We're planning our return to Boquete after a long absence - we lived in Boquete from 2003 to 2005.
In those days crime was almost non-existent. But with the massive growth and influx of expats it seems crime followed. I read posts in 2015 about concerns about rising crime
i.e. http://panamaprattle.blogspot.ca/2015/07/paradise-or-paradox-crime-wave-in.html
but can't seem to find any comments after that.
I would appreciate an update on the crime situation in Boquete these days. Many thanks!
Replies
THERE ARE CRIMES OF OPPORTUNITY, IF YOU LEAVE YOU CAR DOORS UNLOCKED, IF YOU PAY FOR A SERVICE UP FRONT (AND THEN IT'S NOT DONE), IF YOU LEAVE YOUR HOUSE DOORS UNLOCKED, IF YOU THINK EVERYTHING IS LIKE WHERE YOU COME FROM, ETC.... IT IS JUST COMMON SENSE THOUGHTS THAT YOU NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO. THE ONE THING THAT I FOUND IS THE CULTURAL DIFFERENCE, I.E. VIVO JUEGO (GAME OF LIFE) WHERE IT'S OK TO GET OVER ON SOMEBODY. THIS CULTURAL DIFFERENCE APPLIES TO ALL THINGS, SHOPPING, ROMANCE, POLITICS, YOU NAME IT, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE AND THAT IS A DIFFICULT THING TO UNDERSTAND FOR FOREIGNERS.
PATRICK
#1 Crime of opportunity in Boquete:
Welcome back to Boquete! I have lived in and around Boquete for 9 years. As with most places in the world today. We all must take precautions against crime where-ever we are. Crime has its levels at different stages all over the planet. Boquete is a beautiful place for all of us and yes, there is dangers and if you live in an unsecured location in a remote area, you must take extra precautions just as if you lived in the same area in the States or Canada. How about France today?
Many thanks Ning Moderator
We've spent the last two winters in the south of France (just got back April 14th) and at least two weeks every year since 1988 and we feel 100% safe there, despite the fact that our apartment is less than 60 km from the place in Nice where the terrorist attack of Bastille Day occurred last year.
Today's media, politicians and internet blogs have a way of instilling paranoia in the masses like we've never seen before. I feel sorry for anyone who falls victim to violence of any kind (that includes murder, drownings, falls, car accidents etc.) but I think that only "small minds" are losing track of all the dangers that threaten our well being and their frequency. Terrorism (in Western society anyway) is still one of the smaller threats...
Hey Walter thanks for your comments. We have traveled extensively and I agree. One of the things that drives me crazy is when people quote national crime stats - really not relevant. Even city stats can be totally misleading. I currently live in Victoria BC - what many in the world might consider a 'crime-free' city of peace and flowers. Yet we too have violent crime. (guess this could have been under the rant area :)
I also agree with the level-headed, common sense comments here. The best way to avoid a problem, whether you are walking the east side of Vancouver or living in Boquete is to 1st always be completely aware - head up, alert to everything in your environment (in martial arts they call this being in code yellow. Many people live in code white). 2nd, as has been stated many times, use preventative measures - but no need to go overboard.
Anyhow, thanks so much everyone for your comments. I was looking for an update and to get an overall feeling for how things are and how they may have changed since our absence.
Mark, petty crime continues here but reports of violent occurrences are down over the last few years.
Prevention as it pertains to personal and home security are the keys.
Panama is safer than Mexico.
México rebasa 2,000 homicidios en un mes
21/4/17 - 07:15 PM
El estado sureño de Guerrero, donde se encuentra el puerto turístico de Acapulco, sigue encabezando la lista con 550 asesinatos durante los primeros tres meses del año.
México rebasó 2.000 homicidios en un mes por primera ocasión desde mediados de 2011, y registró más asesinatos durante el primer trimestre de 2017 que en los primeros meses de cualquier otro año en al menos dos décadas, según información divulgada este viernes.
Mexico surpassed 2,000 homicides in a month for the first time since mid-2011, and recorded more murders during the first quarter of 2017 than in the first months of any other year in at least two decades, according to information released Friday.
How many of them were due to drug cartel wars?
How many involved expats or tourists?
This seems to support my suspicion:
http://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/at-least-35-killed-in-drug-viol...