Costa Rica’s tourism police blame “carelessness,” cultural differences for rising crime against US, foreign tourists

August 11^th, 2015 (ICR News) Costa Rica’s Tourist Police, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Security (MSP) told CRHoy.com on Monday that “carelessness” and cultural differences were to blame for an increasing number of crimes committed against US and other foreign tourists.

“Of a large number of complaints filed with the [Judicial Investigate Police] (OIJ), we have to notice that a large number [of complaints] are the result of carelessness, where they (tourists) neglect their belongings and [leave] them anywhere.  They (tourists) come from a different culture,” Fulvio Fernandez, head of the Tourist Police said.

The National Chamber of Tourism (Canatur) and the Judicial Investigative Police (OIJ) expressed their concern last week that a rising number of foreign tourists and foreign residents are falling victim to crime while visiting the country, and the impact it could have on the country’s image internationally.

Through a report distributed with the OIJ, officials said the areas where crimes against foreigners are most often reported are Jaco, Quepos, San Jose, as well as Puerto Viejo on the country’s Caribbean coast.  Also of concern, though to a lesser extent is Tamarindo.

In the first five months of this year alone, well over 1,500 crimes against foreigners were reported, ranging from theft and robberies to assaults and even murder, amongst a variety of other crimes.

By nationality, US citizens suffered the greatest number of crimes, with 506 reports of crime against US citizens between January and May.  Amongst other foreigners, 129 crimes against Canadians were reported, along with 122 against French citizens, 118 against Germans, and 108 against Italians.