Portón residents in Bugaba demand police post amid wave of robberies and assaults

Residents of Portón in Bugaba, Chiriquí province, are living in fear amid an alarming wave of crime, prompting urgent calls for increased security measures, including the establishment of a police post. The community has reported a significant rise in thefts, violent incidents, and invasions of private property, with recent attacks on elderly residents to steal their belongings.

"We are truly tired of people stealing from our homes and assaulting people. This is no longer bearable," expressed Yuli Viques, a concerned resident, highlighting the community's growing desperation. The lack of adequate public lighting in the area further compounds the problem, leaving homes vulnerable to criminal activity.

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We are truly tired of people stealing from our homes and assaulting people. This is no longer bearable.

Adding to the insecurity is the systematic theft of agricultural products. Local residents report that individuals within the community are stealing crops and selling them on a local black market at drastically reduced prices. Julián Viques, another resident, lamented the lack of community support in combating this illicit trade, noting that buyers are knowingly purchasing stolen goods from those who do not even cultivate them.

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There is a lack of lighting here, a lack of everything... A police post, because this is very serious right now.

"There are houses here that are known to buy [stolen goods]; they have five or six thieves who bring them all the loads. They buy cheaply; they are not producers. The community must also do its part... They buy from these young people who have never planted a single cassava stick," Viques explained.

Faced with this escalating crime situation, the residents of Portón are reiterating their urgent appeal to the authorities for the immediate installation of a police station and the implementation of regular patrols. They hope these measures will restore peace and security to their neighborhood.

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There are houses here that are known to buy [stolen goods]; they have five or six thieves who bring them all the loads. They buy cheaply; they are not producers. The community must also do its part... They buy from these young people who have never planted a single cassava stick.