Stolen cars quickly become stolen vehicle parts because crooks find it easier to sell components.

That's what the Fuerza Pública said three persons were doing in La Colonia Cubujuqui, Las Horquetas, Sarapiquí, Saturday. Officers said they came upon the three on a little-used road while they were dismantling a truck with a cutting torch. As part of the investigation, policemen found two license plates, both listed as having been affixed to vehicles that were stolen.

The men were identified by the last names and ages of Gamboa Gámez, 27, Selva Romero, 19. and Arroyo, 16.

Police said that they also found other vehicle parts in the area.

Meanwhile, the Judicial Investigating Organization said it located a garage in Las Ángeles de San Ramón where they believe vehicles were either taken apart or had their identifying marks changed.

The owner of the shop was taken into custody, and agents said they recovered a Mitsubishi Montero Sport taken in Jacó Dec. 31, a Toyota Corolla taken in Alajuela Dec. 22 and a Rav 4 taken in San José Dec. 29.


Prices of gasoline cut,
but increases are proposed


Anyone confused by the gasoline prices should not feel that they are in the minority.

The nation's price regulating agency said Friday that it had to suspend an increase in super gasoline and a slight decrease in the price of diesel because the Sala IV constitutional court agreed with an appeal.

So now the Authoridad Reguladora de Servicios Públicos will compute the price increase for February and include the increase that was proposed for January, it said. To do otherwise would jeopardize the financial stability of the government petroleum monopoly, the Refinadora Costarricense de Petróleo

The result is that the agency is proposing a 37-colon (about a seven U.S. cent) increase in the price of super gasoline. The price would go to 625 per liter (about $1.12).  Plus gasoline would go up 24 colons (a bit more than four cents) to 597 colons (about $1.07). Diesel would go up 22 colons to 533, the agency said. That's about 96 cents.

There are 3.785 liters in a U.S. gallon, so the per gallon price of super gasoline would be about $4.25. The proposed prices are subject to public hearings and will not be fixed until the second week of February, the agency said.