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Where did I say there was NO crime in my neighborhood in Costa Rica? Actually, there were four home robberies and for that reason we wound up hiring an armed guard at night. However, three of the four robberies happened to the same person who employed a less than savory gringo character to build their house. this person was abusive to the Ticos, had a penchant for very young Tico girls/boys, and in general was someone nobody wanted around. All of his tools were stolen, not once, but three times. He’s now left the neighborhood and there have been no incidences since. That being said, we STILL have the armed guard at night, and I put in an alarm system, plus I have a dog. As my husband explained, somewhat comically, the Church is partially responsible for this theft mentality for preaching that “God helps those who help themselves,” and that’s what they’re doing when they steal — helping themselves. Of course this kind of petty crime is rampant, but to my knowledge there have been no mass murders, no workplace shootings, and no school shootings in Costa Rica.
I think if the person would have stayed in churh long enough to get the full message they would have heard if you do not work then you do not eat.
Helping yourself does not mean that you help yourself to others property. I have not been to a church that promoted stealing.
Petty crime is petty, crime. we do have petty crime in Costa Rica but no way is it on the level of a major or minor city in the USA.
In fact they have a lot of criminals getting off the plane from the US and some other parts of the world.
I have not read where in Costa Rica someone went into a resturant and starting shoting. Boy we purified North Americans. There is no place on the planet where no one steals.
If you live in Italy you have to pay for protection, the safest place we have lived is Germany. If your neighbors see you being robbed they will call the police. They do not think about whether they should get involved.
In Costa Rica a lot of times when a person robs he is the son or the brother of your neighbor. They see him but do not report him because he is family. They dont like what he is doing but he is family. They dont even report him when he steals from them. That is the problem in my community, most people say why report it, the police will not help. So a lot of things go unreported and many think that there are no deterents to keep people from stealing.
You can use a computer in Costa Rica, they have not started stripping your bank account nor do you have to worry about what you toss in the trash.
Talking about robbery, so you get a TV lifted or some electric appliances. The dude is not trying to steal you identy? You do not have to keep checking your credit report to see who is using your name.
Just like at home move to a town that has a lower crime rate. If you live in a town that has money, then you have more crime. If you live in a town that is very poor and a few rich people, and no jobs, you have crime. That is a world problem.
If anyone finds the perfect place, where no crime exsist let me know. Other then heaven, cause I am not ready to go yet.
As others have aptly noted, petty theft is inherent in many cultures. Of course, the church doesn’t come right out and say it’s okay, but in every third world country we’ve lived in, there was this underlying attitude that hey, you’re a rich gringo, you won’t mind losing that toaster, TV, laptop, bracelet, earrings, microwave, etc. After all, you have plenty of money to replace these things and we barely have enough money to feed our families. Of course, it’s not okay. And I don’t relish being robbed, but it we’re going to flaunt our wealth in the face of people who have very little, we are likely to become targets for theft.
Thanks Maravilla,
You put it so nicely, our attitude about things we have and the way we treat them is an indication that they are not really important and if they are missing so what.
A friend of mind wore a lot of jewelry, she had placed confidence in a Gringo friend. Well her house got broken into and they did not look for things they just went right where they were. The did not even break in her home. Every thing indicated her supposed friend.
All Gringos here are not above reproach. The answer is be careful of your associations. The people you allow in your home should be referred or at least you should know something about them. Seek to get referrences for household help and gardeners.
The problem with all of it is that the biggest robber is not of possessions it is our health. You can live like you are penniless then be robbed of life.
Fear of things happening does not prevent them from happening it often helps. Having so much faith in being robbed you will be robbed. If not of your possessions but of your life.
living like you are proverty stricken so you will not be robbed is robbery itself. God, it will be great when this is all over. People who think that this is all there is to exsistance and no hope of eternal life. I feel for them.
At home in the US we can not allow our children to play in the neighborhood because of the fear of being molested, robbed of their childhood. We can not throw paper away without shredding it.
We move to Costa Rica and we have to dress and look like we are penniless. Give me some relief, Im locked up in my house, no freedom in one place and can not safely throw my trash away in another place.
Can not trust Doctors they over medicate you and charge you to much. Someone is trying to steal your identy. Where can I go and who can I trust once I get there.
Gringo with your intellectual answers for everything you must have one for me and others like me who moved here hoping for a more peaceful life. Now you tell us we are going to be imprisoned in our homes protecting our stuff, unless we live and look poverty stricken.
If given a choice, I would rather live free and get stolen from then live in prison and keep my possessions secure. Do I have a witness?
Oh, Gringo my dream is to have the command of our language as you do. Wonderful debater, we have to give it to you,your words can build a tower or take it down. Your okay, but not necessarily right (smile).
Where did you say was a good place to live? I must have missed that message.So I have the gift of the written word. So what, Jenny – you’ve got soul! Where’s the perfect place? In your own good heart as you journey through life.
Jenny & Maravilla: You are both in the middle of that journey, and your good hearts will take you through. There are many more good people than bad in this life, and if you can stay positive, your goodness will rub off on others. That’s gotta be worth something.
Me, i’m the cynical SOB mouthing off from the sidelines, still saving up to try it all again…
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