Druglords don’t stay at home: COVID-19 pandemic and crime patterns in Mexico City

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on conventional crime and organized crime in Mexico City, Mexico. MethodsMexico City's Attorney General's Office reported crime data, covering domestic violence, burglary, robbery, vehicle theft, assault-battery, homicides, kidnapping, and extortion. We use an event study for the intertemporal variation across the 16 districts (municipalities) in Mexico City for 2019 and 2020. ResultsWe find a sharp decrease on crimes related to domestic violence, burglary, and vehicle theft; a decrease during some weeks on crimes related to assault-battery and extortion, and no effects on crimes related to robbery, kidnapping, and homicides. ConclusionsWhile our results show a decline in conventional crime during the COVID- 19 pandemic, organized crime remains steady. These findings have policy implications for catastrophic events around the world, as well as possible national security issues in Mexico.