I have been to Costa Rica over 35 times and have been lucky enough to have never been mugged. My last trip in Aug. '07 was to be my last after my life was threatened and I was informed by Marriott hotel security to take the threats seriously. Now I play in Panama where they don't have this type of rampant crime problem. Thought you all might like to read this recent article which came my way:

Costa Rica Looks to Curb "Out of Control" Crime Wave
It wasn't until government officials found themselves victims of Costa Rica's rampant crime wave that now the Central American nation - and home to the largest influx of online gambling websites in the world - is looking to take action to curb crime.
The scale of the problem led Jorge Rojas Vargas, the chief of the Judicial Investigating Organization to tender his resignation towards the end of last year. He was an outspoken critic of the failure of the wheels of justice and a lack of police officers, particularly detectives for his own arm of the country’s judicial structure.

The move by Rojas may be viewed by some as a masterstroke, but others might point to the fact a string of government ministers and family members were the victims of various forms of robberies themselves and finally lurched into action, according to a report in AM Costa Rica. The Arias administration earmarked funds for 500 more investigators, and Rojas swiftly rescinded his resignation.
The executive branch sent a proposal to the legislature Monday to create a commission to study ways to stem the nation's crime wave.

The measure is No. 16.917 which would empower a legislative committee to compile, study, report and propose legal reforms to improve citizen security.

Casa Presidencial coupled this announcement with a quote from President Óscar Arias Sánchez that seemed to put blame on citizens who try to protect themselves.

"With a surprising velocity, violence has past from being condemned by the Costa Rican society to be justified as a legitimate way to protect ourselves," said the quote from Arias. "We have returned to the epoch of vengeance, the law of retaliation, the slogan of nowadays and everyone who clamors for their own idea of punishment. This is not the Costa Rica that we inherited from our past."
Costa Ricans blame regional upward trends in crime as having an impact on the once tranquil nation. El Salvador, Hondorus and Guatemala have all witnessed a surge in violent crime this decade.
Besides Measure No. 16.917, there is another measure already in the legislature. That is No. 16.977 that was filed Nov. 22 by Luis Antonio Barrantes Castro, a member of the Movimiento Libertario. The bill summary has some grim statistics, including the claim that between 1992 and 2004 only 6 percent of the crimes were punished. The summary said that during that period only 11 percent of criminal cases ended in judicial sentences and only 54 percent of the sentences were convictions.

The measure also cites statistics from the Poder Judicial that say that in the first four months of 2005 there were 2,997 robberies of pedestrians, 412 robberies of vehicles, 469 robberies of stores, 241 robberies of homes, 93 robberies of businesses, 70 robberies of bus drivers, 265 robberies of delivery truck drivers, 52 robberies of messengers, 25 robberies of offices and four attacks on armored cars.
ExPats, Bookmakers, Online Casino Owners Easy Targets
In recent years, online gambling operators residing in Costa Rica for the past 10 years or longer have expressed concern over the escalation in crime they have witnessed, in some cases, first hand.
Just last month, a group of armed bandits opened fire on a car driven by a founding principal in BetUS.com. A bodyguard was wounded in that incident though it was later ruled that a vehicle in front of the heavily fortified BetUS mobile was the actual target.
Last year, a bodyguard for Bodog founder, billionaire Calvin Ayre, was shot in the shoulder as he snuck up on an armed intruder. Ayre himself was held up at gun point along side a busy street in broad daylight while looking for real estate three years ago.
Also last year, a Gambling91.com was assaulted and left for dead after entering a "pirate" taxi cab. The gang of knife wielding hoodlums stole a watch and most of his clothing except for his underwear and socks.
Armed Venezuelan trained militia stormed a bank in the same Mall that once housed online gambling's largest company, BetonSports (now defunct). A bank guard was cut down and died on the scene in that horrific event. Another high profile bank robbery in a more tranquil region of the country resulted in several deaths and outrage two years ago.
"In Venezuela the banks are like entering a prison and there are armed snipers at each one," said one individual we spoke to, offering his own explanation as to why criminals from other countries find Costa Rica so appealing. "Costa Rica is only a few hundred miles away. The banks here (in Costa Rica) are a joke. There is hardly any security and certainly they can't go up against these military trained guys from Venezuela and Costa Rica."
As for the current measures, which probably should have been proposed years ago, there was no suggestion how long it may take the legislature to act on the measure presented by Casa Presidencial or how long the bill would give the security committee to study and make a report. Some have said this may take a year or more.
"It has really gotten bad here. I don't feel safe any more," a sportsbook employee told Gambling911.com, though he did express some optimism. "One thing I can say is that they have certainly beefed up check points in and around some of the locations where Americans and other foreigners like to hang out, even though it's mostly to stop drunk driving."
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Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher CCostigan@CostiganMedia.com
Originally published February 26, 2008 10:49 am EST
Costa Rica Looks to Curb "Out of Control" Crime Wave

Well said... and VERY true. As a Costa Rica vet of 15+ years I have seen a steady increase in violent crime. It use to be just petty theft and car break-ins, no more. Now its serious stuff and lots of it goes unreported. My X has family in Jaco and she told me of her American friend and husband, in a gated comunity with an armed 24hr. guard, who were kidnapped at gun point, beaten,tied up and robbed and stole their car.
They seem to be caseing out rich GRINGOS for sure, however no one is immune. Makes Rio sound a little safer.

thanks Lizardking for the post. pokerjohnny tels me San Jose is like wild west city, not a very safe place to monger. seems all the on-line gambling guys are relocating to panama city. the putas are getting kinda desperate too..be careful