Sinaloa /
In recent days, the center and suburban areas of CuliacanSinaloa, have been the scene of a wave of crimes against businessesdue to the absence of municipal police, reported Oscar Sanchez Beltranpresident of the Culiacán Merchants Union (UCC).
The lack of surveillance is due to a weapons review by the Secretary of National Defense (Sedena)which has kept agents out of operation since last week.
Although state and federal authorities have taken control of security, their focus has primarily been address violent events related to war between factions of the Sinaloa cartel, leaving a void in the protection of businesses against common crime.
Crimes against businesses
Sanchez Beltran He detailed that on Friday alone, 35 crimes were recorded throughout the urban area of Culiacán, including night looting, robberies of premises and infrastructure. In the city center, eight crimes were reported, including two lootings of department stores and four robberies of commercial premises.
On Saturday the situation did not improve, with three additional robberies in the center, one of them at a department store through a “glass smash.” The rest of the crimes occurred in surrounding areas, affecting supermarkets, convenience stores and pharmacies.
Authorities are focused on other crimes
The leader of the formal merchants criticized the lack of preventive police, mentioning that, although the Army and the National Guard carry out tours, They do not deal with minor crimes such as simple thefts.
“We are exposed during the opening and closing of businesses,” he warned, indicating that Common criminals are taking advantage of this vacuum of authority.
Merchants fear growing insecurity and demand a more effective response from the authorities to protect their establishments.
PNMO
