Juvenile delinquency is increasing in Córdoba: app-based transportation drivers on alert

Youth crime in Córdoba is increasingly on the prowl, and ride-hailing drivers experience it firsthand. Every day, they must enter areas where taxis and remises no longer operate, knowing they're at risk of being robbed or assaulted. "It's every day, you know you're an easy target," said a driver who requested to remain anonymous for safety reasons.

One of the most recent cases occurred in the Marqués Anexo neighborhood, where five minors surrounded a driver, beat him, and stole his car. One of the strikers was only 13 years old and was identified by security cameras, although he was released shortly afterward. "I saw it was an underprivileged neighborhood, I hesitated to accept the ride, but I needed to work," the victim told local media.

Attacks on police officers and repeated offenses without consequences

Insecurity also affects law enforcement itself: a police officer was burned with a Molotov cocktail in the Müller neighborhood. Three 15-year-old teenagers set his car on fire while he was on duty in front of the 32nd Police Station; the officer was injured. Two of the strikers already had records for robbing app drivers in the San Vicente area, according to police sources.

The incident reignited criticism over the lack of state control over minors in conflict with criminal law. Residents claim that many of these teenagers reoffend because they know they won't receive effective sentences. "We know who they are, but nothing happens," said a shopkeeper, tired of reporting incidents without getting any response.

Growing demands over insecurity in Córdoba

These incidents intensify the demand for urgent reform of the juvenile criminal system in Argentina. Judicial and law enforcement leaders argue that the age of criminal responsibility must be reviewed. "The problem is that they're back on the street in hours and attack again," warned an officer affected by this situation.

The current legal framework prevents sanctions proportional to the severity of the crimes when the perpetrators are minors. Córdoba faces an escalation of youth violence that exceeds the response capacity of the current judicial system. In this context, more and more voices are demanding real and effective punishments to stop an alarming trend.

Meanwhile, Mayor Daniel Passerini's administration is being questioned for prioritizing spending on a Urban Guard without enforcement power. Residents and community leaders criticize the allocation of resources to bloated political structures instead of truly strengthening security. The absence of a concrete strategy to address juvenile crime worsens the sense of impunity in the most vulnerable neighborhoods.