“People who feel they need protection when withdrawing large sums of money are invited to approach the Carabineros so that they can advise them,” said Undersecretary Vergara, given the increase in theft known as “exiting banks.”
The government described as “illegal” the private guard services for people who withdraw large sums of money from banks, given the increase in thefts under the “exit from banks” method.
This was stated on Wednesday by the Undersecretary for Crime Prevention, Eduardo Vergara, regarding the new private security service that arose due to this type of assault.
This is a crime that has been on the rise in our country, where gangs operate in banking entities where they “mark” victims who withdraw large sums of money, to follow and assault them.
Consulted in this regard, Undersecretary Vergara asserted that this type of private security services are illegal.
“Security guards who provide private security services cannot perform this type of task,” he said.
“These tasks incur in the illegality that occur within frameworks that are not regulated, but above all, those who carry out these actions will have to comply with the pertinent fines and punishments,” he warned.
In this sense, Vergara maintained that “as a government we have committed ourselves to advancing in a very great desire of this country, which is to have a private security law, and we are going to fulfill that commitment.”
Likewise, Vergara added that “people who feel they need protection when withdrawing large sums of money, The invitation is for them to approach the Carabineros so that they can advise them”.
“And when they deem it convenient, given the amounts and the exceptional conditions, the Carabineros is available to provide special services for the withdrawal of money,” he said.
The “exit from banks” modality
According to a report of the National Headquarters Against Robberies and Criminal Foci (Jenacrof) of the PDI of 2019, details the evolution that this crime has had, where it has mutated from spearing victims when leaving banks, towards organized gangs with a more complex level of criminal specialization.
Even the concept of “Exit Banks” -reveals the document- was created by the criminals themselves, and includes those money thefts that occur following victims leave banks, who before being “marked” have made withdrawals of large sums of money.
Likewise, five figures or roles were identified that may vary in the gangs depending on the context: victim to follow, amount to extract and place where the bank is located, among others.
Its regarding bandleader, who plans the robberies and distributes the instructions or tasks. The intimidators in charge of executing the robbery, who act in groups of no more than three, who are violent and use firearms or blades.
Los markers or pointers, in charge of identifying possible victims and transmitting relevant information such as the amount transferred and the physical characteristics of the person carrying the money.
Meanwhile, when the crime cannot be carried out when leaving the bank, the follower, who goes following the victim and delivers information on his route to those who will perpetrate the crime.
The fifth figure is that of distractor, which is used to steal money without the person noticing, avoiding resorting to violence or intimidation.
Legislatively, this type of crime called “exiting banks” can be classified as robbery with intimidation, robbery with violence or theft, among others.
