Citizens meet to fight crime in Nosara

I’ve been invited to write the blog for the redesigned website Nosara.com which is one of the first local websites and due for a big overhaul. It’s purpose is to promote Nosara as a destination and help visitors plan their trips, so I don’t expect to be bringing a lot of controversy to that site.
For instance, I won’t be writing about the meeting Wednesday night of concerned residents and Ticos looking for ways to fight a recent crime wave here. The meeting of over 50 included a nice mix of concerned Ticos and expats, well represented by businesses and landowners who feel their livelihoods threatened by crimes perpetrated by a few known locals as well as some passing through who are bolder and in some cases violent.
“I’ve been here 25 years and this is the worse I’ve seen it,” noted one U.S. expat.
Agnes reviewed various ideas that had been sent to her, including firearms training. She said she preferred a nonviolent approach, but many people, frustrated with the lack of effective law enforcement, are pursuing various forms of protection.
The meeting was animated and constructive, and frank. Some Ticos pointed to nonlocals brought in as part of construction projects, or other businesses, rather than hiring locals. In defense, one builder said it necessary to bring in outside workers because too many local workers have too much of a Pura Vida attitude.
Finger-pointing aside, after almost two hours the groups moderator, Agnes of Mango Property Management, pointed to agreement that a future meeting should invite the police chief of Liberia, as well as the fiscal, or magistrate, in Nicoya who has released the few prisoners who have managed to get themselves caught. An effort to get officers from the new Tourist Police stationed in Nosara was also endorsed.
The other idea that emerged is to start an awareness campaign and post the photos of known ladrones, or thieves, as well as a campaign against the fences who buy the stolen merchandise.
A call was made for anyone to show their hand who may know one of the aforementioned officials. That the call was unanswered may point to a problem, which is the lack of political clout held by Nosareans. That remains to be seen, but even the fuerza publica, local police, didn’t attend the meeting, although invited.
Nosara has two security companies, and there is grumbling that they haven’t been more effective, although at least one of the companies say they haven’t received enough community support through subscribers to maintain their current levels of patrols.
There has been some talk of setting up a lair for the purpose of catching a burglar red-handed. Such efforts will be successful if they have the support of the police and prosecutors.
Residents are already paying heavily for iron bars, alarms and security service, which many Ticos can’t afford. If crime is unabated, more will have to be spent. At even higher cost is potentially the feeling of tranquility that is sacrificed when strangers are met with suspicion rather than a wave and a smile.

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