Comments on: Crime in San Jose? Take Care!

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 20:17:21 +0000

Well that just about sums it up doesn’t it? Use good common sense and you probably will never have an issue. In fact, I am going to close comments as really, nothing is being added. Costa Rica is a safe or unsafe as any US city. There will always be horror stories and always be tales like Bob’s.

Tim

By: bob

bob — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 04:43:21 +0000

well, i know one experience can change your whole outlook,but, after reading this stuff i felt i had to comment. i moved to costa rica aprox 2 years ago.i have not witnessed or been a victim of 1 crime.i do not wear expensive clothing or jewelery. do not flash my cell phone or camera and avoid san jose when i can (although there are times i must go there).i do not ride the bumper of the car in front of me even in heavy traffic and if anyone should go near my tires(they never have probably cause they see i leave a way out for myself)i would pull up or try to run them over! i put a club on my car when i park.i wear a can of mace around my neck and train with weights everyday.yes i am careful.on the other hand i have enjoyed every corner of this country from one coast to the other and most of the volcanos.rain forest and waterfalls. i have left my things on the beach to snorkel in punta uva and to swim in guanacaste. i have even forgotten things in my car or on my seat at a hotel and have gone back to find them.i have vacationed with family who have young children and drove them right through san jose and limon to get too the coast. i have a care taker and maid and have never been ripped off and i enjoy a great view from my home with no bars.got stuck in a ditch on the road in the country and within 10 minutes 5-6 cars stopped and pulled me out with one mans truck even though it took half the treads off his tires!not only that but i dont speak spanish so this was all coordinated with hand motions/language.offered him 10 dollars for his trouble but he would not take it.yes im careful but confident.i treat people fare and they return the favor.i have friends here who take no precautions and lived here 11 years without incident. they leave the keys to there car in the dashboard. i see young children playing in the street as i did as a child with no fear of there neighbors.is the need to be careful worth the trade off? can you drive to the caribean from your house in the states?be on the pacific coast a day or 2 later?how about an active volcano? can you afford an ocean view property? how bout a great 3 course meal for under 10 bucks?is the weather always 72 degrees?i rest my case. you could not get me to move back to the states in a million years!i have lived more in the last 2 years than i had in my whole life in the states, so if i die tomorrow at least i have lived!

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 05:00:26 +0000

Wow ! People change the laws in your country and get some handguns.It is a fact , the more honest people with the ability to defend themselves equals less crime.You will never hear about it but here where I live everyone has guns and crime is nothing compared to what you poor folks have to tolerate.
Please help yourselves !

By: Ken

Ken — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 22:56:21 +0000

For those that do not know the ‘old’ Costa Rica…allow me to say CR went from ’safe anywhere anytime’ (my opinion) to a country going to razor wire and daily caution with a dash of fear. Crime is no joke today. The reasons are clear for this down turn from safety to fear. Last month there were 2 murders within 1/2 mile of the hotel. I saw the news ‘live’ and found out a vigilanty brought down 2 criminals at the rotunda, everyone was happy, as there is so little proper policing. They were not so happy as relieved there were 2 less criminals.A young medical student in a different area was murdered in his home by intruders..on and on. Tourists are becoming targets, hotel secutiry is being increased.
Frtiends home broken into while they were there..they got the auto description, occupant description, license plate number etc. Called police..respose: anyone dead? anyone hurt? Then there is no problem…no police evr came to house. Another person was robbed outside of a bank, at knife point by a male and female. The female criminal said “not this one” Come to find out, they would rob, rape and kill the victim. It has become ugly in CR.
I have many tico friends, had owned property etc., so I have actual and non hysterical observations. This has been a 15 year experience. So, if anyone wants to understand more…just ask

By: Roxanne

Roxanne — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:57:15 +0000

We just returned from Quepos, Manuel Antonio, stayed in both and nothing bad happen to us except for maybe getting overcharged every now and then by a taxi driver. We rented a car in Quepos when we were staying in a villa, nothing happened, also parked near beach at Manuel Antonio NP and paid $3 to have someone watch the car, no problem. Stayed at the Byblos and felt very safe walking the area around it for dinner. We loved it and look forward to going back, everyone we encountered spoke some English and was very friendly and helpful.

