from Overseas Security Advisory Council • Bureau of Diplomatic Security
U.S. Department of State • Washington, D.C. 20522-2008
https://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=62156&print
Costa Rica 2007 Crime & Safety Report
Crime & Safety
Americas - Costa Rica
25 Jan 2007
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Overall Crime and Safety Situation
All travelers and American citizens residing in Costa Rica should consult the Department of State's website,
http://travel.state.gov for current information about the security situation in Costa Rica.
The Department of State currently considers the crime rate in Costa Rica as high. The embassy routinely deals with U.S. citizens who are victims of criminal activities. While common criminal activity is similar to what is found in any large U.S. city, there are criminal activities that are particular to Costa Rica. Criminals frequently prey on tourists through street scams, automated teller machine thefts, robbery of their effects on public buses, and increasingly, credit card theft, to include number skimming.
There are numerous crimes associated with rental vehicles. The most common is to puncture a tire on the victim's rental car, and follow the car until the driver pulls to the side of the road. At this point the criminals, posing as "good Samaritans" approach the vehicle to replace the tire and in the process steal the personal effects of the tourist. Tourists with rental cars have been victims of carjacking, thefts, and assault. All criminals should be considered armed with firearms or knives. The criminals, if challenged or threatened, will quickly use their weapons.
Credit card fraud or "numbers skimming" is common. Numbers skimming is the theft of the information contained in the magnetic strip on the backside of the credit card. The theft of the information occurs when a criminal swipes the card through a machine that stores all the information. With this information the criminal can charge items to the unsuspecting victim's credit card. Only when the monthly invoice arrives does the victim realize that they have been swindled. Travelers should carefully monitor their credit cards, and frequently check their credit card accounts. Travelers should avoid use of debit cards for point-of- sale purchases.
In the last year, Costa Rica has experienced a new, very serious crime trend where tourist travelers are robbed at gunpoint while driving from Juan Santamaria airport in San Jose. These robberies were committed by criminals using professional tactics in commission of these robberies. The incidents have typically been initiated by a vehicle full of armed men who approach another moving car and force the vehicle to pull over. The tourists are then robbed of all luggage and valuables. In most cases, the victims were not injured during the robbery. A police investigation indicated surveillance was conducted at Juan Santamaria airport and an isolated spot (sometimes an off-ramp) was picked for stopping the vehicle, usually between the hours of 10 p.m.-12 a.m. at night. Travelers who find themselves in similar aggressive driving situations at night should seriously consider evading their aggressors and seeking out a public location where assistance may be obtained. Arrests of individuals suspected of participating in these robberies have been made by the Judicial Police, but the lack of a robust police presence on the highway leading into the city of San Jose and away from the airport towards the main routes to the Pacific Coast and Guanacaste remain more dangerous at night for late-arriving travelers. To mitigate the threat presented by this crime threat, travelers should consider arriving in San Jose during daylight hours when more traffic is on the road.
Long term visitors to Costa Rica must be alert for ever increasing auto theft rings, and escalating incidents of carjacking. Residential break-ins are common. All residences should be secured by grills and protected by an alarm system.
Political Violence
Costa Rica is the Central American country with the longest history of democracy. Indigenous terrorist organizations are non-existent. There is no known organization targeting U.S. citizens or U.S. - affiliated interests in Costa Rica. U.S. citizens should always exercise caution and regularly consult the U.S. Department of State's website for the latest information about the security situation in any country.
Labor strikes and protests are common in Costa Rica. While normally peaceful, all protests and demonstrations should be avoided.
Post-Specific Concerns
Costa Rica lies within an active earthquake zone, and periodically experiences significant tremors. The last earthquake to cause significant damage to Costa Rica's infrastructure occurred in 1993, but an earthquake measured at the 6.2 level on the Richter scale occurred in late 2004. In December 2005, another earthquake registered 5.1 on the Richter scale.
Long-term visitors to Costa Rica may want to check with the Federal Emergency Management Agency's website for guidance on earthquake preparedness. Visitors can also contact the Costa Rican National Emergency Office, known as the Comision Nacional de Prevencion de Riesgos y Atencion de Emergencias (CNE), via email at
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or via phone at 506-210-2828 for information on earthquakes or other natural hazard information.
