Comments on: Theft in Antigua http://guateliving.com/2009/11/theft-in-antigua/ Real life in Guatemala Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:56:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Kathryn Griffin http://guateliving.com/2009/11/theft-in-antigua/comment-page-1/#comment-2378 Kathryn Griffin Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:49:35 +0000 http://guateliving.com/?p=2474#comment-2378 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. 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.

]]> By: juan3 http://guateliving.com/2009/11/theft-in-antigua/comment-page-1/#comment-2377 juan3 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:46:36 +0000 http://guateliving.com/?p=2474#comment-2377 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. 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.

]]> By: korey http://guateliving.com/2009/11/theft-in-antigua/comment-page-1/#comment-2376 korey Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:07:53 +0000 http://guateliving.com/?p=2474#comment-2376 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. 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.

]]> By: Suzanne http://guateliving.com/2009/11/theft-in-antigua/comment-page-1/#comment-2360 Suzanne Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:05:17 +0000 http://guateliving.com/?p=2474#comment-2360 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. 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.

]]> By: juan3 http://guateliving.com/2009/11/theft-in-antigua/comment-page-1/#comment-2357 juan3 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:02:43 +0000 http://guateliving.com/?p=2474#comment-2357 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. 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.

]]> By: braaad http://guateliving.com/2009/11/theft-in-antigua/comment-page-1/#comment-2355 braaad Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:28:59 +0000 http://guateliving.com/?p=2474#comment-2355 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. 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.

]]> By: Expat Mom http://guateliving.com/2009/11/theft-in-antigua/comment-page-1/#comment-2350 Expat Mom Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:07:26 +0000 http://guateliving.com/?p=2474#comment-2350 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. 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.

]]> By: juan3 http://guateliving.com/2009/11/theft-in-antigua/comment-page-1/#comment-2349 juan3 Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:07:48 +0000 http://guateliving.com/?p=2474#comment-2349 braaad, Isn't it necessary to have a cedula in order to purchase a shotgun here? braaad,

Isn't it necessary to have a cedula in order to purchase a shotgun here?

]]> By: braaad http://guateliving.com/2009/11/theft-in-antigua/comment-page-1/#comment-2347 braaad Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:38:15 +0000 http://guateliving.com/?p=2474#comment-2347 @Amy yeah you can get a shotgun without a permit here- just like in the States ;-) @Amy yeah you can get a shotgun without a permit here- just like in the States ;-)

]]> By: Amy http://guateliving.com/2009/11/theft-in-antigua/comment-page-1/#comment-2346 Amy Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:49:53 +0000 http://guateliving.com/?p=2474#comment-2346 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? 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?

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