It is no secret that Guatemala has a high
rate of crime, as do many developing countries where money is scarce and
governments are corrupt. By
traveling to this Central American favorite, you are potentially putting yourself
at risk, but knowledge is power, right?
Be sure to check out these points below and adjust your travel tactics
accordingly for a safe and secure trip.
Pickpocketing Crime
Markets, public transport and public
processions all bring crowds, and with crowds comes easy targeting for
pickpocket crimes.
The famous markets of Chichicastenango are
notorious, with one tourist noting several pockets razored discreetly until the
wallet pocket was discovered.
Another tourist online explains that he was
pickpocketed at the Solola markets with pockets buttoned close.
Public processions and parades – anything
that causes a crowd – are prime pickpocketing events. One in particular would be Holy Week in Antigua during
which, according to one source,
“...it seems that Guatemala City’s entire population of pickpockets
shifts to Antigua...”.
Thieves in Guatemala are sneaky, and any
time attention is diverted is a time when they can strike. The US Embassy in Guatemala reports US
tourists getting pickpocketed while exiting the Aurora International Airport,
while riding on buses from Guatemala City to Antigua and while simply out
shopping.
ATM & Credit Card Crime
Debit and credit card scamming and account
fishing unfortunately is a commonplace crime for tourists to endure in
Guatemala.
Recent months in Antigua's Central Plaza in
particular have resulted in travelers seeing fraudulent charges to their
accounts. These scams have also
occurred in ATM's located in Antigua grocery stores.
Credit card cloning has been reported
frequently in Guatemala City.
Car Crime
Cars may seem like secure places to store
valuables, but Guatemala sees its fair share of car break-ins. One tourist's car was broken into while
parked at the gas station. Inside
was her computer, wallet and credit cards. Incidents like these are especially popular in Guatemala
City, but extreme caution should be practiced whenever important items are left
unattended in a vehicle.
Armed Robbery
Many travelers will visit Guatemala without
any trouble involving theft and robbery, but it is wise to note where armed
robbery has a tendency of occurring.
Guatemala City, even in the “safe” zone 10, is a place that is known for
crime that involves the threat of weapons, such as guns, knives and even
grenades.
Several tourists have reported being robbed
at gunpoint while climbing the volcano at Volcan de Agua. A mother and daughter were shot at in
July 2010 when they fled their attackers, but there were not injured. Others have had money, iPods and credit
cards stolen.
Tourist buses and shuttle buses are
occasionally robbed at gunpoint.
As one transport company notes, these incidents would most likely mean
that the vehicle was in the right place at the right time (or that the bandits
and driver were colluding). There
is not proof to back this assumption up, but it is wise to realize the risk of
this activity occurring.
One such incident involves a driver of a
private shuttle taking it off-track where several masked men robbed the
tourists of their belongings in March 2011.
In January 2011, a tourist bus heading from
Flores to Belize was held up by armed men with both machetes and guns who
robbed passengers of money and passports.
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