Robbery at Skateworld

[Keith Woolford]

Leslie can fill in the rest of the details but she has reported that four adults, two men and two women who looked right into the security cams, robbed her establishment in Alto Boquete late this afternoon during daylight hours.The Police responded quickly and viewed the camera footage.

[Leslie Barranger]

Can we close this discussion please? 

Thanks,

Leslie from Skateworld

[Roger Bellido]

A little of Panama History for our friends in Boquete Ning and I know Mateo could help me with more information.

From 1964 to 1968 we had in Panama a president called Marco Aurelio Robles.   He was member of the Liberal Party.  He was a very controversial president in a very controversial time. 

He is remembered in Panama with the nickname  "Marco Rifle".  He gained this nickname because when in power he gave the Police (Guardia Nacional as it was called then) a rifle and ordered them "shoot to kill" any maleante caught "in fraganti" commiting any crime.

It is interesting that some people in Panama because of the increase of criminal activity is asking for some drastic measures like those taken by President Robles.

[Elizabeth Worley]

I am curious about what intimidation tactics these people used if they weren't armed? How did they make people hand over laptops and purses? We all need to better understand the psychology of what is happening.

[Ken Thompson]

I have wondered the same thing Elizabeth, A business full of patrons and they are robed by two men and women that are not armed with no resistance ?

[Roger Bellido]

I guess that in such a traumatic event nobody would like to see if they are armed or not.  

[Liz Bolt]

Any updates regarding arrests?

[Patrick]

"they came in and began scouting the room for victims."

This is really, really scary on many levels. It appears that if a gang  wanted to kidnap a child from a wealthy family for ransom then this place would be  an ideal place to find a victim. And the fact that this happened in the daytime in broad daylight only indicates how desperate and blazen criminals here are. In the eyes of most Panamanians, most foreigners  are from wealthy families. Maybe a security guard stationed at the front door would deter this kind of criminal activity. No place is safe here!!! I hope that they catch the criminals really fast and are sent away for a long time.

patrick

[Larson]

 Patrick:   "No place is safe here!!!"

"Here" is in this earth?

Hope you do not have any sons or daughters in any US educational institution

[Patrick]

You are absolutely right. I have grown children in their 40's in the U.S.but I do worry about my Grand-children. I've researched about sending my now teenage Daughter to University in the U.S. but have decided not to. She is a country girl with family values and a strong bond to her family here in Panama. She would be lost going to a big University in the U.S. at the age of seventeen years even though she is bilingual. Perhaps when she is older, after getting her Master's here, she would like to go for her Doctorate in the U.S.  She is planning on becoming a Architect. 

In David there is a very good school for Architecture,  it is less than $3000. per year, no sleeping in but it is only 30 minutes from home. It provides a five year course in Architecture and is a international school with students from other Latin American countries. It's name is abbreviated to USMA ( Universidad Santa María la Antigua) it is a Catholic University and has a very good name. 

So, no U.S. education until she is much older and has a degree from the local University.

Thanks for you advise.

patrick

[Roger Bellido]

Patrick

Please.  Don't generalize again.  I am so sure that "...in the eyes of most Panamanians , most foreigners are from wealthy families..."  is out of reality. 

As a Panamanian I know that the crime rate has increased lately but spreading your opinion as a fact don't help people at all.