Argentina: Armed Robbery in the Núñez District of Buenos Aires

Details: A Japanese national was involved in an incident of armed robbery, and the following details are provided:

1. Incident Overview:
   • Date and Time: Around 10:00 PM on January 27, 2023
   • Location: Detached house in the Núñez district of Buenos Aires (near the boundary with the Saavedra and Coghlan districts)
   • Items Stolen: Cash, passport, mobile phone, etc.
   • Perpetrators: Two men (one estimated to be in his 40s, the other in his 20s). They were not wearing disguises such as full-face helmets and appeared well-groomed, not resembling slum dwellers. The older man, who seemed to be the leader, was armed with a handgun.
   • Incident Details:
     • The victim was staying at a friend’s house. When the doorbell rang, the friend went outside thinking it was a food delivery, only to be confronted by the robbers who had been hiding in a bicycle shed on the property. The robbers threatened the friend with a gun and entered the house. The property’s outer fence was not very high and was easily climbable.
     • The robbers demanded cash while threatening the victims with the gun. The victims handed over a bundle of Argentine pesos. The robbers then asked for US dollars or euros. When informed that these were not available, the robbers filled a friend’s backpack with a laptop, mobile phone, and other items from the house and stole them.
     • The robbers made hints that they knew details about the victim’s friend’s family, suggesting they had surveyed the area beforehand.
     • According to security camera footage from a neighbor’s house, the robbers fled on foot without using a motorcycle or vehicle. There were no other injuries reported except for the friend being struck when showing resistance.
2. Preventive Measures:
   • General Security: While many areas in Núñez are quiet residential neighborhoods with relatively stable security, basic preventive measures are essential. Ensure that fences around detached houses are high and difficult to climb, and consider installing barbed wire on top. Installing surveillance cameras and requesting patrols from private security companies is also advisable. For travelers staying in apartment hotels, choose hotels with good security measures.
   • If Confronted with a Weapon: If confronted by armed robbers, do not resist and calmly comply with their demands.
   • Minimizing Theft Impact: Robbers usually avoid prolonged confrontations and will quickly leave once they obtain what they want. To minimize loss, keep cash, valuables, expensive jewelry, mobile phones, and laptops distributed across multiple secure locations rather than in a single bag. Travelers should also distribute their valuables among several bags rather than keeping everything in one suitcase.
   • Preventing Observation: Use curtains on windows to prevent outsiders from seeing inside your home and keep them closed as much as possible.
   • Suspicious Activity: If you feel you are being watched or followed, strengthen your security measures and consider consulting the police if necessary.