Thread: Guatemala - recent tourist rrelated crime reports

From the US Dept of State website:

Recent Crime Incidents Involving Foreigners

The information contained here is based on general reporting of crime incidents in Guatemala affecting both foreign tourists and foreign residents of nationalities from outside the region. Reports of crimes on this website are drawn from a variety of sources and are not intended to be complete or a general analysis of crime in Guatemala. However, these brief descriptions provide information on the types of crimes committed against foreigners. Non-violent crimes, those not involving a weapon, and/or those not involving a substantial loss of property, are not included here. More information on current patterns and trends of crime in Guatemala is included in the Consular Information Sheet (CIS). This list is only additional information, and the CIS remains the Department of State’s definitive statement. Please also read “A Safe Trip Abroad”.

Examples of Crime Incidents Against Foreigners in 2009:
January 2009


01/30/09
Guatemala City, Zona 9: A group of American citizens were robbed by five armed individuals.
01/27/09
Chichicastenango: An American citizen had his pocket picked while in the Chichicastenango market.
01/17/09
Guatemala City: Two American citizens had valuables stolen while riding a bus.
01/16/09
Guatemala City, Zona 10: An adult male was approached by two individuals on a motorcycle while driving his vehicle. The individuals attempted to rob him of his cellular phone and shot at his vehicle when he did not turn it over.
01/16/09
Quetzaltenango: A female American citizen was robbed at gunpoint.
01/16/09
Chimaltenango: Two adult male American citizens had their pockets picked while on a bus.
01/07/09
Guatemala City: Three individuals were robbed of valuables including cash while riding on a bus by an individual claiming to be the bus driver’s assistant.
01/05/09
Atitlán: An American citizen adult male resident in Guatemala was shot at by three men after he refused to stop his pickup truck.
01/05/09
Escuintla: An American citizen female was robbed while riding on a bus from La Gomera to Siquinala.
01/02/09
Flores, Petén: Two American citizens were robbed at gunpoint while they were in a taxi outside of the Santa Elena airport.
01/01/09
Guatemala City: Three individuals were walking to their car when an unknown individual approached them and stole the purse of one of the individuals.

Source foro the above:
Recent Crime Incidents Involving Foreigners - U.S. Embassy Guatemala

For more pre-cruisse reearch on Guatemala, here's a page from the US State Deparatment that's good place to start:

Guatemala

Thanks, CM!

Wonder if any CLF members have been to Guatemala in the past year of so ....

I'm going there next week, I still haven't decided if I'm getting off the ship. That's making me lean towards staying on!

Originally Posted by packard89

I'm going there next week, I still haven't decided if I'm getting off the ship. That's making me lean towards staying on!

Bad LuLu! Actually, sort of hoping you'll get off and check it out for me!

I wonder if these attacks on tourists will go up more in the coming months as more countries have financial problems.

Originally Posted by cruisin' chick

I wonder if these attacks on tourists will go up more in the coming months as more countries have financial problems.

From what I understand Guatemala is already "dirt poor".....