Crime Blotter: LatAm Style

The Venezuelan Interior Minister says up to 20% of violent crimes in the country are committed by the police. Not good.

Guatemalans must be getting really fed up with crime: On Sunday group of vigilantes in Panahachel beat a suspected criminal to death and threatened to burn three women after dousing them with gasoline. Sunday's incident marked the third straight day of mob violence against suspected criminals

Guatemalan Retired Col. Marco Antonio Sanchez was sentenced to 53 years in prison for his involvement in the disapearence of eight people in the village of El Jute in 1981. Sanchez is the first person convicted of failing to respect the rights of civilians.

Brazilian thieves pulled off a $6 million heist after tunneling from a rented house into an armored car company

Also in Brazil, authorities busted 11 people who sold fake US work visas to 4,500 people over the course of 7 years.

Online Sources: Inquirer.net, Houston Chronicle, AP, Yahoo! News
Image Source: AFP via BBC