Theft in Antigua
ByIt was Thursday night and the Wife and I were enjoying a Tom Collins and a Sazerac at RumBar when I heard a blood curdling scream. It’s not unusual that you might hear a young woman scream in Antigua, but knowing women as I do, I thought this scream had a certain element to it that conveyed true agony, as opposed to some other passion.
The doors were already closed so, in keeping with proper security procedures, I peeked around and didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. As I opened the door to get a full view of 7th Calle, I saw two females at the corner, whose body language suggested fear and uncertainty. Being the chivalrous type, I approached carefully and called to the two blondes to inquire if they were okay.
Their response-stuttering in English, choppy and wavering tones, looking about nervously-told me that I had reached the source of the aforementioned blood curdling scream. In the dark I couldn’t be sure that they weren’t hurt and so I had to ask several times whether they were injured. Finally the more mature of the two said they were ‘physically okay’ but needed help.
I escorted them into the safety of the RumBar and learned that they had just been robbed. Apparently they were at the corner of 5th Ave South and 7th Calle and a car pulled up to the corner, a man jumped out, grabbed a purse, re-entered the car and sped off. Of course, these two ladies had ignored every possible security precaution, and included in the missing items were their passports, wallets, all their cash, credit cards, iPods and assorted other valuables.
I resisted the urge to say “You’re idiots” and instead found someone to get them a drink and the ever-chivalrous JP to help them contact the police, their banks, and begin the process of putting their lives back together. (I don’t think the police ever showed up).
We should rejoice that no one was injured in this attack, and certainly it would have been easy for this theft to become a robbery or assault given the quiet corner and the late night. But it’s painful nonetheless, and a reminder for tourists, expats and particularly females that while Antigua is generally a safe place, you must act as you might if you were walking in worst parts of Detroit or south LA after dark. (First tip: don’t walk around the worst parts of Detroit at night)
So, for the sake of education and ‘lessons learned’, let’s break this down and study the mistakes they made:
1. Females walking alone in Guatmala at night.
2. Carrying a purse (this makes you a target).
3. Carrying your passport with you.
4. Carrying ALL your credit cards with you.
5. Carrying ALL your cash with you.
6. Not reading GuateLiving.
Capisci?
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17 Comments
November 14th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
Generally speaking the only time there is any benefit in calling the police about a robbery in Guatemala is when one needs an official police report in order to collect on insurance. Otherwise it is best to remember that in many cases the local police are part of the problem. It is foolish to let them into your home to see where valuables are normally kept and what valuables were not taken. Last year only 3% of the over 6,000 murders in Guatemala were prosecuted, so you can imagine what the odds of your robbery being solved are. Also, don't think that at least you will be helping warn others of the dangers by informing Inguat. Their figures for crimes against tourists are so ridiculously understated that it is ridiculous.
November 14th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Good advice on Detroit.
November 14th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
If you must carry a purse it is always a good idea to carry it close to your body and hanging onto it with your arm. Don't walk with your purse on the side of your body that is along the road. Someone on a bicycle or moto can just easily pull it off. I was visiting Long Beach a few years ago, walking down the street, and the way I was carrying my purse, my arm around it, my hand through the metal buckle and a woman came walking toward me and started to laugh. She showed me her purse, and she was carrying it the exact same way. She was from the Dominican Republic and visiting Long Beach as well. Always best to err on the side of caution.
I agree with juan3, the national police will never do anything and are generally part of the problem but sometimes you have to have a report for the embassy if your passport is stolen. But don't expect that the national police will find the criminal. It is in INGUAT's best interest that there are no crimes committed against tourists so they will always minimize criminal activity. And there is rarely information about crimes against tourists in the news. I found it really interesting that the murderers of the German tourist, fresh of the cruise ship, were found so quickly. I really wondered if they were indeed the real robbers/killers or were just rounded up to show how quickly action was taken against crimes committed against tourists. One can only imagine how much pressure the government put on the national police to find suspects since INGUAT has been courting the cruise ship companies for years to get them to stop in Guatemala and then to be brave enough to let the cruisers get on buses and visit Guatemala's interior.
November 14th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
NEVER EVER CARRY A PURSE. You are just asking to be robbed . This is day or night in Guatemala.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
I know that corner well, and pass it several times a day when I am in Antigua as I often stay with a friend who lives in Calle Sucia. I have been known once or twice even to stop for a tot or two in the Rum Bar myself as I pass in this direction! This post serves as a timely warning for me not to be so cavalier about walking around by myself at night, thinking that I am immune to all trouble because I am in "perfect" Antigua. I used to regularly walk home alone late at night after drinks and fun at the Macondo almost 10 years ago, and the habit has persisted…Antigua seems so beautiful and peaceful at night. But the last couple of times I've been there I've perceived a subtle change after dark; it seems somehow a bit more sinister out there than it used to, and I feel more vulnerable. It's a shame, but the reality is that caution needs to be exercised, and common sense practiced. Hope to see you and the Mrs. at Christmas, Mark. Let me know if you want me to bring anything special over for you.
