), violent crimes (being mugged or robbed, being attacked or insulted), corruption and other crimes. Costa Rica, San Jose, Pedestrian Walkway. Costa Rica has experienced a steady year-over-year decrease from its 2017 record high murder rate of 12.1 per 100,000 people. It does not matter where you are, there is a fairly high chance that you might fall victim - whether it is in Quepos , Puerto Viejo , Samara, Arenal, or Tamarindo . While petty theft is the main problem, armed robberies have been known to occur even in broad daylight. Be alert to suspicious persons loitering on the side of the road. If you are with or become a victim of sexual assault please contact the Embassy immediately. Do not stop on isolated stretches of road. You can reduce this rate even further by paying attention to where you decide to live. There is considerable risk from crime in San José. Add data for Tamarindo. The rural counties were the regions with the lowest violence rate … Drivers with flat tires are advised to drive, if possible, to the nearest service station or other public area, and change the tire themselves, watching their valuables at all times. EspañolCriminalidad en San José, Copyright © 2009-2020 Numbeo. What the tourist board wants everyone to know is that “Costa Rica has the lowest crime rate of any Central American country“, but this a dubious claim at best. Avoid using debit cards for point-of-sale purchases, as a skimmed number can be used to clean out an account. Change money in banks or other financial institutions (money changers on the street have been known to pass counterfeit U.S. dollars and local currency). 4 times more than Costa Rica Violent crime > Gun crime > Guns per 100 residents: 9.9 Ranked 62nd. For example, I would avoid downtown San Jose once it gets dark out. An analysis of year to year crime rates in San Jose, California (per 100,000 people) is a useful indicator of whether the area is becoming a safer or a more dangerous place to live. Homicide rate in Costa Rica from 2014 to 2019 (in number of homicides per 100,000 inhabitants) [Graph]. The main factor driving this level of violence is competition among local groups engaged in the sale and transport of drugs. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Stay alert: crowded tourist attractions and resort areas popular with foreign tourists are also common venues for criminal activities. Violent crime involving tourists is rare in Costa Rica but it’s a serious and rapidly growing problem for residents. Alerts and Messages for U.S. visitors to Costa Rica. Immediately report any suspicious activity to police. On top of that, the law and the historical and cultural attitude towards crime do not help. Why? In … Since 2015 the murder rate has significantly exceeded the World Health Organization homicide epidemic threshold of 10 per 100,000 inhabitants. We would advise you to avoid Hatillo, a district of San José particularly notorious for its drug dealing and bad reputation. As is the case with many developing countries, Costa Rica has limited funds; consequently, most of the police force is understaffed and inadequately trained. Keep the phone numbers for your banks on a sheet of paper in case your credit cards or bank cards are stolen or lost. Do not leave a bar or other facility with a stranger. The number of homicides reached 578 last year after dropping to 407 in 2012, according to an August 2017 report by the Inter-agency Commission on Citizen Security and Living Conditions (COMESCO). Do not consume food or drinks you have left unattended or accept food or drinks from “friendly” people. Cases of Arancha Gutiérrez and María Trinidad Mathus, both occurring in August 2018, are the most recent examples of t… He said he does not feel safe when he sees police. To report a life or death emergency involving a U.S. citizen in Costa Rica, call [506] 2519-2000, from the U.S.: 011-506-2519-2000. May was the most violent month with more than 1,000 assaults reported. Tourists have a very different impression of the Capital City of San José compared to Costa Rica’s gorgeous beaches and lush forests. While the vast majority of visitors to Costa Rica do not become victims of crime, all individuals are potential targets for criminals. Avoid responding in kind to verbal harassment. (Note: We live in a region of Costa Rica that has only 0-5 murders per 100,000.) I told a Tico friend when I saw police near my San Jose hotel I felt safe. ItalianoCriminalità a San Jose American tourists and residents can also take steps to protect themselves. The crime rate in San Jose is considerably higher than the national average across all communities in America from the largest to the smallest, although at 30 crimes per one thousand residents, it is not among the communities with the very highest crime rate. A purse with a passport and credit cards was stolen out of the overhead compartment of a bus. 15:04. Most theft happens either at the beach or to vacation rental homes. In 2018, with 585 victims, Costa Rica managed to reverse the upward trend and the homicide rate fell to 11.7. Nearby cities for which we have more data: San Jose: 159.90 miles: Also, consider looking into aggregate data we have for Crime in Costa Rica. In 2019, there were 545 murders (10.6 per 100,000 people), down 5% from 2018. Costa Rica crime rate & statistics for 2014 was 10.00, a 14.94% increase from 2013. Costa Rican Moises Garay practices target shooting at a private polygon in San Jose on February 13, 2019. Seek entertainment in groups of people you know. Leave sufficient space between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you to allow you to drive away quickly if necessary. Steer clear of deserted properties or undeveloped land. Unfortunately, this city has a higher rate of crime than in other locations. Compare Tamarindo with: We need more contributors for Tamarindo to increase our data quality. The report says that 8,218 assaults were registered from January to July in Costa Rica. 10/01/2009 by admin 1 Comment. 9 times more than Costa Rica Violent crime > Intentional homicide rate: 10 Ranked 22nd. Costa Rica homicide rate: 12.1 per 100,000. Because you are rich! These data are based on perceptions of visitors of this website in the past 3 years. A tire of a rental car went flat, and people who stopped to “help change the tire” stole U.S. passports, bags, cash, and camera. Nosara is paradise in many ways, but it’s certainly not perfect. Items were stolen from the locked trunk of a rental car. 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