Wave of robberies in Salto prompts meeting between police and business leaders

Salto, Uruguay, is grappling with a wave of armed robberies and thefts that have left residents and business owners increasingly concerned about their safety. Multiple assaults and robberies have been reported in recent days, prompting workers, merchants, and neighbors across various city districts to voice their complaints.

Local police have acknowledged that efforts are underway to apprehend those responsible for the crimes. However, they also admit that the escalating criminal activity, marked by a rising number of reported robberies and violent thefts, is outpacing their resources. An attempted armed robbery targeted a 24-hour convenience store in the early hours of Wednesday, and later that morning, a brazen daylight assault saw a criminal threaten staff with a firearm before stealing the day's earnings. The department has also seen a spate of motorcycle thefts in different areas.

In response to the deteriorating security situation, the Commercial and Industrial Center of Salto convened a meeting with police authorities. Aline Bisio, the president of the business association, conveyed the group's apprehension, stating that while police expressed a commitment to fighting crime, the "concern remains because the levels of insecurity have worsened, there were many assaults and they haven't caught anyone."

Representatives from the local government also attended the meeting, offering available resources despite security not being their direct purview. Police officials outlined specific actions, such as increased patrols, but highlighted a shortage of personnel, noting there are "fewer police officers than necessary to act more decisively." Bisio also pointed out the absence of the National Institute for Children and Adolescents (INAU) from the discussions, emphasizing that many of the reported robberies and thefts are attributed to gangs of minors.