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I was unsure if I wanted to post this information on here. I decided to because I remember reading Scott writing about the good and bad in Costa Rica on this board. I also thought it responsible to share this information even if it is negitive mainly because it is identifying the issue of violent crime on the rise. If we place our heads in the sand and pretend this isn’t happening two things will happen 1 we won’t work on correcting the issue 2 we won’t protect ourselves from becoming victims of the violence. Now I expect to read how even with this increase in violent crime Costa Rica is still safer than the US. While this may or may not be factual it’s unimportant. I am not here to compare Costa Rica to the US I am trying to identify an issue that affects us in Costa Rica. The other concern that is raised with regard to the increase in crime is the courts inability to deal with the increase and the turnstyle form of justice which is happening today, and tourists inability to report crimes due to a lack of speaking spanish. Again I am not seeking to bash Paradise DRUG USE AND THE VIOLENCE ATTRIBUTED TO DRUG USE IS DOING A GOOD JOB AT BASHING IT FOR US. I wish I had the answer how we can help correct this problem but I don’t other than indentifying it and hoping someone smarter that me or collectivly we come up with solutions. Most importantly we do our best to not becoming a statistic (avictim of a violent crime). I trust this braintrust to have some advice and add it below.
Almost 30,000 robberies and 305 homicides were registered in the 2006
San jOse (ACAN-EFE). – A total of 305 homicides, 499 violations, 2,052 frauds and more than 28,000 robberies of different types was the balance of the delinquency in Costa Rica during the 2006, today informed the Organism into Investigación Judicial (OIJ).Of the robberies, it details an official official notice, 5,700 went to vehicles, 8,884 assaults, 6,104 to houses and 4,341 to other constructions.
Altogether, the OIJ took care of the year previous more than 59,000 denunciations of citizen victims of the delinquents, but what it worries to the authorities more it is the increase in the violence to commit the crimes.
According to the chief of a main directorate of the OIJ, Jorge Rojas, “compared the numbers with the 2005, the increase in the crimes has not been significant, which yes worries is the increase in the violence when a crime is committed; for example of 8,884 happened assaults 5,126 they were with 1,667 and firearm by cutting weapon, causing in many of the victims consideration injuries”.
“The assaults have been more violent, like the homicides, and in these more participation of sicarios noticed. In addition the use to firearms to commit an illicit one in relation to the cutting weapons was greater”, affirmed Red.
04 Jan 2007, 19:36 by Webmaster
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So vegas just for curiosity, What would you do with this topic?
Meaning you say that we should do somthing about this! Do you belive that since Costa Rica is the host nation and we are the visitors we should interveen or since we are the visitors we should let the ticos run their own country the way they want?Don’t get me wrong about the imformation that you are giving me but too many gringos think this is the U.S. and try to become political activist in a country that is not theirs!
Remeber this is a small country with a small amount money it is probley a smaller budget than vegas! If you are looking to relocate you have to accept how they take care of their own buisness!
No matter how you skin this cat Costa Rica is still safer than Minneapolis Minnesota where we are almost at a murder a day now.
yes there is small mugings and some murder in Costa Rica but it dosent compare to Minneapolis,Detroit,Milwakee,Kansas city or anyof the midsize citys.The rise in violent crime concerns me no matter where it is. I’m leaving a major metro area that has drive-bys, random killings, and all kinds of mayhem as a regular activity on any given day. I live far away from the city center in an area where there are no minorities of any kind, hence no gang activity related to illicit drugs, which, I suspect from all the news reports including this article, fuel the violence in the first place. I’m certainly not moving to Costa Rica to become a statistic, but after living in many crime-ridden cities, I know the rules and try to avoid putting myself in a situation that would put me at risk. We had an attempted break-in in my neighborhood in Costa Rica — the ladrones tried to go in through the roof of a neighbor’s bodega but were deterred by all the ribar in the roof. We now have a guard at the entrance to our little enclave. I guess that makes me feel safer. One thing the article doesn’t say is who got murdered? Were these gang members, drug dealers, the average person on the street, what? This is important because even where I live in the States the majority of the murders are committed by minorities against minorities over drug deals gone bad.
ScottB: By the math I learned in American schools 305 murders in a 365 day year is almost a murder a day too. With your question what would I do with this topic. I did what I think should be done with it I made it a topic of discussion I identified it exists. Hopefully people living and visiting this small country as you call it will be aware and do whatever they can to try avoid being the victim of the violence.
You made another statement I am curious about; if one relocates to Costa Rica are they now member’s of their adopted country or are they still just visitors. People who relocate here have the option of seeking permanant residency and even citizenship. Would you then say they have ownership in their new home country or are they just guests because they are part of a minority. With ownership comes responsability. While I agree this is a small country with limited resources and budgets doesn’t stop people from forming neighborhood watch groups with gringos and ticos side by side or gringos from reporting suspicious things they see from reporting them to authorities even if it may be difficult because of a language issue. There are a lot of things people can do to help stop crime where they live. The things that will never change it; is doing nothing, making believe it doesn’t exist, pretending there is nothing that can be done, leaving it up to just government (no matter what governement it is), or believe you are helpless because you are in the minority.
