Discovering Costa Rica

Page 18

Safety and Security

At Home

To keep your family and belongings safe, consider following the safe practices described below:

Avoid giving information by telephone to people you do not know, and be sure that your

household employee behaves the same way

Instruct your household employee to not give any sort of information on the family to

strangers

Never tell strangers about household routines

Always ask your future household employee to present documents and references. Take

photocopies of their identity cards in case you need future confirmation of their identity

Never accept orders or packages you have not asked for

Keep at hand a list with all of the emergency telephone numbers

Look for a home with an armed guard on duty as well as gated communities with other

security measures in place

Look for communities that offer professional guards or protection for your belongings

and property. This can include land or parking for cars

Do not leave large boxes of new purchases or bags in plain sight on the side of the

street or in the garbage

On the Streets

In San José, major felonies (i.e., rape and murder) are committed; however, the rate of these

type of crimes is lower than any other big city in Latin America. Pick-pocketing, or petty theft is

quite common on the streets, especially in the downtown areas of main cities.

To prevent being a target of pick-pocketing, it is advised that you keep your bag or purse tucked

beneath your arm. Do not carry a lot of money, and never pull out a large stack of it at once. To

take further precautions, avoid wearing flashy jewelry, stick to the main streets, and always be

aware of your surroundings. You should also avoid walking after dark – especially in a public

park or by yourself, as most parks can be very dangerous at night.

In the Car

Never leave valuables in your car where they can be seen. Always lock your car, even for a 30-

second trip to buy something.

Always keep objects such as keys, watches, or mobile phones next to you. Also, be sure to

secure the objects in your hotel room. Petty theft is huge in Costa Rica, but it is a crime of

opportunity – do not provide the opportunity.