Panama City police are hunting for two suspects after hooded assailants attack three young people outside a commercial establishment on Belén Street in San Francisco township on the night of October 31. The victims were stripped of three cell phones and a laptop computer in a violent confrontation that was captured on security video and quickly spread across social media platforms, sparking outrage among area residents.
National Police Director Jaime Fernández confirmed Monday that no arrests have been made, though investigations are proceeding in coordination with the Public Ministry. The assailants arrived in a vehicle, emerged wearing hoods, and carried out the robbery within moments before fleeing the scene.
Police Link Method to Notorious Gourmet Gang
Fernández drew a direct comparison between Saturday night’s assault and the operations of a criminal group known as the “Gourmet” band, which previously targeted restaurants and businesses throughout the San Francisco area. That group had been inactive for roughly a year before this latest incident.
“A year ago we did not have a situation of that nature,” Fernández stated. “We are going to be forceful with this type of crime.” [Translated from Spanish]
The police chief’s comments signal renewed concern that organized robbery crews may be resurfacing in the township. San Francisco, a middle-class district of Panama City, has grappled with periodic waves of restaurant and street-level robberies that erode public confidence in nighttime safety.
Sucedió anoche en una plaza comercial en San Francisco. Sujetos encapuchados le roban y golpean a tres personas y escapan en auto blanco Kia Soluto. https://t.co/GAxdMTA0ut
— barriosdurospanama (@BarriosDurospty) November 1, 2026
Missed Warning Signs and Community Alert Failures
Investigators revealed that the vehicle used by the robbers had already drawn suspicion from locals before the attack occurred. Fernández expressed frustration that residents failed to notify authorities until after the crime was committed.
“The car these criminals were using had been profiled by the locals, but they did not call to alert us until after the fact,” he said. [Translated from Spanish]
That gap between observation and reporting represents a critical breakdown in community policing efforts. Fernández renewed calls for immediate denunciation of suspicious activity, emphasizing that early warnings allow patrol units to intercept suspects before violence occurs.
Investigation Status and Next Steps
Judicial authorities confirmed that investigative work continues at a steady pace alongside prosecutors. No suspects have been apprehended as of Monday afternoon. Police are reviewing the security footage that circulated online and gathering witness statements from the area near Belén Street.
The robbery occurred on Halloween night, a period when increased foot traffic and late-night activity typically provide cover for street crimes. Residents of San Francisco have demanded increased patrols in commercial corridors where young people gather after dark.
Fernández maintained that the National Police will maintain an aggressive posture against robbery crews operating in the district. The investigation remains open as detectives work to identify the hooded assailants and determine whether they have connections to the dormant Gourmet network or represent a new criminal cell.