This is a drug problem that leads to a violent crime thing and no one is safe from it anywhere. We don’t stop living but we need to be careful, aware, and responsable.
While the article doesn’t state it clearly Ticos are the people that suffer the most as victim of this new violence which has come to this beautiful country. Most of the Tico victims are innocent victims also not drug deals gone bad. It is all of our problem though because we are all potential victims.
“People who relocate here have the option of seeking permanant residency and even citizenship. Would you then say they have ownership in their new home country or are they just guests because they are part of a minority. With ownership comes responsability.”
Well if you ask most Ticos you will hear them say that you are only visitors. The average Tico will say that they are not happy with the Gringos moving into the neighborhoods but they are happy that they are bringing the money. They would also say that they are not interested in the gringos practicing the polotics in their country.
Most of the Gringos will have contacts with the Tico in many settings and Ticos will not be confrintational and tell you to your face that they belive that you are a visitor. To them you have to be in the country for a long time to beconsider a GringoTico. Even since I am married to a Tica and will end up barried next to her in Costa Rica soil. I will always be known as a Gringo not a Tico. This is why I don’t belive that I or any Gringo has the right to play polotics in Costa Rica even though we might own land and companys there.
Remember don’t leave any foot prints behind like my father would say when we would go camping! This is true to prevent people from trying to change a small countrys culture!
You are right about having neighborhood groups, but do what the normal Ticos do pay a Nica to watch your neighborhood. My mother in law pays a man to watch her house. He rides on his bike and has a billy club checking on everyone’s house that pays him. If you pay him extra he will feed the dogs when you are away..hahahaha
I am curious how many Ticos were included in your poll? Did you ask them this question “how would you feel about your gringo neighbors helping to eliminate or reduce the violent crime that is here now due to drugs”? Was your questioning of all these Ticos from the same local area or was this a national poll. Are your results based on scientific testing or just raw data? Or is all that you have written based on your own opinion? Are we dealing with facts or opinion? I have met with and spoken to many Ticos and I have found different views then you are portraying. I have had many Ticos tell me about homes for sale and new developments that are here. I have had many Ticos welcome me into their homes and introduce me to their family knowing I am relocating to their country. I have had many conversations about politics with these same Ticos and found we have very similar views. Now I am talking about people I have come in contact with and it is not a scientific poll so the results may vary. In my humble opinion you are entitled to your opinion and views but remember what they say about opinions, they are like ________ and everybody has one.
So please everyone that comes to live in Costa Rica, bury your head in the sand and don’t voice your opinion whatsoever in order to appease the locals.
Puhh-leeeese
jneiman Very well writen
I guess I better keep my thoughts and opinions to myself NOT!!!
I guess we better not share negative information and only share positive stories about Costa Rica.
vegasknite and jneiman
If you want to find negatives about living in Costa Rica, you can find plenty of them on this board. You seem to be new and may have missed some of the scarier discussions. The “news” article that vegasknite cited actually isn’t news to most of us. I’m doing my homework and keeping track of what’s going on as are most members of WLCR. We understand that Costa Rica is not a Utopia.
I like to contribute my thoughts to the forum when I believe I have something new to add or I have a question that I would like answered by some of the old timers like scottbenson. I’m just a beginner,too. I’m not about to express opinions about topics that I know little about. It makes people who are really knowledgeable laugh. Vegasknite’s axiom about opinions is a good one. Here’s another: It is better to stay silent and have everyone think you are a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
editer
We have been going to Costa Rica for about 5 years and spend anywhere from 3-6 weeks each time we visit(twice a year). I had one tire punctured in Alejuela 3 years ago, pulled into a secure gas station..no problem. Statistics will scare the hell out of you, if I read the crime statistics for Brooklyn I would never leave my house!(and you would never visit NYC) In 23 years in NYC I have never been, robbed or mugged, in the 80’s they used to break into my car a lot. Most of you will live in C.R. in a nice neighborhood, with a guard etc..and be fine. There are a lot of reasons not to move here I really don’t think crime is one of them.
