When I printed the Tico Times story on the theft in Jacó, I had not read the A.M. Costa Rica report (scroll down to the second page) which gives more detail. The ENTIRE story, if you will.
So the thieves got to make death threats to the couple, no money was returned, a few items reportedly recovered were actually not recovered… it sounds like the whole recovery process was a joke. Couple made to wait around several hours while nothing was accomplished. Add in a little sexual harassment to complete the package… And to top it all off, the thieves were released… WTF?
Madness to have your stuff in your car at the beach in Jacó while you get in the ocean. I wouldn’t do that in ‘Lauderdale. But, like wearing tight clothes doesn’t mean you invite rape, being foolish with your belongings doesn’t excuse theft.
Nice going, Costa Rica. Kill my book sales and the darn thing isn’t even out. I am NOT happy with you. This whole "death threat" thing has got to stop. Or else.
My TicoWikipedia, Marco, stopped by to do some electrical work and told me about the 10 robberies at Bejuco (near Esterillos) all happening on the same night.
Seems all were gased through their a/c vent and woke up the next day to find they had been robbed.
Let me know if you read about this in any newspaper.
He also told me about a lady that was hijacked in her car in Pavas area and the robbers took her around, using her credit card for hours before they hit her and dumped her from her car. Hear anything about that?
That last comment was from me. I live near Jaco.
I haven’t read anything about this stuff, but I’ll let you know if I do.
Saratica,
You are so right. About most everything in your entire blog, by the way. I appreciate and share your outrage. As for your book sales, I don’t imagine this will have a lasting effect. You are a talented writer and there is an abundance of interested readers.
Thank you for writing about this and keeping us informed.
Nora
It is sad, and you have not commented on the buried body at the gringo’s house in Limon! Imagine finding a “fresh” body in your own property and having no idea where it came from.
Even though I still feel pretty safe walking around (although more alert than ever) I do feel crime is on the rise. Where I work we have had 10 laptops stolen in one month even though the building has more guards and security cameras than an Alabama prison.
Muchas gracias, Norita! The book is coming out regardless… working on it now!
WHAT FRESH BODY? No wonder I don’t read all the news!!! It’s all bad… but I’m going to go find that story. Yikes. Sorry to hear about the laptops. It’s very discouraging. Maybe with all the press, el Presidente and Company will take note and take action. I live in hope despite previous experience with government.
I’m modifying my prediction: Less than two years.
You DOG.
Heres the short story of the latest murdered body found in Puert Viejo. The body was found when the couple was adding a room to the house. They had owned the house for 2 years but others come and go. The body was in plastic and buried under cement. No details as of yet. I read the same time that there are 38 still missing persons this year, that is pretty scary!
Sara,
Do you have any information about the 3 people that were found stabbed (but alive) in Escazu. I read in Tico Grand’s blog that when the Ambulance was called it took 50 minutes before it arrived on the scene. Neightbors could have carried them to CIMA in less than 10 minutes, what an outrage! It costs all three of them their live.
The problem with this country is that there is no accountability, someone should be held responsible for these actions.
I dont know; I am thinking of packing up…
Cindy, you gotta calm down or you WILL be packing up before the night is over… Crime happens everywhere. In New Jersey, this wouldn’t even be news. Hal says the body under the patio was probably a thief killed by the homeowners. Ok, he’s a little twisted.
The love triangle that managed to all kill each other in Trejos was sad. I guess. People kill each other over love all over the world. Look at the famous diet doctor killed by his lover in Scarsdale, NY.
That is not my life. I am not destined to die in a drug fight, a drive-by shooting or a love triangle where everybody stabs each other. I don’t hang with druggies, I don’t flaunt my stuff, neither of us goes to bars, neither Hal nor I are having affairs with bad boy/girl types. Er, no affairs at all. That I’m aware of. I mean, he knows I’d kill him.
I hate to appear complacent, but if I get robbed, I get robbed. I will give them my stuff and be done with it. It would probably drive me to leave Costa Rica or at least Escazú, but I won’t live in fear and I sure won’t spend all my time worrying about what might happen… that’s not living.
I spent my children’s babyhood terrified they would die/be kidnapped/get hit by a car/get cancer/fall off the bunk bed… I finally had to stop. The reality is bad things happen. I minimize the risk, I examine the risk/reward ratio, I make my choices, then I gotta move on.
The rewards to living in Costa Rica for me far outweigh the risks today.
I agree with you that the time I live in fear I will leave. That is not my point, and I live alone, walk around my whole place..one acre, at night, swim in the pool with the moonlight, have never been afraid, or threatened a single night. I dont even own a cell phone! But I live between La Garita and Atenas…a very safe area.
I do however fear needing an ambulance and wanting a ride to CIMA-one of the reasons that I chose to buy property in the Central Valley, weather-private health care, being two big issues.
I didnt read any where that that was a love triangle, what I read was that that was ruled out. Anyway regardless I expect a World Class Hospital with acredidation to have better transportation and emergency services in place. That was my point.
Your life there sounds pretty good, very relaxed there! Much safer than living in Escazú or any “gringolandia” area. I notice whenever I go anywhere outside my immediate city, there are fewer bars, the fences not quite so high. I drove by a house today in Escazú centro with three rows of razor wire on it… that would be a drag. Being out in the country with much more relaxed security adornment is very appealing… just got to get rid of my city blood…
I just looked at all the news available on the Trejos triangle and the only thing I found is that it looked like the two guys fighting over the woman… I don’t know. Both guys were naked, she was dressed. I would say the guys were having a lover’s quarrel and she stepped in the middle. Whatever the cause, they all knew each other, it was not a random murder. Two of the three naked suggested love triangle to me. But it wasn’t random or a robbery gone astray so does not make me afraid – that was the important thing to me. If it was random, I’d be worried.
It’s an odd thing here, to have such superb medical care and spotty transportation. But the reasons why it’s so affordable are the very reasons why the transport is so unreliable. It’s perfectly “developing nation!” I always buy the bingo tickets from the red cross here… that’s how they make money. Surely once you have a few good cab driver numbers, you can get to CIMA in a fair amount of time? It is a concern, I understand that!
My Key West mom says “Everything has a price. Are you willing to pay it?” That’s the health care vs. transport thing. The razor wire to live in the city thing… Anyway, lovely conversation – thank you!
We just watched Resident Evil: Extinction… horrible, but the boys love that stuff. Nothing scares me now.