Posts confirm that Colombia is dangerous!

Gator says on May 12, 2009, 07:47:

Please, how many post have you seen and what is "way too many?". I see more problems in South Florida when I read the "Miami Herald" on line. Perhaps you could research the posts and give us cities, type (gun, knife, strong arm) day of week, location, times.

"Bene, cum Latine nescias, nolo manus meas in te maculare" .

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sanandressi says on May 12, 2009, 08:00:

These posts pop up here in PBH a lot Gator. Maybe not every day but I find it rather alarming. Yes, Miami has a lot of rough areas too.

There are two posts just below mine and the gringo roobbed in front of his wife and kids in Barranquilla and then the replies to those posts and of course "you never stop for a stop light after dark in Bogota".

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Miguel_Clavo says on May 12, 2009, 08:03:

Coming to Colombia is not an automatic death sentence nor guaranty of being robbed.....MILLIONS of Visitors come and go every frickin year with no bad experience what soever....and they live to tell how great of an experience they had with the Colombian country, people, and culture........

"So Many PBH Potatoheads.......So Little Time"......El Titiritero (The Puppeteer).....www.slapdoll.com

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sanandressi says on May 12, 2009, 08:13:

You are right Miguel, I guess my point was just for people to be on guard a little...you know...common sense. It is just alarming to hear some of this stuff on PBH.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on May 12, 2009, 08:16:

I've been robbed in Colombia I've been robbed in the UK.

Agree with M_C

♥

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Miguel_Clavo says on May 12, 2009, 08:17:

The real problem with foriegners running into problems here in Colombia is because they check their common sense in at the border.......they do things here which they would never do in their own cities with regards to personal security.....even crime occurs in Disneyland.........Goofy got stabbed there one year.....by a bunch of gangsters from Compton....

"So Many PBH Potatoheads.......So Little Time"......El Titiritero (The Puppeteer).....www.slapdoll.com

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kenblanquito says on May 12, 2009, 09:19:

kat
Good point. Crime in the UK, particularly the inner cities, continues to rise and I personally avoid certain London boroughs.
In total, in the UK over a 50 year period, I have been attacked a few times for no apparent reason (not even for money), shot at once (the bullet missed my head by inches), subjected to one successful mugging when money was taken in daylight with many on-lookers and I was burgled once when my wife and I were in the house.
In Medellin for 3 and a half years and one attempted break-in when we were out but our security kept them out and nothing more.
Everywhere is more dangerous than it was and I do not live in fear in Medellin-I just try not to dar papaya.

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aussiesam says on May 12, 2009, 10:15:

it's all about common sense...walk alone at night in secluded areas..high risk..

however some gringos come to a place like medellin stay in poblado and lleras then rave on about how safe colombia is..

it can be a dangerous place but if u use common sense you immediately eliminate the chance of anything bad happening...

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miami55 says on May 12, 2009, 10:19:

Some things you just can't do.. like come to Miami and walk through Overtown at night.. you just aren't going to come out alive =p

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miami55 says on May 12, 2009, 10:21:

I also don't think Colombia would be the same if there wasn't that risk! Of course it is dangerous here =p

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sanandressi says on May 12, 2009, 11:03:

I was totally robbed Kat1 when that limey British husband of your met you before I did! Jajajajajajajajajaja!

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Rocco81 says on May 12, 2009, 11:23:

I know what Sanandressi is saying...even posts that have nothing to do with crime at all, possibly end up with a few of the same nay sayers from PBH who continually harp about how bad Colombia is and how dangerous it is and how inevitable it is you will be beaten up and robbed simply for being a gringo. I can see how it would concern some readers of this forum.

I think its safe to say that like many Latin countries, Colombia does have a very distinct poverty problem. Crime is def. Different when you travel South of the USA. That is a fact. Some guy strung out on drugs who struggles to eat once a day and receives no gov't assistance (unlike our poor people) he has no qualms with hitting you over the head for 5 dollars.

Its important to use your head in any big city in the world. Make sure no matter weather its DC or Bogota that you aren't wandering around alone and drunk at 3 am. Its important you aren't hanging out in bad areas of the city all alone looking like a tourist. Like anywhere sometimes shit does just happen, but more often than not its due to someone being somewhere that they shouldn't have been, bieng too naive or simply not doing their homework on where not to go.

Sic semper tyrannis

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Rocco81 says on May 12, 2009, 11:26:

I also want to add that atleast with Colombia you KNOW that there is a crime problem and you know for a fact you need to be slightly more cautious. For instance, last time I was in Germany a friend and I were verbally attacked and nearly jumped by a group of Turkish dudes..simply because we were white Americans. We were in a Subway train station in a normal part of town, after a large party in a very populated area...so yeah sometimes it just happens but my point here is that you don't expect that in somwhere like Europe or parts of US and it is sometimes easier to get caught off guard that way.

