Capital Punishment.

WHILE CRIME IS A CONSTANT CONCERN IN big cities around the world, Caracas is now starting to see more than its fair share. Neighborhood watchdog groups are emerging. More surveillance equipment is being sold. The government is scrambling for anti-crime strategies. And the Pan American Health Organization recently released a study of residents in seven Latin American cities that showed those living in the Venezuelan capital are the most likely to take justice into their own hands.

"Venezuela sees five times more violent deaths than Kosovo, an average of 100 a day."

--Egildo Luj[acute{a}]n. security commission director for business federation Fedec[acute{a}]maras (EFE).

"You better have a firearm to defend yourself because this place is becoming like the jungle."

--Caracas Street vendor Enrique Jim[acute{e}]nez, who carries a .38-caliber handgun (The Washington Post).

"The increase in crime is a problem that has been caused by much misery."

--Carlos Arturo Craca, general director of Venezuela's Prosecutor General's office (Associated Press).

"The individual enters the door, gets judged in 10 minutes and leaves directly [for jail.]"

--Venezuelan Interior Minister Luis Alfonso D[acute{a}]vila explaining new "fast-track" trials (Associated Press).

"In its attempt to combat crime, the government is getting desperate."

--Lawyer Marino Alva rado, with Venezuelan human rights group Provea (Associated Press).