Crime is increasing in Costa Rica and U.S.
citizens are frequent victims, particularly of petty theft. American tourists
and residents can, however, take steps to protect themselves.
The nature of the problem
Criminals often operate in small groups, but may also
operate alone. While most crimes are non-violent, criminals, including
juveniles, have shown a greater tendency in recent years to use violence. The
following are some examples of recent crimes against U.S. citizens:
- A
tire of a rental car went flat, and people who stopped to “help change the
tire” stole U.S.
passports, bags, cash, and camera.
- A
hotel room was broken into during the day, and items the tourist had hidden
were stolen.
- Several
Americans were traveling on a tour bus. The bus was parked at the parking
area of a white water rafting company, and while the tourists were rafting,
the bus was broken into. U.S. passports were stolen along with cameras, cash, credit cards, and clothing.
- An
American's backpack was stolen from a chair at a restaurant while he was in
the restroom.
- Items
were stolen from the locked trunk of a rental car.
- A
purse with a passport and credit cards was stolen out of a backpack on a
bus.
- While
making a transaction, an American set his passport on the counter at a bank
and was distracted by another "bank client" who started talking to
him; when he turned around, his passport was gone.
U.S. citizens are encouraged to exercise the same level of caution here that they
would in major cities or tourist areas throughout the world. Here are some steps
that may help Americans avoid becoming victims of crime:
1. Protective measures:
For
starters, put your passport in a safe place, like a hotel safe, and carry
only a copy (the photo page and the page containing the Costa Rica entry
stamp) as you enjoy your stay in Costa Rica.
Carry
on paper the name of your hotel and the phone number as well as the phone
number of the U.S. Embassy.
2. Entertainment:
- Avoid
areas with high concentrations of bars and nightclubs, especially at night.
- Seek
entertainment in groups of people you know.
- Do
not consume food or drinks you have left unattended or accept food or drinks
"friendly" people.
- Do
not leave a bar or other facility with a stranger.
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3. Sightseeing or walking about:
- Avoid walking around at night (especially in the
San Jose city center).
- Stay
alert: crowded tourist attractions and resort areas popular with foreign
tourists are also common venues for criminal activities.
- Steer
clear of deserted properties or undeveloped land.
- Walk
or exercise with a companion.
4. Transportation:
- Lock
all doors, and keep all windows closed.
- Keep
valuables on the car floor and/or out of sight of a person who could see
them and grab them.
- Leave
sufficient space between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you, to
allow you to drive away quickly, if necessary.
- Be
alert to suspicious persons loitering on the side of the road.
- Use
only licensed taxis (they have yellow triangle medallions with numbers
painted on the side).
- Use
extreme caution if bumped from behind on an isolated stretch of road. (One
method of initiating kidnappings and carjackings is to bump the victim's car
from behind; the unsuspecting victim stops, believing he or she is involved
in a minor accident, and is taken hostage or robbed.)
- Use
extreme caution if you have a flat tire. Drivers with flat tires are advised
to drive, if possible, to the nearest service station or other public area,
and change the tire themselves, watching their valuables at all times. Most
car rental companies will cover the damage to the tire. (A
common ploy by thieves involves the surreptitious puncturing of tires of
rental cars, often near restaurants or tourist attractions, or close to the
car rental agency at which the car was rented; when the travelers pull over,
"good Samaritans" quickly appear to change the tire and rob the
traveler.)
- Park
in secured lots whenever possible, and do not leave valuables in the
vehicle.
- Travel
with a cell phone.
- Do
not accept help if someones says, "Follow me. I'm going that way."
5. Financial transactions:
- Change
money in banks or other financial institutions (money changers on the street
have been known to pass off counterfeit U.S. dollars and local currency).
- Retain
all credit card receipts and check accounts regularly to help prevent
unauthorized use of credit cards.
- Avoid
using debit cards for point-of-sale purchases, as a skimmed number can be
used to clean out an account.
- Keep
the phone numbers for your banks on a sheet of paper in case your credit
cards or bank cards are stolen or lost.
6. In general:
- Reduce
risk by keeping valuables out of sight, by not wearing jewelry, and by
traveling in groups.
- Avoid
carrying large amounts of cash, jewelry, or expensive photographic
equipment.
- Minimize
travel after dark.
- Avoid
responding in kind to verbal harassment.
- Do not store valuables in a car's trunk or glove compartment.
- Donot engage in a physical confrontation with the criminals you are
outnumbered, and they may have hidden weapons.
- Don't try to outrun an armed criminal; no car or person can outrun a bullet.
- Immediately report any suspicious activity to police.
If
you are with or become a victim of sexual assault please contact the Embassy
immediately.
If you become a crime victim:
If you are the victim of a crime, report it to the OIJ
police who are able to take your report, and also to the Consular Section of the
U.S. Embassy at 2519-2000 (during work hours) and 2220-3127, 2519-2280, or 2519-2279
(after work hours), or by email to: consularsanjose@state.gov.
The loss or theft abroad of a
U.S.
passport should be reported immediately to the U.S. Embassy. This allows the
Embassy to make the necessary notifications that may help catch criminals,
including terrorists, who try to buy or use the passport.
Note:
In Costa Rica, there are two kinds of police. Those in uniform are La Fuerza Pública.Their
role is crime prevention.
OIJ, plain clothes police, are in charge for investigations. In general, only
OIJ police can accept reports of crime.
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