<P> Crime in Panama is investigated by the Panamanian police . </P> <P> In 2012, Panama had a murder rate of 17.2 per 100,000 population . There were a total of 654 murders in Panama in 2012 . </P> <P> Panamanian authorities conducted a study which indicates that almost 90 percent of express kidnappings are unreported due to the threat that thieves impose on the victim and relatives of the victim . The procedure of express kidnapping consist of abducting the victim and taking possession of valuables such as cellphones, watches, credit cards, cash and jewelry . Besides taking all of the victim's valuables, the kidnappers make the victim withdraw money from different ATM locations . </P>

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