The so-called "fleteo": the abstraction of a criminal risk. An experience in criminal intelligence

Problem. The so-called "fleteo" (robbing bank clients of their money just after their withdrawal of funds from their accounts) is seen as a danger because there is no rational and contingent scheme for decision-making with respect to public security. Methodology. In the face of this situation, it was necessary to identify the "fleteo" features as a hazard, a criminal risk against public security, through theories of risk sociology and social construction of reality. For this purpose, the ideal type methodology was used as a guide for collection and analysis of data, for which diverse techniques were applied such as documentary consultation, interview, survey, focus groups, case-by-case analysis and conceptual ideogram. Results. This has allowed the recognition and characterization of "fleteo" as a criminal risk, a fragment of reality with which intelligence is concerned. And, finally, some harms to public security were identified. Conclusions. Generally, the risk theory is not conceived as applied to public security. For this reason, criminal intelligence is presented as a discipline in charge of anticipating criminal risks against public security. This would help reduce uncertainty during decision-making and calculate the damages intended to be prevented against public security.