A burglary involving the "drilling" technique (forado) occurred in the early hours of the morning at a bicycle shop located in the Costanera Center mall in Providencia. A group of unidentified individuals managed to enter the Trek store after drilling through a wall that borders a hallway within the mall.
The theft was detected after a security alarm, connected directly to the store manager's cell phone, was triggered. According to reports from latercera.com, the employee received a security notification and, upon reviewing internal security cameras, observed at least two people inside the premises.
Carabineros (Chilean National Police) arrived at the scene following a 113 emergency call to confirm the crime. Captain Jessica González, a patrol officer for the institution, confirmed that officers verified the existence of a hole in the wall, which the perpetrators allegedly used to gain access and steal merchandise.
“Carabineros responded to this store following an alarm activation. Once on-site, they confirmed that there was a hole in the wall on the side of the store, through which unknown individuals had entered to steal goods,” the officer explained.
The loot and the investigation
The thieves focused on smaller items, such as gear and athletic apparel. As of now, the total value of the stolen goods has not been determined, as the inventory is still being reviewed.
“The valuation will be presented to the Prosecutor's Office once the full inventory has been verified,” Captain González specified.
Police indicated that the entry was made from an interior hallway that separates the shop from the exterior, allowing the suspects to avoid entering the mall's common areas. No large tools were found at the scene, suggesting the hole may have been made using small implements or in a silent manner.
Investigators have not yet identified any vehicles involved in the escape, as available camera footage is limited to the interior of the store. The Public Prosecutor's Office will lead the efforts to collect evidence from the crime scene. As of the time of this report, no arrests have been made in connection with the robbery.
