### Violent Home Invasions in La Paz
On Monday, August 16 at approximately 1:45 AM, an unsettling incident unfolded in the Rosa & Terracota area of the Arcoiris 3 neighborhood in La Paz. Ramiro, 68, and César, 56, found themselves face-to-face with a group of masked intruders. These violent assailants not only threatened the two men but also physically assaulted them to execute the robbery.
Ramiro recounted his experience, stating that he was awakened by noises. When he went to investigate, he saw a group of masked individuals entering his house. Before he could react, he was seized and forced to the ground, where he was threatened and ordered to remain still. “They threw me on the floor and started searching for things. They took my wallet, forced me to reveal my debit card PIN, and left with a television, a radio, contact lenses, and a blue cellphone,” reported Officer Miguel Ángel Soto of the Municipal Police.
Similarly, César, who was also on the premises, described how he was startled by the noise and soon found himself being beaten by the intruders. “I was in the backroom when I noticed around six people with black hoods entering. One of them hit me with a metal bat on my buttocks. They stole the keys to my 2018 Volkswagen Vento, which was parked outside, as well as my gray cellphone. They even asked about some supposed drugs,” detailed César.
The investigation following this incident, coded LPZ/6074/2024/NUC, forms part of a disturbing pattern of violent home robberies reported in La Paz over recent weeks.
A day after the aforementioned attack, at 10 PM on August 17, another robbery occurred at Bahía de Banderas and Bahía Guaymas in the Paraíso del Sol neighborhood. A group of men and a woman violently entered the home of 18-year-old Christopher, assaulted him, and left with a laptop. Security camera footage captured the assailants arriving and departing in at least four different vehicles.
According to the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System, from January to July 2024, there have been 604 documented house burglaries in Baja California Sur, with 10 involving violence. In La Paz alone, there have been three incidents of armed groups entering homes at night to rob families.
**PROGRESS IN INVESTIGATION**
In early August, another violent robbery took place in the El Progreso Vivah neighborhood of La Paz. Although the victims were hesitant to provide details due to fear, the State Security Public Table and Secretary General of Government, Saúl González Núñez, confirmed the incident and ongoing investigations. “We are investigating, and some of the suspects are already under surveillance,” he stated.
The Municipal Police, acting as the primary responders, found that several victims expressed their intention to leave their homes due to fear for their lives. This incident is one of several believed to be connected to a series of robberies involving armed groups and stolen vehicles identified through licenses and descriptions.
**SECONDARY ARTICLE**
#### Increase in Violent Robberies in La Paz
Further reports indicate that on August 20, a similar incident occurred in the Ciudad del Cielo neighborhood. Intruders entered a residence around 2 AM, violently assaulting Gerardo, 41, and Alberto, 36, leaving them with suspected fractures.
Residents from various neighborhoods, including Paseos del Sol and Indeco, have voiced their concerns and called for increased police patrols during nighttime. These neighborhoods have seen an alarming rise in violent encounters, with individuals being attacked on the streets and in their homes.
A resident from the Paseos del Sol neighborhood reported being beaten by three men armed with brass knuckles while walking home. In another case in Indeco, a government employee had to fend off home invaders with a machete, sustaining injuries in the process.
As of now, official records for 2024 list 1,004 investigations into intentional inflictions of harm, including 58 with bladed weapons and 8 with firearms. Neighborhood surveillance and heightened security measures remain key priorities for local law enforcement as they address this troubling rise in violent crime.