Insecurity in Córdoba: a criminal 'naranjita' steals from downtown businesses

A shopkeeper was the victim of a robbery at her store located at 300 Bv San Juan, just meters from La Cañada. The thief forced the door for 15 minutes. He was wearing a naranjita vest and was caught on security cameras.

The incident took place last June 11 during the early morning hours, without anyone intervening. The criminal acted with complete calm and escaped without leaving any trace. He took 30,000 pesos (66 pounds) in cash and the store's cellphone.

The footage shows the same individual who had already been filmed stealing from a greengrocer's shop in Nueva Córdoba. In both cases, the method of operation was identical. The difference is that this time he didn't leave the vest inside the store.

The naranjita operated with time and without obstacles

The owner of the affected business also reported an unauthorized transfer. At 6 a.m., 100,000 pesos (220 pounds) were transferred from the stolen cellphone. Everything indicates that the thief managed to unlock the device, which was protected by a PIN.

The shopkeeper described the criminal as "a professional at opening doors." She expressed her frustration at seeing him on camera and recognizing him by the vest. "He pretends to be a naranjita, but he's an expert at stealing," she said.

This new case reinforces the suspicion about the parking attendants who roam downtown Córdoba. Shopkeepers report the lack of controls and police presence. Many claim they know the suspects, who frequent the area.

Urban insecurity without an effective response

The robbery adds to the one that occurred at 600 Paraná Street, also in the heart of the city. There, another shopkeeper also pointed to parking attendants as possible perpetrators. Both robberies took place at dawn, with tools and without any impediment.

The videos reflect a concerning normalization of crime in central areas. Neither alarms, nor patrols, nor cameras deterred the thief. The sense of impunity is growing among shopkeepers and residents.

Despite the audiovisual evidence, so far there have been no arrests or concrete progress in the investigation. The city is exposed to daily crime. Naranjitas move around unchecked at any hour.