Police nab Poblado thieves, 24 hours later they are released

Last week, I posted a guide for visitors to Medellin to stay safe during the busy month of December, which was well received, and one week later, the usefulness of this guide was proven.

An American tourist dining at a popular restaurant in El Poblado, Medellín, found his evening shattered by an armed robbery—a stark reminder of the risks lurking in for tourists, and a sign of things to come for the December holiday month. The victim was targeted by two assailants wielding a firearm, who brazenly stole valuable jewelry and cash. I want to call attention to the first part of this, jewelry. The duo made their getaway on a motorcycle later identified as a vehicle linked to multiple other crimes in the city.

Despite an abnormally swift response by the police, who apprehended the suspects following a high-stakes pursuit through the heart of Poblado, this incident underscores a troubling trend: robberies are rampant, and criminals often find themselves back on the streets before long. In this case they were on the streets again 24 hours after the incident.

A troubling year of crime

El Poblado has long been considered one of Medellín's safer neighborhoods. Yet incidents like this are growing alarmingly common, with organized criminal groups becoming more brazen. The fact that the motorcycle used in this robbery was already flagged in at least two other cases raises significant concerns about law enforcement's ability to stem the tide of repeat offenders.

Such occurrences may suggest a deeper systemic issue: a judicial pipeline that frequently fails to keep criminals off the streets. While Medellín authorities deserve credit for their rapid response and arrest of the culprits, the larger question remains—how often do these arrests lead to meaningful consequences?

A Quick Reaction, But Is It Enough?

Following the robbery, the victim’s immediate report prompted police to enact a lock-down operation in the surrounding area. This quick thinking led to the apprehension of the suspects, who were found with the stolen goods, a firearm, and ammunition. Both men were charged with aggravated theft and illegal possession of firearms. It seems like firearms charges here are not taken as seriously as in other countries in the world.

Medellín’s Secretary of Security, Manuel Villa Mejía, commended the police's vigilance, stating, “Thanks to the citizen's complaint, the Police reacted promptly and managed to capture these two people responsible for the theft.”

While the recovery of the stolen items is a small victory, the fact remains that this motorcycle—a tool of crime—had already been flagged in previous robberies. How many more victims did these criminals leave in their wake before their brief stint behind bars? Another major question is if this was used in other robberies, why wasn't this red-flagged on the list of motorcycles to be apprehended by the Medellin Transit Police? I have a friend who had 2 unpaid tickets, which lead to his SOAT being cancelled, and 3 days after this, his motorcycle was tagged and when he passed a traffic camera, the Transit Police was alerted and his bike was seized. Why was this technology not used to catch this motorcycle? The likely cause is the lack of communication between the State Police and the Medellin Transit Police.

The Harsh Reality: A Revolving Door of Justice

Unfortunately, this case is proof of a larger issue. Many apprehended criminals in Medellín find themselves back on the streets in record time, either due to bureaucratic inefficiencies, overcrowded prisons, or lenient sentencing. This revolving door of justice not only emboldens criminals but also erodes public trust in the city’s ability to maintain order. Most Colombians I spoke with about this incident stated that this is just a part of life. They are in the same danger as tourists are, but the robberies seem to be amplified in places like Poblado or Laureles.

Why is that? There are several causes. As I stated in my previous article about staying safe in December, and in my numerous articles on Medellin.co, there are several factors as to why tourists are targeted in robberies:

• Tourists are in vacation mode: This means that you're likely looking at the sights around you, and not paying enough attention to your surroundings.

• Tourists are more likely to have their valuables visible: This is hard for tourists to digest, but if you are walking around with high ticket items showing, you're a target. They might as well be a blinking neon sign. This includes phones, cameras, drones, designer clothes and most frequently jewelry. Tupac got killed over a chain. Learn from this.

• Lack of spacial awareness: Yes, this is a bit similar to the first, but looking around, being aware of when people are approaching you fast, this is incredibly important.

• Buying into the Magical Realism: Colombia is the land of magical realism, in this context, I think people come here with an idea of what awaits them, and they kind of apply this filter to their trip here. Until they get their chain snatched, or sadly worse. Please remember this, if something seems too good to be true, it is. Plain and simple.

Riddle Me This...

I have a few questions to ask. As I asked before, why was this moto used in at least 2 other robberies, and nothing done to stop this from happening again? Why does the government allow for 2 men to ride on a motorcycle still? In Mayor Fico's first stint as mayor of our fair city, he outlawed this practice and there was a downtick in street robberies. Why can't that be enacted again? I know that doesn't do alot, but it did help in 2017, why not try it again. I know it inconveniences people, but how inconvenienced are people's families who have to bury a family from a robbery gone wrong?

My larger question is how can anyone who is charged with possession of a firearm be released from jail within 48 hours? Another small irk is why do they blur the faces in the perp walk shots? What is the point of taking the picture, other than to spin your wheels and show that you're going 200KMph?

Stay Alert, Stay Vigilant, Stay Safe

I want to reiterate this, the crime in Medellin isn't the worst in the world. It's no better or worse than any marginally dangerous city in the world. If Medellin were in the US, it would be middle of the pack in terms of most dangerous big cities. Same goes world-wide. For whatever reason it's amplified by tourists coming here and letting their guard down and making themselves a victim.

Back in January, when the U.S. Embassy came to Medellin to address the extreme spike in tourist deaths from druggings/robberies gone wrong, one of the members of the safety counsel said something that has stuck with me since, "If you go out there, you're on your own. The police can't even protect their own people, so there is no realistic expectation of them protecting you." Granted, in this case there was protection, where the tourist got their belongings back. However for every case like this there are thousands that are not solved.

What is best is to use your street smarts. Don't go out alone, leave your flashy items behind, and don't get hammered drunk on the streets. Stay away from street drugs and learn some basic Spanish and you should be fine. In the military there is a phrase "Watch your 6" which if you're not a military vet or a Call of Duty enthusiast, it means watch your back. This phrase can be the difference between standing out like a victim or getting on the plane home safely, with all of your belongings and most importantly not in a box in the cargo hold.