Recently released figures by the National Police point to a worrying trend of vehicle theft gangs specifically targeting high-end SUVs and pickups in Bogota.
Some of the most commonly stolen vehicles are Toyota’s Fortuner and Prado TXL SUVs.
Mazda’s CX-5, CX-30 and the Renault Alaskan pickup are also routinely targeted.
Armored versions are especially prized.
Gangs prefer to target larger SUVs and pickups due to their size and four-by-four capabilities.
Most incidents occur between 1800 and midnight.
In one recent incident, a motorist was shot when he resisted a carjacking Wednesday evening in the Salitre district of western Bogota.
Armed assailants attempted to strip the victim of his Toyota Fortuner SUV, valued at $70,000.
A struggle ensued, in which the driver was shot before being thrown from the moving vehicle.
The victim was treated at a nearby hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
The theft of high-end SUVs and pickup trucks is a concern in all of Colombia’s major cities.
Motorists should curtail excursions after 2200 in all of Colombia’s major cities.
Even corporate personnel with law-enforcement or military experience should not resist criminal assailants, who invariably are armed and prepared to use their weapons.
Executives who insist on travelling in high-end SUVs should consider using executive protection teams consisting of a trained security driver and an armed agent.
Armored vehicles should only be operated by professional drivers trained in defensive and evasive driving and experienced in handling such vehicles.
See the country summary for detailed recommendations.
