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I just do NOT believe in luck…good or bad. Luck and randomness are simply terms we use to label what we don’t understand. Why do some get robbed and others do not? There ARE answers to that question. I do, however, believe in ignorance. I have had my Miami homes burglared twice over 26 years. I was ignorant of the probability of that happening and I failed to take stronger measures.
If a home in the Costa Rican country side can never be made relatively safe from burglary no matter what measures are taken, then I would reconsider Costa Rica as a place to live. So far, nobody has shown that to be the case. Each victim knows what he or she did incorrctly and hopefully will make changes in behavior or security for the house. Otherwise, it is a stupid idea to live in a place where your life and property are under constant threat. I think itis also a good idea to keep things in perspective and not exaggerate.
Good response,Bradford.
By the way, the PEOPLE of Chile, Brazil and Cuba CHOSE their governments and are so far, quite content with them…as opposed the governments and economies that the World Bank and the U.S. SHOVED down their throats for the last half century. They are breaking free from that economic colonialism and good for them!I don’t know for sure that I WILL be a vicitm of crime in Costa Rica either. There just is no concrete evidence either way. It’s all about probabilities. Right now, unfortunately, the odds for you have become 100%. The odss for others like David and Scott, are zero percent.
Edited on Jan 06, 2009 08:25
I see your point but many on this site are saying the whole country of Costa Rica is a bad neighborhood. I am still not convinced of this. I believe where and/or how you live has everything to do with whether or not you become a victim. And this should be true everywhere…even in Iraq or Costa Rica. How big of a target are you?
Just to stae the obvious: When armed, well dressed thugs break into a home in Costa Rica, I have to assume they have some knowledge of what kind of wealth is in the home. That home is a big target. If you are wealthy, you need to be concerned and you need to take extra protection measures no matter where you live. The measures you take for protecton should be comensurate with your size as a taget. You increase your target size regardless of wealth when you live or travel in certain areas.
I think recent events have pretty much put the stake through the heart of the religion of free market economies. Only the most faithful (and most delusional) still believe in the infallibility of unregulated capitalism. We are finally all moving towards the sanity of socialism. I don’t know of any evidence that large population alone would nullify the successful administration of socialistic principles.
Even with the supoosed corruption of the CR government, it is still functioning with the stated goal of serving the people. It seems that markets are made to serve the people in Costa Rica, not vice versa as in the States. Not only is that admirable, but it has been achieved.
You are right. If you missed out on the free wheeling days and did not take advantage of all the money being thrown around, you probably won’t live long enough to see those days return. If you were timid or conservative, you lost out.
Whether it was borrowing money or investing in high risk financial instruments, you made money if you took the leap…as long as you lept back just in time. Those hard working masses who kept their noses to the grindstone and conducted their finances like their parents, are left with the dismal aftermath of a the busted boom with none of the benefits.
I think we should just consider crime as another cultural aspect to which we must adapt in Costa Rica.
Nicaragua has less crime than Costa Rica even though more of all the economic disparities which are the causes of crime can be found there than can be found in Costa Rica. Have you ever wondered why they would have less crime? According to some U.S. embassy analysts, the Nica police are more professional due to their Sandinista training. Perhaps the Costa Ricans should invite the Cubans over to offer some helpful advice in police training.
When I was in Cuba many years ago, I saw the positive effects of their neighborhood watch system. Each neighborhood had a “cederista” in charge of keeping an eye onthings.I could walk the streets of Havana at 2 in the morning in complete safety. I hear it is still relatively safe comapred to most other large latin cities.
Edited on Jan 04, 2009 13:35
If crime is as bad as some say it is, then all your efforts combined won’t be enough against what appears to be a strong cultural force. If what I read and hear is true, Costa Rican society doesn’t seem interested or capable in dealing with petit crime. If true, larceny is a popular national passtime, tolerated by nearly everyone including the police.
That is why I am interested in finding out as much as I can about this issue. Because if crime is a endemic as you say, you may as well acclimate yourself to it and simply join in the game with the right spirit. Set up your barriers as the opposing player. Expect that sometimes you will win and sometimes you will lose. You will be robbed now and then. When that happens, just smile and shake your head. Those pesky, rascally thieves beat you again. I suppose if I can live happily in a country with a strong catholic religion everywhere, I can live with thieves. In fact, I don’t see a whole lot of difference between them.
Edited on Jan 04, 2009 12:56
Edited on Jan 04, 2009 13:02
SOmebody should take a poll here. How many have been robbed and how many have NOT been robbed and attach a general description of the area in which they live.
The guy had Rolex watches and cash and other small items totalling $20,000 laying around in his house? I am adding up all the stuff I currently have in my Miami home that could be hand carried away by several thieves and I don;t think it comes to more than three or four thousand dollars. A 42″ HD TV and a few computers is about all there is that three thieves could manage to carry off.I DO NOT KEEP TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF JEWELRY AND CASH laying around. Was the vicitm running a pawn shop business from his home or is he just wealthy and careless?
I can’t help but wonder if having a home in a compound might be increasing the odds of being robbed. Do you know of anyone who lives in the countryside, away from towns, who has been robbed? I wonder what the ratio for robbery is for those who do NOT live in gated communities or in towns.Edited on Jan 03, 2009 12:34
Who says socialism is bad? Now all we need is a healthy hand out from Uncle Sam up here in the way of a stimulus package, and all will be hunky dory.
Shooting people who are simply running is a good way to start riots.
What if they were wearing expensive running suits? Should the cops shoot then? If they are simply wearing T-shirts and jeans and happen to be a bit darker in complexion than you and I or other Ticos, should the cops shoot?
Looking for patterns is what people do. If you are going to base your actions on patterns which indicate that most crimes are commited by Nica farm workers, then you better be very sure about your patterns and your analysis. And if those actions involve fire arms, be even more sure that fire arms are justified.Do you really want to wound or kill someone for stealing a bunch of CD’s?
Well, there is no surprise there. Change happens everywhere.I was wondering what kind of change the U.S. will experience soon compared to what will happen in Costa Rica and which would be the better place to live.
Nah…..can’t compare those two.
There is plenty of statistical evidence to support the case that the economy is a huge problem for nearly everyone. The world economic crisis is everywhere. You should be able to see the hard times coming at you like a t mack truck.
But crime in Costa Rica? Specifically, what percentage of Costa Rican homes are affected by crime? Is there ANY reliable study on this matter? Everyone I know personally in the States has experinced some form of crime. That is not only anecdotal, but there is specific statistical evidence of just how much crime there is in the US. Not so for Costa Rica.
