steadily advancing on them”.
But how much did crime drop? What is the most repeated crime? The Investigation Unit of Radio Bío Bío had access to the figures and analysis of the Presidential Delegation.
Maipu Square
It was on July 21, 2022 that the intervention began in the Maipú commune, specifically in the Plaza of the same name of the community headquarters. And it is that until that date, 187 crimes of greater social connotation (DMCS) had been registered and robbery with intimidation was the most denounced. It is about 112 cases.
According to official figures, from August to December 2022, 148 DMCS were registered, totaling during that entire period 355 crimes of greater social connotation. If compared with the pre-pandemic data, leaving aside 2020 and 2021, in 2019 there were 518 and in 2018 the number reached 497.
In this context, in relation to 2019 the amount of DMCS presented a decrease of 35.4% during 2022. And it is that when comparing the months prior to the intervention, where 187 DMCS were registered, compared to the 148 post-intervention, it is observed a decrease of 20.8%.
Main Square of San Bernardo
As in Maipú, in the San Bernardo commune, interventions were carried out in the Plaza de Armas to recover the public space. According to the data of 2022, in the quadrant of the square, there were 438 DMCS. In detail, the breakdown shows 245 thefts, 156 robberies and 37 injuries.
High figure when compared to Plaza de Maipú, but 45.5% lower than what happened in 2019 in the same area. Where a total of 803 crimes were presented, with 531 thefts, 226 robberies and 46 injuries.