On Tuesday May 28th, at approximately 9:30 PM, five masked gunmen attacked the owner and four guests at Rancho des Toro in San Carlos, Panama Province, Panama. This attack was even more violent than the last one.
This is the second violent robbery at Rancho des Toro in recent months. In that attack, fourteen guests were robbed. The restaurant/hotel was just beginning to bounce back from that attack when the gang - the same gang, the owner thinks - struck again. His was not the only business in the area to be attacked that night. This however, was the most violent.
Joe Wilmoth, the owner of Rancho des Toro was brutalized during the attack. His swollen face and bruises are testamant to the rising violence in the interior. "We increased our security tremendouly after the first attack" said Joe. However, the thugs bold actions, and police inaction defeated the new security measures.
Joe managed to hit the newly-installed silent alarm hooked up directly to the San Carlos Police - they took 50 minutes to make the 5 minute drive.
The only foreshadowing of the attack was that Joe noticed that some of the extra lights he had recently installed at the gates had burned out already, and he made a mental note to change the bulbs tomorrow - he had no idea the bulbs had been unscrewed by the well organised thieves.
They arrived silently, on foot, in the darkness. They waited until Ross, for the ranch manager went to sleep. (Ross would have meant they were out-numbered). They attacked all at once - dressed like nija's. They attacked the men first - splitting open one man's scalp with a pistol, and punching another in the face, then brandishing guns, they forced them all to the ground and tied them up. When a thug is holding a gun to your wife's head - there is little you can do but comply.
They all carried guns, some had knives, some had machetes, and at least one had a bull-whip.
They used blue internet wire found on-site, while the electricians installing internet at the ranch slept in near-by cabins.
They ordered them to shut up, lay down and to be quiet in English with heavy Spanish accents.
They had communications, and escaped in a car.
They did not sneak in during the night. They came while the the restaurant was open - they came prepared to beat and rob these "gringos".
As their victims lay hog-tied, terrified and helpless, they forced them to sit up so they could photograph their bruised and bloody faces.
The victims were smart. They did not try to fight the attackers - only a fool brings a fist to a gun fight.
Even one or two guns against five would be foolish. Heroics are for the movies.
Instead they have some bruises and may need some stitches, but they are alive. They let them take what they wanted: a safe and some personal effects. Once they bust it open, they will find that the safe is empty. These idiots even left behind the one purse where they had placed most of the money, cell phones and wallets they had gathered. These punks are clearly not very bright. So why aren't they in jail?
No arrests have been made from the last attacks - despite the police knowing who two of the attackers are, according to Joe.
According to Gorgona Vecinos Vigilantes (Neighbourhood Watch), the same night as the Rancho des Toro attack, the offices of Rio Mar were robbed.
A nearby resident of Ranchos des Toro said that her dogs went crazy around 12 midnight the same night (her back gate is very close to the Rancho front gate) - she was home alone, and turned on the security lights and let her two very large dogs out. They took off barking after something, but the person(s) or animals managed to escape.
In the last year or so, there has been a murder, a couple of kidnappings, multiple break-ins and armed robberies targeted against foreigners in the interior.
The violence is clearly escalating. It has to be stopped.
It is time to fight back.
For the first time, all three community safety organisations in Panama are working together to fight these criminals: Neighbours Helping Neighbours (NHN), Alto Al Crimen (AAC) in Boquete and Gorgona Vecinos Vigilantes are working on this case together.
Alto Al Crimen dispatched their private detective to the crime scene within 30 minutes of receiving the call from one of the victims (all four guests at Rancho des Toro were visiting from Boquete). He has been on-site for two days now, interviewing victims, gathering evidence, asking questions of the locals - he is on the trail of the attackers.
A show of support meeting is being held Thursday June 6th at 6 PM at Ranch des Toro - our armed detective, our armed police liazon and our security will ensure that nothing interferes with our fun.
We hope to raise money for a reward for information leading to the arrest of these criminals, and for legal fees to support the prosecution of these thugs.
There will be no weapons discussions or sales pitches - We will be presenting our plan on how we intend on identifying these punks, having them arrested, and having them convicted - Please come show your support.
To lighten the mood, we are selling "Ham - Burglars" with a cash bar.
Don't think this is a Joe/Rancho des Toro problem. It is all of our problem.
If you have ever driven to Momma Mia's, Carlitos, or El Palmar - remember - it is just as easy for these thugs to drive the other way - to your house.
You do not have to be a member of any of these organisations to attend. You just have to care.
Bring your neighbours - this is not an "anti-Panama group", or a "gringo group".
This is a "safety for the residents of the interior" group.
Look for the signs/balloons off the highway, just west of Carlitos restaurant.
Rancho des Toro is 3 km north off the highway from Carlitos.
This Thursday June 6th at 6 PM.
Be there or be square.
Panama
IMG_0016.jpeg)
Legal-Services-in-Panamá-MPU.jpg)
Living in Panama Guide
Panama Forum
Contribute
Best Places to Live in Panama
Healthcare in Panama
Cost of Living in Panama
Moving to Panama Guide
Pros & Cons of Living in Panama
Panama Visa & Residency Guide
10 Tips for Living in Panama