A new act of insecurity against drivers in the capital recently occurred. A man was injured during an attempted theft of a pickup truck that took place in the early hours of Sunday, July 26, in the Los Cerezos neighborhood, in the Engativá locality, west of Bogotá.
The incident, which was recorded by security cameras in the area, shows the moment when a group of armed criminals intercepted the vehicle and attacked its occupants in an attempt to take control of the vehicle.
According to information obtained by Citytv, the perpetrators blocked the pickup truck’s path and confronted its occupants. During the assault, one of them decided to face the criminals and was repeatedly beaten by several assailants while the driver tried to prevent the vehicle from being stolen.
Gunfire in the early hours
The situation escalated quickly and ended in a shootout that woke several residents of the area. Despite the attack, the driver managed to start the pickup truck and reverse to escape, thwarting the theft. Before fleeing, the criminals fired a traumatic weapon at the victim, who received several gunshot wounds to the chest and one of his legs.
The victims were taken for medical attention and, according to the information provided, are out of danger. Meanwhile, authorities have started investigations to identify and locate the perpetrators, relying on recordings from security cameras installed in the area.
Residents in panic over insecurity in the area
The violent episode once again raised concerns among residents of the Los Cerezos neighborhood about insecurity and, in particular, the increase in vehicle thefts during the early morning hours. Neighbors interviewed by Citytv stated that these types of incidents have become recurrent and that the presence of gangs dedicated to vehicle theft keeps the community in constant fear.
María García, a resident of the neighborhood, said that fear has taken hold of those living in the area and affirmed that crime affects residents regardless of the time of day. “Security here is terrible. Day or night, it no longer matters what time it is, it’s terrible, you can’t go out feeling safe anymore”, she told the mentioned news outlet.
The woman also recounted that she heard the exchange of gunfire and described how she experienced the tense moments during the early hours of Sunday. “There was a shootout. It happened at a certain time in the early morning, around three in the morning, a pickup truck came down this block and I don’t know, they were going to rob them or something like that. A red pickup truck blocked them at that moment and there was a lot, a lot of shooting,” she said.
Another resident of the area, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that fear is part of the routine for those living in the neighborhood and that leaving their homes has become a constant concern. “You don’t dare to go out, there is very serious insecurity here,” he said.
Residents’ complaints agree that incidents of insecurity frequently occur during the early morning, especially between three and four in the morning. Isidro López, another neighbor of Los Cerezos, stated that the robberies and assaults are constant and that the situation has been affecting the community for several months.
“Every 20 days, every 20 days, insecurity. That’s bad. At 3, 4 in the morning, they steal, they rob in all those areas like that,” he said.
Residents also expressed that the presence of groups dedicated to vehicle theft maintains an atmosphere of uncertainty in the area.
Meanwhile, authorities continue collecting recordings from security cameras and other evidence to establish the identity of those responsible and advance in locating them. The case adds to other incidents of insecurity recorded during the early morning in the capital, a situation that keeps residents of Engativá concerned about the increase in crimes against citizens and vehicle theft.
Daniela Gutiérrez Munar
dangut@eltiempo.com
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