Crime

Police beef up patrols

With Christmas and the new year just around the corner, more shoppers in the stores, and more people in the streets, the Policía Nacional (PN) has announced that it will increase its vigilance throughout the country. As of today, nearly all 16,000 men and women of the force will be called to duty.

Rolando Mirones, director of the PN, urges people to take care to protect themselves. "You create your own first ring of security. . .[Y]ou yourself can make the difference between enjoying Christmas and the New Year or becoming a victim of crime," he reflected.

Mirones recommends never counting your money in public, never accepting things from people you don’t know, and never allowing suspicious individuals to approach you.

"If you travel, be sure you’ve locked your doors and windows before you leave, and let your neighbors know that you’ll be away," he said.

He also recommends never giving personal information to people that you have not contacted yourself, for example, bank employees, or clerks at public or private entities connected with public services. "We have to be very reserve and cautious," he added.