Costa Rica is also a micro-climate, and travelers to Costa Rica should check the projected rainfall amounts for the area in Costa Rica they intend to visit. Flooding may occur around the port city of Limon or other lower elevation areas of Costa Rica at any time, regardless of time of year and projected rainfall amount in a particular region.
Poor road conditions and erratic driving are daily hazards in Costa Rica. Roads outside of San Jose are generally in poor condition. The roads are often overcrowded and narrow; drivers should be on the lookout for large potholes, road washouts and mudslides during the rainy season (May-November). Drivers must be cautious when coming to a bridge, as a road leading to a bridge is two-way while the bridges themselves are sometimes only one way.
Driving at night is especially treacherous outside of San Jose and not recommended. The main roads are also used by pedestrians, cyclists, and farm animals - all of which compound the difficulty of driving in Costa Rica.
Even the most experienced drivers are challenged by the disregard for traffic laws and road safety. Speed limits and red lights are often ignored. It is very common for vehicles to cross multiple lanes of traffic without regard to other drivers. Pedestrians are not given the right of way, and extreme caution should be used whenever walking on the streets. Motorcycles are prevalent on the road and weave through traffic in any type of traffic situation.
Assistance to Victims
Costa Rica does employ a 911 emergency assistance system. However, response time varies widely. Crime discovered after the fact must be reported in person at the nearest Organization of Judicial Investigation (OIJ) Office. OIJ is also responsible for investigating major crimes. Victims should be prepared to wait a couple of hours to complete the necessary reports.
As of December 2006, Costa Rica deployed the first group of Tourist Police, focused on tourist crime and assistance to the over 1.3 million visitors to Costa Rica each year. The deployments of these officers, who wear a white uniform shirt with "Tourist Police" clearly printed on the back, is currently around 120 officers, with more planned deployments in the future. Some of the initial Tourist Police areas of deployment are San Jose, Jaco, Monteverde, Arenal, Los Chiles (border with Nicaragua), and Quepos, the location of Manuel Antonio National Park.
Police emergency - 911
Ambulance - 911 or 128
Fire - 911 or 118
OIJ - 911 or 22-1365 or 221-5337
Tourist Police - no public number is available yet.
Vehicle Accidents
Costa Rica has one of the highest vehicle accident rates in the world. In the event of a traffic accident, the vehicles must not be moved. This commonly results in excessive traffic back-ups. The traffic police (Transito) and the insurance investigator (INS) must complete accident reports. Both of these officials will come, eventually, to the accident scene upon notification.
Transito police - 222-9330 or 222-9245
INS (insurance) - 800-800-8000
Medical Emergencies
Medical care in San Jose is adequate. Areas outside of San Jose have more limited medical services and road conditions increase driving times to hospitals for routine or critical medical care. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash or credit card payment for medical services.
U.S. medical insurance is not always valid in Costa Rica. Supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage, including a provision for medical evacuation, has been useful in many emergencies.
Hospital Contact Information in Costa Rica
San Jose
CIMA Hospital - 208-1000 (primary hospital for U.S. Embassy personnel)
Hospital Mexico - 242-6700
Clinica Biblica Hospital - 522-1000 ext. 9
Hospital Calderon Guardia - 257-7922
National Children's Hospital - 222-0122
Puntarenas
Hospital Monsenor Sanabria - 630-8000
Limon
Tony Facio Hospital - 758-2222
Guanacaste
Emilio Baltodano Hospital - 666-0011
Red Cross Ambulance - 233-7033
Air Ambulance - Costa Rica Medical Response
Monteverde - (506)645-7778
San Jose - (506) 286-1818
Papagayo - (506) 670-0047
Peninsula Osa - (506) 305-2121
Web page -
www.costaricaemergencias.com
SCUBA Diving/Decompression medical consultation
Dr. Schmidt
(506) 350-0418
CIMA Hospital Emergency Room
How to Avoid Becoming a Victim
Be aware of your surroundings. Ask your guide or hotel for crime information. Even though you are in a foreign environment, trust your instincts. When planning your travel, remember that Costa Rica receives about 12 hours of sunlight a day, year round (5 a.m.-5 p.m.).
