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It looks like Costa Rica is now taking serious steps to combat crime. In today’s AM Costa Rica, the report appears promising. The job they are doing looks quite effective. I am encouraged the officials are finally responding to the concerns many of us and many of the Ticos have voiced.
http://www.amcostarica.com/morenews.htm This link may only work for today. Just go to the June 4, 2007 edition page 2, if you miss it.
The last paragraph reads:
“One aspect of Costa Rican law that benefits criminals is that a trial verdict usually is validated by a higher court. In the meantime, convicted criminals are allowed to roam freely and usually do not show up when their prison sentence is confirmed.”
I have read more than a few stories in the news over the years about people being arrested 20 or 30 times.
Scott, Just saw your graphics on the homepage about murder rates. I did not know how CR stacked up against others in the Americas. When you look at the data it appears to be relatively safe. The impression over the past year or so was starting to get me a little unnerved. The papers did have a lot of front page crime, and it was very disturbing to many folks here, as I’m sure you remember.
I was concerned that my paradise was turning into a free for all for the bad guys. The news in AMCR and the graphs in Nacion bring a little welcome relief. Any foreign country you go to can give you a paranoid feeling just because of the change in location, language and culture. For awhile I was thinking it was just going to get worse and maybe I won’t want to go there anymore.
Recent news articles and the country’s willingness to address these crime issues has given me a better feeling lately, and that was the reason I put up the post. I hope it helps others.I live in the US and have a home outside of Quepos. I have been going to and from CR for the past 10 years and have not experienced any bad experiences. However I do know about watching my back. If you will pay attention to where you are and where you go, I think it will be OK. I live in a great location in Florida, but I know where to go and where not to go.
Jonjafranz, I’m glad to see some positive responses about crime. I was getting a bit down about the crime issue. I was really feeling like it was over in CR for us. We had nothing but wonderful experiences as well, but I was figuring it was only a matter of time and the place would go down the tubes. It was the government’s slow or non-reacting to the situations that made me feel uncomfortable.
I still can say the people we have met are some of the finest. We absolutely love it there because of the Ticos, not so much the natural beauty or the inexpensive life you can have there. People are what makes a country, whether it is a wealthy one or a poor one. Even if prices continue to climb, we still want to go. personally, We have felt safe there because I didn’t put us in situations I was not totally ok with. It is the unknown fears which creep into the backs of our minds that can get us slightly paranoid. Reading stories of people who after a year or so living there, wouldn’t come out of their house, was not what I wanted to hear.
I grew up in New York City and have a fair amount of street smarts, but that unknown quantity is what sets up the uneasiness.
Thank you for the input, I feel better about it when people who have lived there can relate their experiences.If I read all the stats on Crime here in NYC every week I would probably lock myself in a safe room! LOL. When I read about the crime etc..in CR it makes me wonder;…then I imagine myself in Play Hermosa and just how beautiful and safe it is. And yes while there just use good common sense, like I would do any other place.
Haven´t had any problems personally in CR over the last 20-25 years. I do remember on the first visits , very safe , travelled alone not a problem . Today it is different, have had friends / family robbed recently. But I try and stay clear of problem areas and zones and just take good precautions , stay aware.
But I remember back in the early 90`s I was held at gunpoint in Chicago for a petty amount of cash. In Nov. of 2005 , in Chicago´s south Loop, I was strong armed from behind, I was hit in the head and had a slight concussion after falling into the sidewalk again strking my head. All for my watch and wallet. This thug got a $1500 watch and charged $150 in gas, in exchange for my beating.
So I personally feel pretty safe around here .
Do the numbers that are comparing crime stats take into effect that foreigners may be more of a target than locals?
I’m not saying this is true, just wondering if there is a higher ratio of crimes against US citizens as compared to the general public?I would assume that gringos are targeted, especially when you hear the stories about how they walk around with cameras dangling from their necks, put their wallets in their back pockets, wear lots of jewelry, carry a handbag that isn’t held close to their body, etc. Why not just wear a sign that says “Rob Me!”
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