Agustincito arrested in La Matanza after armed vehicle robberies

On September 15, 2026, a 16-year-old known as Agustincito and two other underage gunmen carried out two armed vehicle robberies within five minutes in La Matanza, Argentina, according to reporting by Infobae. The primary incident involved intercepting a Volkswagen Nivus carrying a woman and her daughters on their way to school. The attackers hijacked the vehicle in under 20 seconds, leaving investigators tracking a criminal market where stolen cars are routinely resold or repurposed for home invasions.

Police arrested Agustincito at his home in Morón on October 9, 2026, following a raid by the Bonaerense police department where officers recovered a stolen iPhone 14. Investigators found that the suspect had been released from a juvenile detention facility in Pablo Nogués just one month prior to the September hijackings. Authorities stated that the teenager posted photos of himself holding a 9mm firearm on Instagram to project status within local criminal networks.

Two Hijackings in Five Minutes in San Justo

The sequence of events began at 6:56 a.m. on Virrey Cisneros street in San Justo, where three armed minors confronted a woman and her daughters inside a Volkswagen Nivus. The attackers abandoned their initial vehicle to take the Nivus, fleeing the scene in less than 20 seconds. Six blocks away, at the intersection of Fitz Roy and Gallo, the same trio targeted a second family at 6:59 a.m. inside a Peugeot 208.

During the second attempt, one of the suspects fired a shot into the air to intimidate the 35-year-old driver. Although the driver managed to escape, the attackers stole an iPhone 14 during a physical struggle. Police identified Agustincito as the individual who discharged the firearm during the failed Peugeot robbery. The case is currently overseen by prosecutor Juan Pablo Volpicina in the juvenile court system.

The Market for Stolen Vehicles in La Matanza

Investigators tracking vehicle theft in the region indicate that stolen models like the Volkswagen Nivus and Peugeot 208 command high prices among criminal enterprises. Law enforcement sources interviewed by Infobae estimate that a stolen Nivus can fetch up to one million pesos on an illegal market where vehicles are either fitted with cloned license plates or assigned to crews specializing in forced-entry burglaries.

Unlike rideshare robberies where thieves target mobile wallets and digital earnings, operations involving late-model vehicles rely on established distribution channels. While luxury imports such as Mercedes-Benz models remain targets for adult syndicates in areas like Ituzaingó, compact and mid-size vehicles provide faster resale value without drawing immediate attention from law enforcement.

Police Confront Armed Youthful Offenders Near Buenos Aires

The arrest of Agustincito follows a series of armed confrontations involving youthful offenders across the Buenos Aires periphery. In May 2026, a high-speed police chase near the San Petersburgo settlement ended with suspects Kevin Bazán and Damián Chacón injured after exchanging gunfire with officers while driving a stolen Renault Sandero Stepway. Court records indicated Chacón was supposed to be serving house arrest under a juvenile court order for an alleged attempted murder of a rideshare driver.

Authorities have not yet determined whether intermediate brokers or large-scale coordinators are supplying these juvenile cells with logistical support or directing the distribution of stolen inventory across the district.