Rick Wilson called me from his home in Inwood, West Virginia hoping his story would be published to warn travelers and to publicly ask Costa Rice, the country, to reduce or stop the easy pickings of unsuspecting tourists and tourist related crime before the country gets such a horrible reputation, that it is put on the US Government “Warning” list. (Such as has Australia)

We who live here are more than casually cautious, especially when around the airport, rental car companies and the freeway corridor connected to lay-over hotels not to mention the downtown streets of San Jose.

But the tourist has not been warned that for years criminals have created new ways and even more efficient ways to steal more things in less time. And almost all, if not all of them, have been arrested over and over only to be set free to try again the next day.

Rick Wilson arrived to SJO (San José airport) and went with his wife Ester to Alamo and rented a hatchback. Then they went directly to the Best Western Irazu but arrived too early for a check-in. With time to kill, they went to the small plaza down the hill and purchased a few groceries and then stop off at a seafood bar on the patio overlooking the parking area.

As Rick tells it, “While sitting there just a little bit, a black car with no tags pulled up real quick and parked right next to my car. It is on video at the shopping plaza.”

“In a total of 3 minutes and 15 seconds from the time they pulled up until they left with me hanging on the car, we were robbed and robbed good. What was the guard for? He had to see them, it’s on tape and still…,” his voice lowered and I imagined him shaking his head still in disbelief.

No windows broken, no doors jammed, “The thieves had a duplicate key to my rental car, that simple and that easy.”

Rick continued, “It was a good day for them. In 3 minutes and 15 seconds they stole 3 packed suitcases, $6000.00 in cash, my check book, ATM card, and credit cards. Also the camera, my medicines, my blood pressure machine, blood /sugar tester and the worst of all a bunch of legal papers. We were to open bank accounts on this trip and I was working on my residence papers and also my wife’s (she is Costa Rican papers to get her visa to go to the states) with the lawyer, which was why the check book and so much cash.”

“After the police, the next day I went to the US Embassy and I’d say about half of the people at the Embassy were there reporting robberies from cars, in the street, from hotel rooms, on public transportation…just about everywhere and everything.”

“I was talking to the agent at the window and mentioned how I was impressed with all the people here who are victims of one thing or another. And he said, “I should have been there that morning, that was almost the only thing I did,” as he pointed at a stack of papers about 2 inches thick he said to me, “Welcome to Costa Rica, Pura Vida.”

“I hope the Costa Rican government will get the message and put a stop to some of this crime from the airport or the rental car companies before they loose a lot of tourism.”

Rick Wilson and his wife, Ester do not have an ax to grind. On the phone he was almost sympathetic and dumbfounded that the government has not taken serious measures to protect tourists, our number one source of export income. And, despite this experience, he still wants to become a resident.

 
*John Holtz is the Executive Director of theCenter for the Studies of Modern Management
www.modernmanagement.org and can be reached at:  [email protected].