Costa Rica Policeman stands ready for business during a crime sweep
The other day we received an email wondering, why we require a “real name” in the comments part in regards to our post on Armed Robbery on a bus in Costa Rica. The emailer thought that the use of the “real name” would be caused for retaliation, and then asked, Why is there not a website were people who have been victimize can post their tragedy without retaliation?
He or she went on questioning, why a popular hotel was robbed in Alajuela late Sept by 5 Costa Rican, masked gunman carrying AK47 and 38’s, and why a terrible murder of a lady in one of the most exclusive, gated, high end communities in Atenas a month or so ago, was not in the press?
First, anyone who want to make a comment or post can do so without reveling their real name. Most will use a user name (alias) and we do not post emails.
Second, many crimes are reported in local Costa Rica newspapers like Nacion and AMCosta Rica. Americans think the only newspaper is the English Tico Times, which is not so. If you can read and speak Spanish these local newspapers report crime all the time.
In fact, they sometimes go out of the way to report it especially the violent ones. Like any newspaper, it helps increase sales! And like many petty crimes, like the person stealing the sunglasses off your head … they don’t get reported…
Fact remains, Costa Rica is a stable, well-developed democracy. Indigenous terrorist organizations are non-existent. There is no known organization targeting U.S. citizens or U.S. affiliated interests in Costa Rica. However, everyone should exercise caution and use common sense and if need be regularly consult their Department of State’s website for the latest information about the security situation in any country. Labor strikes and protests are fairly common in Costa Rica. While normally peaceful, all protests and demonstrations should be avoided.
Costa Rica does employ a 911 emergency assistance system. However, response time varies widely. Crime discovered after the fact must be reported in person at the nearest organization of Judicial Investigation (OIJ) office. OIJ is also responsible for investigating major crimes. Victims should be prepared to wait a couple of hours to complete the necessary reports as they would be in the US when a crime is reported. Policemen like to get as many facts as they can.
As of December 2006, Costa Rica deployed the first group of Tourist Police, focused on tourist crime and assistance to the nearly 2 million visitors to Costa Rica each year. The deployments of these officers, who wear a white uniform shirt with “Tourist Police” clearly printed on the back, is currently around 120 officers, with more planned deployments in the future. Some of the initial Tourist police areas of deployment are: Jaco, San Jose, Monteverde, Arenal, Los Chiles (border with Nicaragua), and Quepos, the location of Manuel Antonio National Park.
Police emergency – 911
Ambulance – 911 or 128
Fire – 911 or 118
OIJ – 911 or 22-1365 or 221-5337
People think that Costa Rica is America because so many speak English, which is not SO, it is a country that still uses Napoleonic law. In comparison to other Latin American countries including the US, the countries crime rate is very low, and in some isolated areas, almost zero.
But it does have its a fair share of crime on the streets as any big cities do. However, San Jose has taken big steps to reduce crime, in fact, a recent report that the crime is down in San Jose. Fact remains, Tourists should be careful; foreigners are easily spotted if they are in busy surroundings and could be targeted.
See Carrying Cash in Costa Rica, Traveling Mistakes Made in Costa Rica, and How Not To Get Robbed
I don’t agree with the above comment. Crime doesn’t just happen at bars, to the drunk and alone people. As they say at the wrong place at the wrong time.
This past Feb. we were robbed at gun point in broad daylight in the middle of a peaceful Santana street, at 10:30 a.m.
And just last week relatives of mine who live in Aserrin were away for a day, 7 men attacked the guard, broke in to the house and took everything of value.
So crime is happening in Costa Rica more that often. It’s becoming a problem in every day life for those who just want to make a living, have enough money to pay the bills, are not rich, but just because they look like Americans or tourists, they are being targated and sometimes hurt and killed.
Please report everything you hear about crime, and also let’s start a petition by writing to President Chinchilla so that she can increase and upgrade the country’s police force. The fact that Costa Rica doesn’t have an army, the country definetely needs more Coastal Guards, Inland, & Mountain Guards. But Guards with enough ammunition to protect the citizens of Costa Rica.
Please let’s do something now before it’s too late for Costa Rica.
I love this country and its people, we cannot let the drug dealers and the robbers take control of such a nice country.
Thank you.
Fran V.
First, let me say that I was a student here in 1995, have spent more than 1/2 of my time since 2006 here, and have traveled to most places in San Jose alone and CR that most gringos have feared to go. I often live with Tico families. Now do as I say, not what I do.
Second, there are episodes of crimes. It occurred in Aserri two years ago with a home invasion of a Tico neighbor (I walked right by his house and thought it odd that his light was still on at midnight) and shortly by a carjacking of a tica at gunpoint in the morning during rush hour in her driveway. The suspected perps left, and the crime stopped.
The same thing happened in Sept in parts of downtown San Jose. Stabbings, Mexican-style chokeholds, armed robberies occurred. Efforts by all decent folk has driven out the perps again, and all is calm.
Crime is a reality, but is usually episodic. Being alert, not drunk and alone, or frequenting dangerous places, taking precautions and traveling in groups usually helps. Be streetwise, guard your stuff and that of others, and if your insincts tell you to beware, don’t ignore it.
While the conventional wisdom says that the cops don’t do anything, one bar with problems was closed, another cleaned out the dope dealers If you talk too long to one of the slimy kind outside of bars the police may search you for consorting with a known drug dealer, and they do try their best to keep the criminals in check.
But keep in mind where well-off tourists gather, there are always preditors in the shadows.