Comments on: Followup to a previous post on Crime in Volcan

By: KK

KK — Sat, 10 May 2008 13:35:15 +0000

Wow!
Read the story on the Panama Guide or whever Winner is posting now.. Sad story but some helpful hints from the author to keep it real around your place. I like the idea of keeping a few *good* dogs around and one always in the house. I prefer German Shepards myself. The decision to own a gun is highly personal but if you think about it, a gun is no more than a tool to be used only when necessary. Has the reader ever tried pounding in a nail with a screwdriver? I’m sure it could be done but by the time you accomplished that feat your favorite sitcom would be over!
Anyhow, keep in mind that socio-economic forces are combining for a ‘perfect storm’ and people get real desparate when they’re cold (or sweltering), hungry, disillusioned and broke. You cannot stop it. Perhaps bond more closely with your neighbors and form a watch community and have a contact person to call when necessary. Also, some folks I know make it a point to be very cordial and neighborly to the local fuzz.
PURA VIDA!
KK

By: Charlotte Newman

Charlotte Newman — Mon, 05 May 2008 19:02:17 +0000

Excellent points made by James, icluding his “reality check” statistics about crime rates around the world.

As I’ve mentioned before, my husband and I are in final stages of moving to Panama in the next 6 mo’s. And we’ve given much thought to home safety, even though we’re not of that incredibly wealthy crowd who are often targets of crime, many times due to their own arrogance.
We’r still in Portland, OR, U.S.A., finishing up for the move. Portland is considered one of the nation’s top livable cities. However, this past month alone in Portland and its outlying suburbs, there were at least five home invasions, two of which involved fatal shootings of victims of home invasions. In many instances Meth addicts were the perpetrators, unfortunately, our own poor white folks cheap addiction of choice. Epidemic here in the NW.
And, as to being cautious, yesterday I was doing heavy yard work in our back yard. My husband went out to run errands. I made sure that the front door was locked, that the garage door was closed (even though there were gardening tools I might need to access. I made sure the gate to the back yard was closed, and I kept my cell phone handy.
We live in a pretty quiet and safe Portland neighborhood. However, I believe in being cautious all the time. Rather be overly cautious, than be face-to-face with a “terrifying” situation.
I also have a few nice jewelry items, i.e. a gold bracelet made from my grandfather’s watch chain. I never wear these items, as I know that they attract attention.
Seems like some people think that they’re living in some nostalgic “our town” world that no longer exists.
Anyway, you get my point. Why on earth would anyone think that Panama would be exempt from the dangers of life, especially in this complex modern crowded world. Carelessness costs. Alertness and precautions are always good advice.
The times that I’ve placed myself in danger were when I was not paying attention to my surroundings, or when I was simply too trusting and naive to realize the jeopardy I was placing myself in.

One such event was the terrifying highlight of all that, when I was 2yrs old, and newly arrived to California. I foolishly hitchhiked, (as many of us kids did at that time in the late 60’s), with a girl I didn’t know, who was staying with some friends of mine. The girl jumped into a car at the entrance to a freeway, and, although all sorts of red flags were going up, I didn’t want to leave her alone in that vehicle. So I got into the car as well.
The result was a terrifying nine hour nightmare journey of kidnap and rape, with the threat of being murdered, including gruesome details of the plans. Eventually we were let go. I almost wasn’t. I think that our incredible effort to relate to our three captors saved our lives. Just barely. In my case, I foolishly and naively placed myself in harms way, even though my “reasons” were a bit noble - not wanting to desert the other young woman.

In the case of this poor gentleman in Chiriqui, he made some really poor choices, no matter how “good” his intentions. And he has paid a very high price.
I’m lucky to be alive.
I’ve heard many other stories from, especially women, of terrifying events, some in their own homes or apartments. Some being grabbed at gunpoint. As a woman, I am exceptionally careful.

So, common sense, whether at home, or on the streets, is paramount. Take care. Stay safe.
Charlotte

By: Don Ray

Don Ray — Mon, 05 May 2008 12:34:18 +0000

Hi SK,

Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment and sharing your views.

By: Silent Knight

Silent Knight — Mon, 05 May 2008 01:22:15 +0000

I believe that a taser and a stun gun, combined with perhaps a shotgun, would be preferable to a hand gun. A taser can paralyze a man from as far as 16 feet away, and not kill him. You have time to call the police, and if they don’t arrive before the thief is rousing, tase him again (and again?). He’s down for another half hour or so. I think that a stun gun would be good to carry around on dangerous streets, because it requires contact with the person. A shotgun pointed at a band of thieves is enough to scare them away, and if not, then in all likelyhood they would be injured but not dead. I don’t think it’s a good idea to kill anybody in Panama and have to to face a trial as a Gringo who killed a local (or even deal with the wrath of his relatives). All the above weapons are legal here but require the usual registration. There is a store in David, I have heard, which sells these, and I believe that it is called Tres de Noviembre and is near the park and the Shell Station.

By: Don Ray

Don Ray — Sun, 04 May 2008 12:28:46 +0000

Hi James and Oni. Thanks for sharing your views.

By: Oni

Oni — Sun, 04 May 2008 08:48:49 +0000

Don,
My parents live in San Vicente, they mentioned this incident to me. We are currently living thru the inflationary part of the economic cycle worldwide. This basically means that as money losses its value the lower income part of society will sufer the most. Regarding crime, during an inflationary period it goes up. Desperation hits the stupid criminals in society and they target the elderly and defensless. During an inflationary period one most do this: lay low, no flashy anything on your self keep everything simple in your life. Become mildly paranoid, question every person’s intent and loyalty to you. Although I read lots about not havings a gun in your posession… you should really have one, forget about colateral damage, thats a very small possibility compared to the large possibility of the extreme bodily harm you and your love ones will suffer. Get a GUN, learn how to use it, and keep it on you, by you. This inflationary bubble in should be bursting in 1-3 years, so lock and load.

By: james feltus

james feltus — Sun, 04 May 2008 03:47:58 +0000

Great article, which touches on several important points. Thanks.

One always has to use one’s head. I usually wear a small diamond ear stud, but when in Panama, I replace it with a steel stud. The house I rented in Panama had not only locking exterior wooden doors, but , outside those, locking steel bar doors, and I used them.

My dogs sleep in my bedroom. Their ears are one of my burglar alarms, their barks are one of my burglar defenses, and their noses and barks are fire detectors and alarms.

Now, if I could just get my canine buddies to stop barking when the neighbor’s car goes up their drive, I’d be completely happy.

You have to use your head, and no place is completely safe, but according to this, murder rates are highest in Colombia, in 2005, ranked 19th in Costa Rica, 24th in the US, and Panama didn’t even make the top 62 countries list. So, just keep everything in perspective, keep thinking about personal and family safety, and enjoy Panama:

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_mur_percap-crime-murders-per-capita