WILLEMSTAD - The Justice Department has not conducted an investigation to map car theft in Curaçao, says the Law Enforcement Council (RvR). The Council emphasizes the importance of the necessary attention and appropriate measures for the car theft problem in Curaçao.
The RvR has investigated the extent to which the judiciary is competent to combat car theft. The Stichting Overheid Accountants Bureau (SOAB) was previously approached to start an investigation to clarify the situation, but this assignment was never carried out.
Despite the fact that no investigation has actually been conducted to map the scale of the car theft problem in Curaçao, the judiciary does appear to have some insight into the problem. The Curaçao Police Force (KPC) has collected information and has started a draft process. The entire process is followed, from ordering a damaged car to making it roadworthy.
The thieves strip the cars to sell or reuse parts. The demand for parts is high, because many damaged cars are imported from the US. The Vehicle Identification Number, Chassis Number and Engine Number are then removed from the stolen cars.
“The stealing and stripping of cars by criminal organizations is at the expense of victims and insurance companies which suffer a lot of damage. As a result, the insurance policies increase the premiums, which ultimately harms the entire community,” the RvR reported in early October.
It also appears that it is necessary to introduce certain facilities at customs, the Vehicle Inspection Hall and dealers in car parts that could lead to a decrease in car theft. The RvR concludes that rules are required for the scrapyards and the control of these companies to prevent fraud.
The Council is of the opinion that car theft must receive the necessary attention and that the judiciary must pay constant attention to this. According to the RvR, publishing a prosecution policy is essential for legal certainty. In addition, the Board is of the opinion that the registration of the KPC is not sufficient and should be improved.