www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I completely agree with BangBang. The "bad guys" are looking for an easy score. If they think you are too aware or that they might get hurt, they move on to an easier target. Don't make yourself an easy target.

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"Your love gives me such a thrill
but your love don't pay my bills,
I NEED THE MONEY!" - John Lee Hooker

Disclaimer: The above is merely the opinion of the author unless specific scientific data is included.
Your mileage may vary. https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewto ... 978#206978

Yeah, I'm going to go ahead and disagree with you there, I've been shaken down twice, although I've still yet to lose any money.

First time was at 11:30 in the AM when I, sober as a judge, walking alone, tried to walk from HDR to SL for lunch. My crime was walking while being a gringo

Second time was at 7:00 AM walking from HLH to the Balmoral for breakfast, again I was alone, certainly wasn't drunk or drawing attention, yet had a cop go through my pockets looking to steal the money I had in my hand.

So, no. When it's your turn, it's your turn. The cops don't care and I certainly don't dress to attract attention either, jeans, t-shirt and running shoes. I don't wear Hawaiian shirts, wife beaters or sandals and yet I've been stopped twice.

Moral of my story is take taxis everywhere, regardless of time of day or length of trip.

Yes they might still get you!! I did not mean to imply that you were totally safe by following choise #2

As for the above examples, and I am not trying to knock anyone for what they do nor how they dress: DonGordo: I have NEVER seen Don in anything but Cargo shorts and he is known to walk alone all over SJ (just as I do)--sorry but cargo shorts spells "Gringo tourist", he looks very much like a gringo, and he was an easy target being alone.

As for Latinoheat's case; I can not comment because I do not know the circumstances.

As for RBC100-- As I told him, they were in an area that for the past few months has been a very, very high crime area (many ladrons robbing everyone they can get close to). Gringos are naturally the target of choise; the cops are cracking down on the problem in the area, therefore a much higher concentration of cops; the cops figure that if they remove the primary target, they will reduce the number of robberies; and if they hazzel the gringo "target" he will leave and not come back!! Hell, even the Ticos try to avoid walking in that area and I know many that will even DRIVE around it rather than thru it. AND EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW BY NOW THAT THE CR COPS CAN NOT ALL BE TRUSTED!!!!

No matter what we do, we are always running a certain amount of risk when on the streets whether it be here or ANY LARGE (or small) city in the USA or anywhere else. I am just saying there are things we can do to reduce the attention we get--will not always work but it will reduce the odds.

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

When the cops target you, it's just your turn.

Walking alone and past Parque Morazon were the 2 common elements in each of my shakedowns.

Since I was alone, the cops felt that their word would always be trusted over mine and having no backup myself, I was seen as vulnerable.

And it's well known that cops circle the Parque wasting time during the day as opposed to being out at night when crimes are more likely to occur.

IMO, It's simple opportunistic scumbag behavior and when they pick you, it's done.

Wear plaid polyester pants and stripe long sleeve shirts and you will blend right in and shouldn’t be bothered.

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Klockman,

You are totally correct--the past few months, it seems that no matter what guys do or don't do, the "bad" cops are going to go after the gringo.

Carry the minimum amount of cash you can, keep your money either totally hidden (money belt inside your pants) or where you can get it in your hand before they start the search, and ALWAYS carry the proper documents.

I certainly do not know the reason they target one guy and not another completely; but I still say the "target" must have done something (maybe just being an obvious gringo) to draw attention to himself. It may even be something that the "target" is totally unaware of having done.

I may be stopped today by the cops; but I probably do more walking, and in bad areas, than any other gringo on this site, and I have so far NEVER been stopped. I do not know the reason.

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

To clarify things. Don Gordo was not robbed at gun point by the police. He was held up while waiting for a bus near the Vista Linda apartments by ladrons.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

ID, I do not recall anyone saying Don was robbed at gun point by police It is well known that it was ladrons and at a bus stop (bus stops are popular target areas).

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

Blame the victim? Ok……….

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I agree with that 100%

And since we can't change the fact we are gringos and will never blend in, it goes to your point of not drawing even MORE attention.

I'm also over time becoming a bigger fan of Spanish speaking wingmen. Both times I was lucky in that at least one of the officers spoke some English so they knew that weren't intimidating me.

I wear no jewelery, I carry no wallet. All I carry is the cash I want for that day and my photocopy of the passport and usually my cheap ass iPod.

I still say it's dumb luck at times, but I've noticed myself last 2 trips taking wide berths around Parque Morazon for lack of patience dealing with this.

NO I am not blaming the victim!! I am just stating a fact as to the reason one person is targeted and another is not. In many cases, NO one will ever know the reason one is "targeted " and another is not. No matter what the reason, THE COPS ARE AT FAULT, NOT THE VICTIM

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

Time of day and location seem to be key. For those of us that live in metropolitan cities, it seems strange to have a greater police presence during the day than at night.

And we should be thankful that it's getting more attention that there are certain areas that are targetted

I’m sorry BangBang, I must have misunderstood this quote.

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Where are the target area's? to stay away from?