Does having security make you secure? Some comments on the situation in Lima, Peru.

In this well written piece for LivinginPeru.com, Larry Pitman covers many of the security issues that affect those of us who call Lima home. As Larry's neighborhood had been suffering some instances of breakins and petty theft their neighborhood decided to band together and hire a private security person for their block.

Photo - courtesy of PUCP

Now, as with many things in Peru, this is a very informal procedure and consisted of the neighbors getting together, many meeting each other for the first time - this also might have something to do with crime in Peru as neighbors rarely know or for that matter recognize the person living across the street.  At these meetings the neighborhood determines that they want a watchman on the street.  Generally, a local man is hired to carry out security duties on the street.  At first glance this man would hardly seem to put a scare into any evildoers and thieves that might be in the area.  Their physical presence would hardly put a scare into school aged children let alone hardened criminal elements.

Photo Courtsey Patazas.com

However, with little money budgeted for a more formal security presence (as pictured at left) this is generally the best that the neighbors can do.  At the very least it is somebody that is physically present, not including the several hours a day that they are found dozing at their posts.  Catching a little shut-eye is the least of the concerns as these watchman are almost always giving little training let along access to any type of restroom facilities.  Further complicating matters is that they do not have either a radio or a phone to alert the local municipal security of the police.  

What they are good for though is keeping taps on the gossip of the neighborhood.  They without a doubt would be able to make confirm if there was a spouse having an affair, if a local kid was sneaking out to smoke some "hierba buena" or who on the block doesn't take their trash out on time.  

As Larry mentioned in the article on his block ever since they hired a local security guy there have been no breakins or petty theft so perhaps they security agents have a few tricks up their sleeves.  At the very least they are always good to check in on the local gossip.