Criminologist Álvaro Menéndez issued a direct and blunt warning: the increase in robberies and thefts in December is not a new or temporary phenomenon, but the most visible expression of a structural crime problem that worsened after the pandemic and is now fueled by poverty, unemployment, and a lack of citizen prevention.
Menéndez explained that the same pattern repeats itself every year during this period. «I'm not saying people have to be MacGyver,» he clarified, «but timely action is necessary to prevent and reduce the high rate that affects public safety».
The criminologist also linked the rise in crime to the behavior of citizens themselves. «Robberies and thefts are increasing, and we can no longer talk about crimes going down, because all of them are on the rise,» he stated. According to him, this is due to a dangerous mix of apathy and the 'I don't care' attitude of many citizens, who ignore a basic security principle: «The first ring of security is me».
Menéndez warned that this is not just about opportunistic acts, but a growing level of organization and planning among those who commit crimes. «It's a mix of many factors, but one of them is definitely the organization that this group of people possesses, who are undoubtedly better planned for these dates,» he maintained.
Regarding the state's response, the criminologist acknowledged that there are programs and plans that are prepared in a timely manner. However, he believes that the lack of training and instruction ends up undermining any manual that is attempted to be applied, not only in December but also during Carnival. Menéndez insisted that these plans must include statistics, intelligence, and a force on the ground, warning that otherwise, the result will be «just another failure».
The specialist also pointed to recurring flaws in citizen behavior: a lack of «malice» (street smarts), the absence of communication with neighbors when traveling, inadequate home lighting, and locks that do not meet international security standards. He added a call for the National Police to pay greater attention to what is happening in neighborhoods and provinces.
In his opinion, there is a lack of precaution among Panamanians when it comes to cashing bonuses, lottery tickets, or disposing of savings, which opens the door for criminals to act more easily. «We will see thefts and robberies as the order of the day,» he warned, insisting that there must be a true culture of prevention, something that, according to his analysis, has not yet been consolidated.
When asked if there are any crimes that decrease during this time, Menéndez was blunt: he found none. «No crime goes down in December,» he stated.
Finally, Menéndez dismissed the idea that this is a situational or temporary issue. For him, crime is not a seasonal phenomenon, but a reality that has already taken root in society. «Definitively, crime has come to stay among us,» he affirmed, adding that it is too late to reduce these high percentages if policies are not adopted that repress crime in its entirety and if state bodies do not act thinking about the security of all citizens.
