San Juan Police: virtual scams and robberies are operational priorities
Deputy Chief Pablo Torres identified virtual scams and robberies as the main challenges. In 60-70% of digital fraud cases, those responsible cannot be identified.
Virtual scams and robberies concentrate police attention in San Juan
Deputy Chief of the San Juan Police, Pablo Torres, stated that virtual scams and robberies are the main operational concerns of the force. According to diarioelzondasj.com.ar, Torres made this statement in an interview with the programme De qué se trata, on La Mil20, where he emphasised that both the prevention and clarification of such crimes increasingly depend on technology, continuous training and availability of resources.
Security plan and patrols
Torres confirmed that police leadership is maintaining the security plan implemented upon the current leadership's assumption of office, with the aim of reducing crime rates and improving response times. His previous role in the Police Operations Directorate, he said, allowed him to understand in detail the planning and execution of preventive strategies. Within that framework, he identified the reinforcement of deployment in public spaces as a central focus, with grid-based patrols and immediate communication with 911 as priority intervention tools.
Robbery: the crime most difficult to anticipate
Referring to robberies, Torres described them as one of the most complex crimes to predict and clarify. "It is the moment, it is chance," he stated, and explained that perpetrators observe street movement until they find an opportunity to commit the theft and escape. Security cameras allow investigators to reconstruct routes when the victim provides characteristics of the suspect, and then guide the search with support from nearby patrol units.
Torres also mentioned robberies carried out through the escruche method—entering homes without their occupants—as a variant that requires different investigations. In some cases, he detailed, investigations resulted in the detention of suspects from other provinces.
600 cameras and decentralised monitoring
The deputy chief indicated that the province has approximately 600 security cameras and that the intention is to distribute monitoring centres across different points of the territory. Concentrating hundreds of devices in a single location, he explained, makes it difficult to maintain permanent monitoring of all images. Route traceability, he added, allows investigators to identify vehicles, recognise suspect characteristics and reconstruct movements following an incident.
Virtual scams: 60% to 70% with no identified culprit
On virtual scams, Torres warned that they represent a highly complex working front. He estimated that in approximately 60% to 70% of cases the police cannot identify those responsible. He described a frequent mechanism: money enters an account which is then closed or no longer used, while funds are transferred to other accounts, making it difficult to track them.
Criminal intelligence teams analyse accounts, phones and money movements, in addition to seeking matches with other similar incidents. "It is very, very meticulous work, which takes days," Torres said. In that context, he recommended paying attention to alerts about calls identified as spam and not opening suspicious links.
6,800 officers and requests to provincial government
Regarding human and material resources, Torres indicated that the force has approximately 6,800 officers. Among the requests to provincial government, he listed more personnel, patrol units and technological equipment. He also mentioned the incorporation of bulletproof vests and Taser pistols, though he clarified that their use requires prior training.
On training, he highlighted the work of the Police Academy, the preparation of specialised groups such as GERA and language courses aimed at tourist assistance. Torres also referred to the mental health of officers, internal controls for possible excess in procedures, and the planning of operations for the Ironman and the National Festival of the Sun, whose coverage—he specified—requires more than two months of organisation.
Source: Google News PR — San Juan