November 15th, 2009 at 1:20 am
From someone that is planning on moving down there I can say with great pleasure that I TRULY WELCOME your HONEST reporting of the REAL GUATEMALA. Mark Gracias!
November 15th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Kara and I were required to attend a security briefing at the American Embassy when we first arrived to Guatemala. As far as purses go, their big tip was to never sling it across your chest- always carry a purse over one shoulder. That way when a thief on a motorcycle speeds by you and grabs your purse, you won't be dragged down the road with him.
Anyways I agree with the other posters- just don't carry a purse! Carry a shotgun instead
November 15th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Is it safe to carry any kind of bag? With kids I always need to carry something…for the extra diaper, sippy cup, sweater, & random stuff. I was thinking a bag with a long strap to sling it across my chest instead of carrying on one shoulder. But braaad has me rethinking that strategy.
Do muggings happen in daylight too?
November 15th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
@Amy yeah you can get a shotgun without a permit here- just like in the States
November 15th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
braaad,
Isn't it necessary to have a cedula in order to purchase a shotgun here?
November 16th, 2009 at 6:07 am
You can get anything without a cedula, you just have to know where to look.
For Amy, I always use a backpack. I've had no problems and I only use cheap ones so if someone does decide to slash it, no big loss. I've had shoulder bags cut with razors in the market, but since I was always broke, they only got pieces of broccoli.
If you watch Guatemalan women, almost all of them keep their money in their bra. No one thinks anything of a woman reaching down her shirt to pull out a little wallet to buy something and it's not very obvious . . . a thief would really have to work to get at the money. I often keep a little extra in my shoe, just in case.
I used to work at a bar and we would get off at around 2 am. I lived near the cemetery and worked near La Merced, so it was a bit of a hike. Walking at that hour on your own is not to be recommended and since most bars have taxis that they trust, you can just ask the bartender to call you a cab before you head out. It's a much better idea and as long as you aren't trying to subsist on bar tips, quite affordable. If, for some reason you DO walk at night, stick to the streets that have people on them ,even if your first instinct is to stay away from them. Nothing ever happened to me walking on the "crowded" streets. Can't say as much for the empty ones.
November 16th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Well, I know that with a cedula/DPI you can get any firearm, at least to keep in your home. A gun shop owner in Guatemala City explained to me that the law requires you to transport your gun back to your house within 72 hours. From then on you can't legally take it off the premises. If you want to do that, you must obtain a permit, which is a PITA just like in the States. It even requires some sort of range test.
But to answer your specific question, what I heard was you don't need a permit for a shotgun. Since my wife is about to get her DPI, I didn't think ask if I needed one or not! Anyway, sorry for any misleading info- the best bet is obviously to visit a gun shop and ask what the legal requirements are.
November 16th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Thanks braaad,
Since the gun laws have just changed this year, I was wondering what is now required. A couple of years ago I hired an attorney to handle the paperwork for me for one of her clients to sell me a new shotgun. It cost me an extra $300.00 and involved a lot of very official looking paperwork, and what seemed to be about 100 stamps.
I intend to get my cedula soon, and hope this eliminates a lot of problems. Also, I would like to obtain a carry permit, but don't know the new rules on concealed weapons.
Thanks again.
November 16th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
My general rule is, never carry anything that you would be devastated to lose. I don't carry an expensive cell phone and only carry a credit card when I plan on using it on a specific outing. A photocopy of a passport works in most situations. People understand why you don't carry the original. Bags and purses can make you a target on the street and especially in the market, where they are frequently slit open from behind to quickly remove any valuables. I learned from the locals to avoid pedestrian empty streets, particularly at night. You always need to be aware.
Antigua is generally safe. But in a town with many tourists bringing money, in a country where too many people are struggling to just feed their families, it should not be a great surprise that there will be robbery. The best idea is to try to make yourself less of a target. And to understand that it still might happen.
November 17th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
The newest gun laws that are not in effect yet will require all unregistered guns, even in your home to have registry/ownership papers that are only available by going through the process with DECAM.
It´s kind of complicated, right down to several fotos on special paper available in only one place in Antigua.
The official announcement came out in the paper a few months ago with a 6 month grace period to register or face the same 9 year jail sentence that is the current new penalty for carrying without a permit. Basically this means that you cannot use the shotgun in your house for protection because you will be commiting a crime. I have one old homemade unregistered finca gun that I have been advised to destroy rather than get
caught in a messy situation. My others are registered.
Carry permit laws change all the time but currently involve getting your antecedentes policiacos and a couple of trips to Guatemala city to the police, fotos, etc.
November 17th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Korey,
Thank you so much for the information. I had not been keeping up well enough on the new laws. It looks as though, as with all gun laws, they are trying to restrict guns to the government and criminals only.
November 17th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
While I definitely don’t think it is wise to carry your passport, credit cards and money at night in Antigua, I do understand why some people do it. It is a LOT different living in Antigua or some other place in Guatemala than simply visiting it. When I leave my house, I rarely take my passport, credit cards, or more money than I am going to need because I have a safe place to hide these valuables. A tourist however, especially the backpacker variety staying in cheap accommodations, probably feels his/her belongings are safer on his/her person than in a bag in a shared dorm room at a hostel.