The Cost of Crime in Venezuela

CARACAS, Venezuela—From his hilltop slum overlooking this decaying capital, Luis Martínez lamented that his once-lucrative armed robbery and kidnapping-for-ransom business is way down.

Bullets are too costly, as are parts for his getaway car. Few victims carry U.S. dollars these days; the local bolivar is nearly worthless. There’s simply less money around to steal.

“Being a ‘malandro’ isn’t what it used to be,” said Mr. Martínez, 26, using a local idiom for gangster. Sipping cheap rum under a streetlight with a partner, he pulled out a Glock semiautomatic from his fanny pack to show he was down to five bullets. “I have to ration these. It’s getting too hard to keep up.”

WSJ

The cost of crime in Venezuela

turns Caracas gangsters pale-ah.

(Sorry my alliteration

is a true abomination.)

*

Bullets dear at any price;

no on can afford much vice.

Kidnappers now sing the blues:

ransoms paid in IOU's.

*

There is no more cash to steal;

pickpockets can't buy a meal.

Crooks down there must contemplate

giving up and going straight!