Protection money?

[Gringoboy]

We'll soon be moving from a barrio cerrado near Nordelta, where we've lived for about 5 years.
There's no denying the security advantages. No bars on windows, no alarms and we can leave doors and windows open when we're in.
Moving to a relatively quiet area of Olivos, which we know well and also it's where we work.
Thing is that, on the corner is a vigilancia hut with an old man esconsed in it who drinks mate all day and chats with passers by.
I know this is completely normal for most parts of BA, particularly in the suburbs.
We had a chat with the geezer, asking how much his 'fee' was. Only to be told $250 per month, and that's cheap. many of the neighbours are paying me more than that etc etc.
I'm baulking at this a tad.
What if I decide that we don't pay him?
Is he in cahouts with the local fuzz and in turn with the local bandidos?
Is it protection money?
I know others here live in the northern suburbs and would be interested to hear any comments.
Cheers

 

[marksoc]

I know this is completely normal for most parts of BA, particularly in the suburbs.

No is not. Most of the suburbs, including middle-high class ones like Castelar, do not have private guards in every corner (only in some very specific spots). In my neighborhood, we have police, the public normal one, patrolling the streets, and one policeman standing in the corner. Of course we don´t need to pay, we do it already with our taxes. You would be better served by living in a neighborhood where your neighbors care about what happens around them.

I know that my comment will not be useful for you if you want to live in certain northern neighborhoods, but even in those there are areas with community life.

 

[Gringoboy]

Appreciate your comment marksoc, thanks.
And I agree that we pay our taxes for the police etc and yes I have seen them (police), thereabouts.
You say community life and where neighbours care about what happens around them........hmmmmmm.
From what I can gather, they rely almost entirely on the little hut guys. Hence my question.

 

[nikad]

Hmmm You are not a newcomer Gringoboy, but believe me, Olivos is not the kind of place where you leave the doors open and have no bars, etc. I know people living in the area and they pay for security... your best bet is to ask the neighbors I guess

 

[hannstew]

Our last house (in Olivos) had a guard on the corner and we paid him monthly. I dont remember how much but it was the same as the other neighbors paid. He would always flash his flashlight to us when we arrived home after dark to let us know that he was watching. I dont think its mandatory to pay them and if he is an older gent, probably isnt in cahoots with the criminals but you never know.
Wat part of Olivos are you coming to? We are near Maipu and Pelliza..

 

[elhombresinnombre]

Out of curiosity, what sort of answer had you expected him to give that you baulked at the answer he actually gave?

 

[Gringoboy]

Elhombre
I'm assuming you mean the answer from the old gent?
I think I baulked at his implication that 250 was cheap and that we should be paying him much more, which to me is tantamount to extortion.
Thanks Nikad and yes I'm very familiar with Olivos and have been for more than 6 years. Doors and windows firmly shut, sin duda.We have bars, obviously and also roller shutters on all windows. More door locks than you could shake a stick at as well.
Hannstew, we are moving to a quiet area of La Lucila, river end.

 

[Gringoboy]

I just suggested to my wife that we introduce ourselves to our new neighbours and she looked at me as if I was mad.
Different culture to we Brits?

 

[va2ba]

I just suggested to my wife that we introduce ourselves to our new neighbours and she looked at me as if I was mad.
Different culture to we Brits?

The people here do not like to get to know the people they live around. They view everyone with mistrust and suspicion. But I have noticed that that can be different out of Capital, but I can't say whether Olivos is far enough removed from Capital to be much different.

 

[HowardinBA]

if you don,t want to pay the vigilante..don,t pay..simple