Crime is everywhere

Yes, it's true...crime is everywhere. Here in Costa Rica we are bombarded with tales of tourists and ex-pats being robbed, mugged and even killed for their money or property. For the most part we've been unaffected in the small coffee town we live in.

Yesterday we spoke with local ex-pats who had had their car tire slashed at our local mall while inside Scotia Bank. One of the two banks in the mall, there is also a Banco de Costa Rica. I'd read in AM Costa Rica, the Tico Times and the CRLiving group about this type of robbery. The thieves slash your tire, follow you until you pull off the road then make their move. Luckily our friends didn't stop until they were safely behind the gate at their home.

When relaying this story to a friend I was reminded she encountered the same type of incident outside her own home. She'd dropped a neighbor off and turned to go to her own house when a man stopped her on the roadside telling her she had a flat tire. She got out walked around to the rear passenger tire and sure enough there was a stab wound. Same tire as our friends. You actually have to get out to see the rear passenger tires. My friend did not go directly home as the man was watching. Instead she drove to a nearby business and there got help with the flat.

If someone stops you because of a flat tire, be very cautious. While one is talking to you the other sneaks up and stabs a knife in your tire.

As far as the mall situation. Our friends tell us the security guards have been made aware of the situation. Shop owners have been told and promised to discuss it at an upcoming meeting for store owners. Seems  the new fence isn't enough to keep the riff-raff from targeting patrons.

Tourists...please use caution and common sense.