Thousands of people in Buenos Aires protested rampant crime Oct. 31 by banging pots and pans on street corners, and hundreds gathered at the presidential compound. Car-jackings, kidnappings and daylight robberies have soared in the suburbs surrounding the capital, prompting the governor of Buenos Aires province to order 3,300 more police into the streets to counter crime that one outside observer described as getting out of hand. Most crime that affects tourists is pickpocketing or purse snatching, but aggravated assaults have occurred. Remain especially alert at tourist sites and on buses and trains.
