Costa Rica, Wikileaks, 2006 U.S. reports growing crimes against U.S. tourists at San Jose airport

SAN JOSE UNCLAS 000337

SIPDIS SIPDIS

DEPT FOR DS/IP/WHA, DS/IP/ITA, DS/DSS/OSAC, AND WHA/CEN; DEPT FOR DS / IP / WHA, DS / IP / ITA, DS / DSS / OSAC, AND WHA / CEN;
KINGSTON FOR COM AND RSO COM FOR KINGSTON AND RSO

EO 12958: N/A EO 12958: N / A
TAGS: ASEC, CASC TAGS: ASEC, CASC
SUBJECT: ARMED ROBBERY OF AMCIT 2/10/2006: MORE THAN JUST SUBJECT: ARMED ROBBERY OF AMCIT 2/10/2006: MORE THAN JUST
OCCASIONAL CRIME IN SAN JOSE OCCASIONAL CRIME IN SAN JOSE

REF: SAN JOSE 327 REF: SAN JOSE 327

1. 1. (SBU) On February 13, 2006 Post was informed of the (SBU) On February 13, 2006 Post Informed of the WAS
fifth reported armed vehicle robbery (since December 2005) of Armed Robbery Reported fifth vehicle (since December 2005) of
individuals coming from the Juan Santamaria Airport in San Individuals coming from the Juan Santamaria Airport in San
Jose. Jose. RSO believes that thieves are targeting cars from the RSO Believe That You Are thieves targeting cars from the
airport and following them until they have reached an airport and Following Them Until They Have Reached an
isolated spot to conduct their attack on a vehicle. isolated spot to Conduct Their attack on a vehicle. One of One of
the most common criminal scams in Costa Rica is that of the The Most common scams criminal in Costa Rica Is That of the
“Good Samaritan” scam, where the assailants puncture/severely “Good Samaritan” scam, where, the assailants puncture / Severely
damage a rental car tire, then follow the vehicle until the Damage to rental car tire, the vehicle Until Then follow the
tire blows out or the victim is forced to pull over. blows out or pull the victim is Forced to pull over. The The
“Good Samaritans” then offer to help change the tire of the “Good Samaritans” then change the offer to help dispose of the
potential victims, then steal key suitcases or a backpacks Potential Victims, Then steal key to backpacks or suitcases
holding money, passports, and camera equipment. holding money, passports, and camera equipment. It seems It Seems
criminals may be coming up with different variations of this Criminals May Be Coming up with Different Variations of this
scam. scam. In some reports, a car pulls up next to the victims’ In Some reports, a car pulls up next to the Victims’
vehicle and points to the tire, then the victim pulls over or points to the vehicle and pull, Then The victim pulls over or
the perpetrators block from the target vehicle from the Perpetrators block the vehicle from the target from the
front. front. In the past five incidents reported to the Consular In the past five Reported incidents to the Consular
Section since December 2005, guns have been used and some Section Since December 2005, guns and Some Have Been Used
vehicles have been stolen, with three of the five incidents Have Been stolen vehicles, with three of the five incidents
involving persons driving rental vehicles. Rental INVOLVING persons driving vehicles. The one common The one common
denominator is that all vehicles were departing the airport. denominator Were Is That All vehicles departing the airport.
This message focuses on the most recent incident of armed This message Focus on the Most Recent incident of armed
robbery reported to the Consulate, with one of the victims an Reported robbery to the Consulate, with one of the Victims an
AmCit just arriving in country on February 10, 2006. AmCit Arriving just in country on February 10, 2006. ARSO ARSO
interviewed the victims of this robbery at the Embassy on Interviewed the Victims of this robbery at the Embassy on
February 13, 2006. February 13, 2006. End Summary. End Summary. Read Article