Sic semper tyrannis

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ddluzdelsol says on May 12, 2009, 11:48:

Guess I'll feel safe when I Colombia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

According to Forbes, Las Vegas is the 4th most dangerous city in the US...
No. 4 Las Vegas, Nev.
Violent Crimes per 100,000: 887

Wonder what the violent crimes per 100,000 in the major cities in Colombia are?

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pavo says on May 12, 2009, 11:58:

Darloup has all those stats.

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catamd says on May 12, 2009, 12:17:

Colombia is safe as long as you know where you should and shouldn't visit. There are very safe places and there are places even colombians wouldn't think about going to. That's the key. Find out about recommended places and others you should avoid. Ask your friends, ask people here in these forums. I think you can get mugged anywhere in the world if you're at the wrong place, specially at nights but not necessarily so. Poor neighbourhoods tend to be more dangerous and there are neighbourhoods in Bogota you shoud definitely stay away from. I see posts here of gringos talking about really dangerous places I wouldn't think about visiting, and I have lived here most of my life. It doesn't mean you can't travel around Colombia, it just means you should ask first where to go! Security matters are very different today than 6 - 8 years ago. There are definitely less kidnappings and raids. People travel by road a lot, and most main highways and country roads are permanently guarded by the army and the police. Be sure to let your friends know where you are going so they'll stay in touch and know where to find you.

Dra Cata

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Brody says on May 12, 2009, 13:17:

Let us also keep in mind that we are a generation that broadcasts everything on the internet. How many people here update their facebook with what they had for lunch, what their current mood is, what their weekend plans are...nothing is a secret, and that is going to include good as well as bad things. I personally don't feel all that unsafe here. A few internet anecdotes mean very little.

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goin_south says on May 12, 2009, 16:41:

And,.... the 'S' in PBsH sometimes stands for 'Sensationalism'.
Hey! It draws the crowds!

I"ve been robbed SEVERAL TIMES IN COLOMBIA:
Usually, it only takes a few moments for another colombianita to STEAL MY HEART AWAY, AND the sad part is, she usually replaces it with a Lack of Sensibility..jijijji

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Rocco81 says on May 12, 2009, 19:01:

Also the 'violent crime rate' of Las Vegas ddluz posted might be a bit misleading...Violence in its most vague sense is simply the number of assaults, including being spat on..verbally abused, etc up to fisticuffs, murders, rapes, etc. This is most likely the case of Vegas where they report every altercation that every retiree has had in a casino.

I say that only because other countries, even 1st world European countries might not bother to report anything but serious crimes. Rapes and Murders are almost always reported but other things that might concern a traveler ie beatings, assults, muggings miught just go unreported or atleast undereported. So in other words look up specifics, murder rates rape rates etc.

I think the total number of violent incidents in a place like Colombia are probably under reported and in the US are probably over reported. In the US you can have a slap fight with a resulting scratch and it might go into some stats somewhere.

Sic semper tyrannis

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Gator says on May 12, 2009, 19:39:

In a lot of years, three times-once pickpocket(Colombia has some of the best) once quite awhile ago, while driving to the finca out side of Cali FARC dropped a tree across the road. Was able to turn around and made tracks-Never did fix the AK-47 holes, purse snatch downtown Bogotá. Has a worse time in Atlanta, Caracas and San José CR.

But I guess that's why they made the bumper sticker, "SHIT HAPPENS."

"Bene, cum Latine nescias, nolo manus meas in te maculare" .

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utopiacowboy says on May 12, 2009, 21:05:

It's a damm shame that it's gotten safer. There's just not the cachet that there used to be about visiting the most violent city in the world, going to areas where even the cabbies wouldn't go after dark, escaping attempted holdups...now every Wal-mart clerk is going down there thinking he's as tough as the PBH posters imagine themselves to be. Maybe when things really go south and the US has dissolved into anarchy, we'll experience those glory days again.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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goin_south says on May 12, 2009, 21:19:

"going to areas where even the cabbies wouldn't go after dark"??

Ahhhh, ... Hell! Cowboy! I use to go to the Bronx, NYC... to see the Yankees...back in the mid- and late 80's and the cabbies in Manhattan DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO TAKE YOU THERE DURING THE DAY.... for crime/hassle reasons.

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Ken says on May 12, 2009, 21:20:

Problem , hard to separate the "Wheat from the Chaf". I bet at least half these posts are BSing trollers. It would be good if they could post only true cases (obviously not practical).

Yes Colombia is dangerous, but so are (most equal or worse) Venezuela, El Salvador, T&T, Guatemala, Honduras, and to a lesser extent, Mexico, Peru and Ecuador, and most of Africa, and half the big cities in the US.