Editer I am a little confused when you state the article isn’t news to most WLCR members when it was published January 2007. While crime may not be a new issue the major increase in violent crime is. I am not a new memebr although I just started including my comments and questions on this board I have been reading it for quite some time. I will again state I am not knocking Costa Rica or slaming it in any manor by identifying an issue I believe is important for an open discussion. I resent any other member from telling me my input isn’t valid or important. If someone disagrees with my post they have several options one is to comment the another is to ignore it. When someone tries to dazzle facts with opinion they may be called on it as I did with my own sense of humor. If I hurt anyones feelings with my humor then I appologize to them. I had grown up in Brooklyn too and I still feel very safe in all parts of NYC because I know it and what to look out for. I worked Bedford Styvesant, Harlem, East New York, Brownsville, and I never had an issue. I have visited Costa Rica many times over the past 10 years as well and never had an issue. With all that said it doesn’t mean my next trip to NYC or Costa Rica I may not become a victim of a violent crime. I will not allow that to keep me from living or visiting any place or relocating to Costa Rica as I am within the next couple of months. While NYC has a very bad reputation for crime I find myself being more leary when I am in certain areas of Tampa Florida that I have visited. When I lived in Detroit MI while I was overseeing the construction of a Casino there I spent much of my time in the City of Detroit which also has a bad rep and yet I was fine and safe even at 2am. I also didn’t have any issues in the inner city of St Louis while I spent a year there building a Casino in St Charles MO. None of that changes the fact that violent crime is on the increase in Costa Rica, as such it deserves to be discussed on this board in my humble opinion. I agree with you totally Mr Editer that it is much better to be silent and thought the fool than speak and remove all doubt. Sometimes we should also listen to our own advise.
Hi Editer, I think you missed my point.
I was commenting on the fact that if you live here, you have every right to complain or praise. Doesn’t matter if you you are an extranjero or not. Societies are made up with people with different experiences and that’s what makes living here interesting. You meet people from all over the world. And if you live here, your rights really shouldn’t differ from anyone else who lives here.
Trying to make changes for the better wherever you live should be encouraged.
Crime has gotten worse in that it is more violent. A pickpocket, most people can deal with. Getting heldup at gunpoint is something different entirely. It happens everywhere as everyone seems to acknowledge — but when it gets worse it becomes a slippery slope.
Well vegas, my pole has been taken from the average tico that is in my cirlce of influnce.
Unlike many of the people in this forum I am married into a tico family. Some of the difference in my kind of knolwedge is from cousins of my wife, customers of my wifes family biz, and my wifes family friends and her friends. Since my wifes family owns a Soda and the largest biz to get your medical check up for your drivers licens in San Jose, I do like to sit on the corner and talk with the average tico on the block. Many times its because they know my mother inlaw and they want to talk to the gringo that married her daughter. Many people such as presidents of Costa Rica, Goverment workers, and almost everyone that lives in San Jose that has a drivers liscens knows my mother in-laws Soda since it it right across from the drivers liscens buero.
Like I said Ticos won’t tell you to your face that they don’t like that gringos are coming to buy land, Ticos are very friendly and open. How ever behind the close doors they will say a whole different thing. hahah. I think it has to do with the advertisements in the 80’s and 90’s. They used to have a add that ran with ticos smileing and giving directions to Gringos. At the end it would say smile to the foreginers tourism counts on it! Like my wife says gringos always want to hear pura vida!
As to the issue about drug traficing and crime this is not new! During the time that the U.S. was operating out of Howard a lot of drugs were trucked up thru Costa Rica heading north since we had F16 flying the cost lines of central america. Again I will have to say I would still feel safe walking down town San Jose with a $100. hanging out of my pocket than in New York or San Dieago.
How ever if you think that you want to try demonstrating on the steps of the Costa Rica goverment for gringos rights you probley won’t get that many Ticos behind you.
My question is knowing the information that you have read regarding Costa Rica do you belive that it is safer than your own city that you currently live in?
I think this discussion is somewhat important. You get some “insight” into the life of scottbenson. It doesn’t sound like he is all that welcome in that family… and that’s unfortunate. It also illustrates that some people believe you can’t work to make changes and that the people in this host country will be false in their friendships and statements. That’s a sad statement too.
I haven’t experienced my life down here to be like that… and thank goodness.
Not sure what you are talking about demonstrating for Gringo rights — yes that would probably be somewhat riduculous, but who stated that on this forum?
And about the safety of Costa Rica… did anyone say its more dangerous here than anywhere else?
Go ahead and walk around downtown long enough and that $100 hanging out of your pocket will disappear and we can hear about the latest Gringo getting robbed in San Jose. You wouldn’t be the first and you won’t be the last.
There’s people on this forum looking for how to make a life here and others who have learned how to make a life here. I fall into the latter and believe my experience may help others. If people with good intentions come here to build their lives, why would you go out of your way to discourage that and tell them that their opinions and actions for change don’t count? It’s important to have your eyes open and to learn the pitfalls and that’s the purpose of this forum. It is called “Costa Rica Living”.
Scottbenson:
It’s not the drug trafficing that has caused the violence it is the drug use that has risen that has caused it. ALso I feel safe where ever I am including any part of Costa Rica. So to answer your question I feel 100% safe in Vegas and in Costa Rica. I am not about to protest in Costa Rica or in Vegas because there is a crime issue I am going to keep my eyes open and if I see something out of place I am calling the police. If someone is being assaulted in front of me I am coming to assist the victim in either place. While I am disabled I am still able to stop an assault against me or some one else. After reading the balance of your last post it is clear that your so called poll is nothing more then some people you know or that know your Tico family stating what they want you to hear. Maybe they like teasing the Gringo in the family about his heritage and about all the other Gringos they truly do like. Have you ever thought about it from that perspective? In any event Pura Vida and happy new year
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