Street Crime
- Leave expensive jewelry at home or put it in the hotel safety deposit box.
- Take only the amount of money you need with you and do not carry it all in one pocket.
- Do not exchange money on the street, as moneychangers cheat clients and pass counterfeit currency.
- Do not flash a lot of money when making purchases.
- Pay particular attention to your belongings when transiting airports and bus stations. Teams of thieves are known to work these locations - one will distract an individual while the other will steal anything left unattended.
- Record and safely store the account numbers of your credit cards and the contact numbers for each card, in case of theft.
- Walking around downtown San Jose is not recommended at night and travelers who must go to the downtown area should use taxis to travel to/from the downtown area.
Car Break-In / Theft
Travelers should purchase an adequate level of locally valid car theft insurance. It is rumored that thieves have master keys to many of the popular models of rental cars, so items should not be left visible in parked cars. Park in paid lots whenever possible; if unavailable, park in a well-traveled area and in a lighted place at night. Always lock vehicle doors and use an anti-theft device and alarm system if the car is so equipped.
Visitors using local taxicabs should be aware of "unofficial" cabs. Unofficial cabs do not have a company logo or identifying roof mount and generally do not have a meter. Visitors should not use these vehicles, as there have been reports of extreme overcharges and personal assaults.
When traveling by bus, avoid putting bags or other personal belongings in the storage bins. Thieves take property from storage bins when the bus makes its periodic stops. A good rule to follow is to always have your belongings in your line of sight or in your possession at all times.
Hotel Security
The quality of hotel security varies greatly in Costa Rica. An embassy investigation into a recent sexual assault allegation by an American Citizen visiting a guest at one of the better hotels in Costa Rica revealed extremely lax security controls for visitors and literally no supervision of night management staff. When making reservations for hotel stays, travelers to Costa Rica should question hotel personnel for specific security information regarding the accommodations and be wary of hotels without access/compound control procedures, room safes, or hotels lacking a 24 hour front desk presence.
Many hotels have a clearly defined vehicle and pedestrian entry/exit point, but fail to have any type of perimeter fencing or wall surrounding their property, thereby providing easy access to the property for those wishing to steal from hotel guests.
Passport Theft
The Government of Costa Rica's immigration service conducts random inspections throughout the country. Travelers should be prepared to present their passports upon entry into Costa Rica. Due to a recent change in Costa Rican Immigration regulations, photocopies of passports depicting the biographical and entry stamp pages can be carried while in Costa Rica. Tourists are encouraged to leave passports in hotel safes or other secure locations while enjoying Costa Rica. You will be required to present the original passport and valid license when renting a car and/or driving. Your U.S. passport is the single most important document that you will bring with you.
Criminals looking to illegally enter the United States may target U.S. passports for theft. The embassy received 1628 reports of lost or stolen U.S. Passports during 2006. Passports have been reported stolen from inside the airport, as well as other locations throughout Costa Rica. Lost or stolen passports can only be replaced during the embassy's regular business hours (8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.), Monday-Friday.
For Further Information
U.S. Embassy - 519-2000
Regional Security Office - 506-519-2313
After-hours emergencies - 220-3127
Address - U.S. Embassy in Pavas
Website -
http://usembassy.or.cr
Consular Section email -
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Note: U.S.-style street addresses do not exist in Costa Rica. Addresses start with a common landmark and then give the meters and direction (i.e. Hospital CIMA, 300 mts. Este). The U.S. Embassy in the Pavas neighborhood is known as a common landmark.
OSAC Country Council
There is an established OSAC Country Council in Costa Rica.
This is a U.S. Government inter-agency Web site managed by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, U.S. Department of State
The Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) provides links to non-government websites as a public service only. The U.S. government, including OSAC, neither endorses nor guarantees in any way the external organizations, services, advice, or products included in these website links. For more information, please read our full disclaimer.
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U.S. Department of State • Washington, D.C. 20522-2008
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