By: J Lee

J Lee — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:34:09 +0000

I just came back from Costa Rica where I spent 2 weeks on vacation. This is a one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. I am a nature lover and have traveled to many different countries and places. Most places we travel, we rent a car and drive around to explore the area. In Costa Rica,we spent some time in Arenal-Fortuna, Monteverde ,and Quepos areas including Manuel Antonio Park. When we arrived at the San Jose airport, we had felt some insecurity due to a rather disorganized & chaotic atmosphere but we understand that there are always opportunistic people to make money. We did not feel any dangers or threat in Arenal or Monteverde area at all. Maybe, I was too naiive or innocent at that time.I went to the bank in Areal to exchange currency,and I felt a little uncomfortable because of multiple security guards in the bank and many people standing outside of bank(I still don’t know why). When we arrived in Quepos area,we realizrd that this is different ball game.Any places we parked our car( restaurants,grocery store,national park parking lots,beaches, even street parking),some local shows up and demanding US$4-6 (2,000-3,000 collons)claiming they would watch my car,I refused to pay them. Once somebody broke into my car,I realized how stupid I was fortunately we had not left anything in the car. We also went on a rafting trip. Our trip guide kept insisting that we place everything in the dry bag(even though they did not have dry bag),otherwise they would get wet (actually it was a 5 gallon plastic container with the groups lunch – supervised by tour staff) I gave them my wallet with money in.Of course, after trip I realized my money was missing – $50 US! After the end of my vacation trip, I was sharing my concernsw to the car rental attendants about what happened during our trip.They said that if that was the worst thing happen to you, than we were very lucky.They saideveryday that they face scatches, damage on the car like dents, broken windows, punctured tires not by car accident, but by Costa Ricans.
In my opinion with my short trip experience, Costa Rica is very beatiful place and worth to visit, but all the time , use common sense and be careful and conscious of what is going on around you, also try to avoid big cities and busy tourist places.Petty crime is everywhere in Costa Rica. Most crimes are not reported to police dept.(including myself, because I know how difficult reporting crime is in foreign countries, especially if you don’t speak their language)therefore,official crime rate statistics are not accurate.Crime rate is a lot higher than what they claim.Among the many countries I have ever visited, this is the only country I felt unsafe,uncomfortable, and anxious all the time and unbale to relax which is against my vacation philisophy.
I am not going to visit Costa Rica again in the near future unless they improve tourist security system.

By: miguel

miguel — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 05:03:42 +0000

HEY!!! Where’s Tico Grande? Long time no hear!

By: Hongo

Hongo — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 19:49:17 +0000

I love CR and visit yearly. The people who run the country may be slow to react, but they are clearly not stupid. I suggest that everyone who comments here send an e-mail expressing concern about the crime situation, lack of police professionalism, and wildly ineffectual court system as their reason for choosing another vacation or retirement destination. As the economic impact becomes clearer, change will come. We’ll need some savvy Tico or ex-pat to post e-mail addresses for key leaders.

By: Maria

Maria — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 03:37:46 +0000

Serg is right unless you take the law into your own hands, who is going to protect you. I certainly do not want my family to be subject to this kind of trouble, but we have got to work to change the laws.
It will ultimately affect commerce/ tourism in general, which could leave the citizens more vulnerable. We have to act now, organize. Just wait we will be there 08-Jan-2009. I want to see some change, because this is awful!
My husband said that when he was a little boy he ran the streets of San Jose, played in parks, caught the city bus across town without adult supervison. Can you imagine doing this at 7 or 8 yrs old? Either my in-laws were negligent, or the society was better? They are very paranoid now so I believe they lived in a better time!

By: Maria

Maria — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 06:17:49 +0000

We are planning to relocate to the mountainsof CR and yes I am very concerned about the crime in general. Most of all I am concerned about the lack of law enforcement. Singapore does have the right idea! Personally I find San Jose deplorable, with those bars and cut glass and most of all the garbage!
My husband’s family is from CR, but not much into activism, but we are! We feel compelled to start a social/environmental revolution. The society as a whole according to my husband is in a state of decline and we the people have got to stop this.