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Rocco81 says on May 12, 2009, 21:34:

Yes with people actually telling the truth Ken what would we do with ourselves? haha

Sic semper tyrannis

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Ken says on May 12, 2009, 22:10:

ddludsel , Violent crime rate is high, but murder rat is low compared to Colombian cities.. Caracas is the most dangerous city in the world, and has a murder rate of about 130 per 100,000. Venezuela overall has a rate of 55 to 60, and columbia 30 to 35 per 100,000. Refer to links below, some of which are from PBH.

If you look at Darloups post on most recent crime rate sin Colombia cities, if you take the numbers for Cali, Medellin and Bogota, and divide by the metro populations of 2.8 MM, 4.0 MM and 7.0 MM respectively, you get a rate per 100,000 of around 48 for Cali, 24 for Medellin (note the slight uptick) and less than 20 for Bogota.

The second last link from the bottom gives the most recent Wikepedia data. Please be sure to read the fine print. The "murder and negligent manslaughter rate". As can be seen Las Vegas is only 9 per 100,000, Of the US cities, only Detroit approaches Cali (45) and only 3 or 4 eastern and Southern cities are over 20.

I didn't compare violent crime rates between Colombia and US (I don't know if the data is comparable), but I would guess violent crime would be as proportionately high in cities with high murder rates.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_murder_rate

http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/post/which-country-has-a-higher-crime...

http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/post/2008-statisitics-on-urban-securi...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_cities_by_crime_rate

http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/10/caracas_murder_capital_of_the.h...

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suizo says on May 13, 2009, 01:15:

Colombia is extremely dangerous, don't go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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ddluzdelsol says on May 13, 2009, 07:04:

Wow Ken! Thanx for the GREAT INFO!!
That opened up my eyes!! I thought my city was bad... just at my elementary school, we've had 3 dead bodies found in the playground in the past 5 years, not to mention the 2 in the park next door to the school. The numerous lockdowns we've had ....break-ins to the school every weekend... I don't go to my school at night.
The news has reported 5 murders in the past 3 weeks. If Las Vegas is that low on the list ??????

..... I'm still going ;)

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Ken says on May 13, 2009, 08:48:

You definitely must be living on the wrong side of the tracks ddluzdeisol

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ddluzdelsol says on May 13, 2009, 10:55:

Uh oh... seriously, I hear the "ghetto-bird" (police helicopter) flying around the school right now... (yesterday, the police shot and wounded a middle school kid for pointing a gun at the police man).. KIDS!!!!

And yeah... This side of Vegas isn't the greatest ... nowhere close to The Strip and the tourist. Tourist get run over and robbed, but they never report it in the news... that would be bad for tourism! Kind of 2 different worlds... The Strip vs the real Vegas... kind of like what I'm reading here about Colombia.

But, since Vegas is that bad, and I know about how to protect myself and keep my eyes open, how bad should I worry about my safety? (going to the coast and the interior, Ibague, Tolima). I've never been robbed at gun point or knife, but I'm thinking of sewing in a hidden pocket in my pants or bra for my valuables.

Plan for the worst and hope for the best????

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ddluzdelsol says on May 13, 2009, 14:34:

Drivers are so bad around here because everybody is from somewhere else in the world... (super-multi-cultural city)!! Everybody has a different driving technique they bring from their country and they just don't get along on the road... Plus, many tourist are drunk walking and stumbling into the busy streets...

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ddluzdelsol says on May 13, 2009, 16:39:

Probably... Las Vegas is now the most emptiest city behind Detroit. (Houses/Apt occupied vs Houses/Apt unoccupied)
The joke is.. all the illegals went back to Mexico because unemployment is so high!

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jmegna says on May 13, 2009, 22:11:

Atlanta has gotten pretty empty too.

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dwmte7 says on May 14, 2009, 03:16:

mongo....that used to be a sign coming into daytona....."64 folks a day movin here"

i guess it's your turn now. 'welcome to florida, now go home.

patriarch

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colombian louie says on May 19, 2009, 14:19:

i guess most of you have not been to new york. try walking around bronx n.y. or even brooklyn. try riding the subway any time of the day people are getting kill on this train stations.and watch your back you might even get push on to the rail tracks and get run over by the A.B.F or R trains. enough about crime in colombia come to new york and see for yourselfs. i have lived here for forty years i know what its like to lived in a big city with criminals from all over the world. atleast in colombia you know a colombian is the one one that might rob you or kill you. in new york you just dont know from what part of the world this criminals came to rob you or kill you or one of your love ones.as a matter fact i travel to colombia frequently and i feel quite safe. just like any other country just be aware of your surroundings and dont get stupid drunk,because if you do you can even get rob inside the vatican in rome ja ja ja

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