Why so Many Robbers in Peru?

Why so Many Robbers in Peru?

I’ve been coming to Peru for nine years, lived her the past three, and the question comes up now and then, “Why are there so many robberies in Peru?” Especially in Lima; people (outside of Peru) think it is because of the poor ole souls here without work, it is far from the truth. Let me explain.
For the most part the economy is doing well, the poor and old the ones no one helps, especially President Garcia, are not the robbers, what little they have; they are the ones being robbed. It is the young, able, lazy, drug addicted, gangs; it is the un-retired terrorists, and the middle-aged that are not professional, and all those that fall in-between.
It starts from the top. Something like sixty percent of the population said it has gotten worse since President Garcia took office, if you do not know his background, he is known to be the biggest robber in the country, hid in Paris for a decade so the French could protect him from his own people, whom he robbed millions from. If you are asking why he got into office, it is a long story, but the population in Peru have a degree of robbers, and the robbers like the law, because the law is for them, it is not for the person being robbed, that is why it is so profitable to be a robber in Peru.
It would be easy to enforce the laws, which are many, and the reason they do not is in part, because most mayors got into the office with the intentions of robbing, and a robber does not want to enforce laws he may be subject to himself—lest he put himself in jail. Most have businesses in their districts, I mean after they become mayor, most construction in Lima has been done under the law, and has violated most every law made in that area, but a signature from the Mayors office seals the deal, law or no law.
Let me give you some examples: if you are robbed, and your chances are 70% you will be if you are not with a group, if the group leader doesn’t rob you on vacation, but he is being paid to take you to the places of interest, and on the side to take you to places other people want you to go. They may even get paid to give the time and date when they (you) will be at a certain place, where a gang of robbers will be on hand.
If you get robbed, and it is under $2000, dollars, the police will not waist their time with you, prefer not even making out a report, and if they do, they will ask you for his name, and identification, and hope you have a picture, they don’t. If you are asking “How would I get his name,” that is where the problem comes in; no robber gives his name, do they. Case Closed!
And if they do follow up on it, it is to appease you, and nothing will be done in reality, the paperwork will be lost before you get back home on your seven day vacation.
Another example is, if you shoot a robber, and your life is at stake, and he does not have a gun, even if there are three of them, you go to jail, pay his hospital bill, and he goes home free, without charges. This is a fact. The justice in Peru is not in protecting yourself from the robber; it is allowing him to take at will, what he may, so it pays, and the robber knows this. He may even tell you to shoot, hoping he will survive, and take you to court and empty your bank account legally.
The mayors control the police in their district, and the police in Peru are worthless, most of them, there are a few special units worth their salt, but you will most likely not see them. They guard the president, and the mayors, and are used for special missions. The regular police actually turn their heads if a crime is in progress this is no job, come and see. It is not because Peru has no laws, they do, but none are enforced, the police get paid about 900 soles a month, about $400 dollars. You can buy your way out of anything, even a murder for fist full of dollars.
When I first came to Peru in 1999, it was safer than now, the laws more enforced. The last two presidents had done well for Peru, and funny isn’t, they are the ones the people try to prosecute.
Garcia now, is on his high horse, he has forgotten the people, out of touch with them, and is on some race to make Peru stand out as the country remodeled by him, as if this is Egypt, and he is the pharaoh, and he will be remembered for his glory. Sad to say, he will be remembered as a two time loser, he was President in the 1980s and he broke the country, gave them the highest inflation in the world. He now is living on the momentum of the past two presidents; Garcia in history will be forgotten like the thieves that are now robbing freely, the poor and hardworking folks of Peru, will wash their hands of him.