www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Interesting point. Yea newer models Hyundai's are to par.

From Inside Costa Rica September 16. Something more subtle sounds like a good plan.


"Rise In Kidnappings Worries Authorities
Jorge Rojas, the director of the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ), says that those driving luxury vehicles and with "international" debit or credit cards are the prime targets of "secuestro express" or kidnapping.

For his part, the Fiscal General, Francisco Dall'Anese, has sounded the alarm given six cases of kidnapping that the OIJ has had to handle in the last 40 days.

Dall'Anese is clear that the crimes are being committed by organized groups and is pushing legislators to pass the bill that would allow authorities to deal with organized crime more adequately.

According to Rojas, the victims, in general, have been people driving automobiles "llamativos" (that draw attention) and in their wallets carrying internationally enabled credit or debit cards.

Rojas added that the victims are randomly chosen off the street and that his investigators are currently working on the cases mentioned by the Fiscal General.

"They see certain types of vehicles that show a certain economic status", said Rojas.

The criminals use violence to make their point and force their victims into submission, taking them by force to different ATM locations around the city to withdraw large sums of money.

Rojas recommends not to resist and if possible not to carry credits cards that won't be used and to keep low limits on the card, as Rojas explained, if the criminals cannot withdraw cash, they will then force their victims to a shopping spree.

The OIJ director added that in some cases the victims are forced to take the criminals home where they can ransack the home for cash and other valuables, something that was learned in Colombia, Rojas stressed.

Rojas concluded his statement that it is most important to file a complaint. "Some pay up without calling the police and this promotes the criminal activity", said Rojas.

Victims can call the OIJ directly at 800 8000 645 to file a complaint or the emergency service, 911."

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

It seems more and more that if you like nice things and can afford them, Costa Rica is not the place to live and the risk of visiting has significantly increased. Local law enforcement's attitude toward this type of crime is to just warn potential victims rather than make any serious attempts to catch the villians....perhaps they fear having to arrest a relative. If this crap continues, the Gringo that can afford to live elsewhere will choose to live elsewhere. The Arias government might be wise to remember what happened to tourism in Columbia not that many years ago and how hard it was to get Gringos coming back.

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Slut Puppy in Training

Is low self esteem a prerequisite for being a good Ho or is it a result? ;-)

Lennydo, I think you are right. It almost seems that they really don't care about tourism. I know the rhetoric is there but the actions really are different than their speechifying.

i drive a car with 100 dollar bills hanging out of it just to show them i'm somebody.look at me i'm important.

I think you're on the mark here, Lennydo. If you are really attached to a lot of things, especially status symbol type things, then you had better be able to live in a highly secure gated community with lots of private security (LOTS, not just a sleepy minimum wage guard) or be able to hire your own (armed and dangerous) guards.

As far as Arias is concerned, I was reading in one of the papers today how he's tired of governing and from where I sit/stand, it shows. He hasn't done anything for the people, and I doubt the business have made much progress either. Perhaps Sra. Chinchilla will take his place and organize big parades to end Costa Rica's woes. That's all it takes, you know, just a good cheerleader. That's why the USA is doing so well. Go Yale!

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"The only normal people are those you don't know very well." Joe Ancis

Line of the week, good recall on the "Shrub" he was on the sidelines doing the Herky

I drive in Costa rica and I shipped my car to Costa Rica not cheap. I drive with two mind set during the day aviod being hit and don't hit anyone. at night hit what ever gets in front of the car or tries anything funny. I do live in a in very secure gated commuinty so when I am not in town my car is safe.

Driving for the most part is a coin toss everytime you get in the car in CR. It makes mongering much easier in the non high traffic hours. But is a waste of time in high traffic hours as walking would be easier and faster.

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Living Life To the Fullest {Pura Vida}

After driving around Boston for 30 years, I've come to the conclusion that was good prep for driving here. I bought a used Honda CR-V from the local dealer. The first year with full insurance cost around $1600.00. Too much! Now I just buy extra liability insurance which only runs $80 a year. So I self insure for theft and collision, after asking myself "when was the last time I had an accident anywhere". My place at night has a guard, I park in lots or have someone watch the car on the street. It's not guaranteed, but posters here are right about getting a claim paid by INS. So far this has worked for me. But I'm always expecting a nasty surprise!

Greengo,

Good idea. I had one in my 911 back in the states. Here I am most concerned with the annoyance of having a window smashed or a door forced to get access to the car's radio ( I take the "face" off when I leave the car). I also cover up any loose change in the car and generally leave the car empty looking, i.e. no shopping bags, etc. in plain view. There's supposed to be a new device on the market which allows you to remotely disable the car and also locate it by GPS. That way, you call the police and tell them where your car is if it's still in the hands of the bad guys.

We need a device that disables the car and locks the motherfucker(s) in there until the police come.

I agree with Flyboy that driving in Boston is a challenge. Every time I go there I take a cab or get a car service. A couple of times I have used the underground because it gets you there more quickly, for example, getting to Fenway Park. But the Bostonians are careful and safe compared to the dangerous drivers here who are menaces to public safety.

Insurance here in CR is the epitome of high cost and poor service. I remember being in class discussing insurance contracts and policies when the instructor factiously said, “now everyone look at the last paragraph of the policy where it reads, ‘everything not already excluded is hereby excluded.’”

It is very expensive to maintain full coverage insurance if you have an expensive car. Many people I know carry liability only. For theft protection, they make sure their car is always locked, in a locked garage and then, under 24 hour surveillance. There is a gearshift lock which is sold locally but Multi-lock in the Paseo Colon area. That locking system is very difficult to defeat.

I wouldnt buy anything that wasnt 4wheel drive. The turbo diesel 4 runner gets pretty good gas mileage. I also like the KIA Sorrento because its cheap and has a good warranty. Dont buy you a status symbol.

Good luck )

My opinion is buying a status symbol car does two things and two things only: Makes you impressed with you; makes you an easily identifiable target for a robbery or car jacking.

I would be interested to know if other guys living here think the same way.