'Security of Americans in Uruguay?' Expat

Security of Americans in Uruguay?

What is the real story?

What are the real dangers?

Where are the safe places?

How much risk is there for expats?

Regular protests, some with an Anti-American flavor, take place outside Congress, City Hall and the “University of the Republic.” U.S. citizens visiting or residing in Uruguay are advised to take common-sense precautions and avoid any large gatherings or any other event where crowds have congregated to demonstrate or protest. If travelers encounter a protest they should walk the other way or enter a commercial establishment until the protest passes. Taking pictures of protesters is not a good idea.

Montevideo is facing a wave of petty street crime that is largely non-violent. T ravelers should exercise reasonable caution to minimize their exposure to crime. Criminals prey on the unaware, particularly those carrying cameras, pocketbooks, laptops, or backpacks. Travelers are advised to lock most valuables in secure hotel safes and to avoid carrying excess credit cards and cash. If dining at an outdoor restaurant, be very careful with pocketbooks or bags. While parts of “Ciudad Vieja” are popular tourist attractions, the only sections of Ciudad Vieja with continual police patrols are Plaza Independencia, the pedestrian street Sarandi, and the Mercado del Puerto. Muggings are common in other parts of Ciudad Vieja - particularly for travelers walking alone, or couples walking at night. A smart alternative is to call for a taxi for evening travel between restaurants, bars, and hotels.

Victims are usually foreign tourists, individuals openly carrying valuable items, and motorists in unlocked vehicles stopped at busy intersections, particularly on Montevideo's riverfront road known as the Rambla. Drivers should keep all car doors locked, the driver's window open only one inch, and purses, bags, briefcases and other valuables out of sight on the floor or in the trunk. Parked cars, particularly in the Carrasco neighborhood, are also increasingly targeted for break-ins. During the summer months (December-March), beach resort areas such as Punta del Este attract tourists, and petty street crimes and residential burglaries--similar to those that occur in Montevideo--rise significantly. Visitors are advised to exercise common sense in the conduct of their activities around Montevideo and in Uruguayan resort areas. They should be very attentive to personal security and their surroundings in the aforementioned areas.

Uruguayan law enforcement authorities have increased the number of uniformed policemen on foot in areas where criminal activity is concentrated and the number of patrol cars in residential areas. The clearly marked patrol cars are equipped with cellular phones and the phone numbers are conspicuously painted on the vehicles.

• travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1054.html

I have never seen that.

"Victims are usually foreign tourists, individuals openly carrying valuable items, and motorists in unlocked vehicles stopped at busy intersections, particularly on Montevideo's riverfront road known as the Rambla."

I live on the Rambla and have never seen or feared such a thing.

"Drivers should keep all car doors locked, the driver's window open only one inch"

I wonder if Bush did that?

--

Having traveled and lived in various places of South and Central America, including Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Costa Rica, Panama, Uruguay, Costa Rica is the only place that I ever felt threatened or was ever robbed or harmed.

What they don't understand is that the world is the same all over. A large city is a large city with all the robberies, murders, etc. that you will find in any large city in the world. If they would only practice caution and common sense they would not find themselves in the trouble that they do find at this time.

It's a shame that paradise doesn't really exist even though people want to believe that it does. This is definitely to their detriment.

Most of my neighbours and/or their ancestors came here because they didn't like what was going down in their former home countries... just like most residents of the USA.

Patrick.

Also, try to check your government travel agency for any travel bulletin for fresh news from foreign country.

I have been living here almost a year and have been mugged twice, once in Ciudad Vieja and once in a more upmarket area of Parque Rodo. I have also met MANY people - men, women, Uruguayans, foreigners, young and old, big and small who have also experience theft in the street.

These are not make-believe stories of obnoxious tourists with floral shirts and huge cameras around their necks, these are stories of ordinary people (with quite a bit of knowledge about Montevideo) who have been unlucky because of the lack of street security in many areas.

Crime in Montevideo is rarely if EVER violent, in that sense you are very safe. But living here (in most normal areas...Pocitos, Buceo, Punta Carretas are a bit different, although not immune) you will lose a certain degree of your liberties to wander alone in the evenings or walk with an i-pod and zone out etc.

Like has been said, it is important to be informed and aware, taking these stories in to account is part of informing yourself. Simply being "aware" of the problem doesn't make it go away.

It appears that in general North Americans are not a larger target than locals for crime.

Maybe the key to it all what you said about wearing an ipod and zoning out.

Can you be safe anywhere you are not aware of your surroundings?

However with regards to safety and security in general Uruguay is quite safe (for South American standards). There is very little if any violent crime, but pretty crime and burglary is common (hence why you'll see bars on the windows). What bothers me in security in the streets, there are many areas where you should not walk alone at night, and it is advisable to keep your wits about you when walking alone.

I am not saying this to scare or alarm people, it is NOT dangerous, but the liberties we can take for granted at home may not be present here. For example I spoke about being about to walk with my ipod and it was suggested that is foolish. In all the places I have lived in in Ireland, Hungary and the US I was able to take a walk in the evening listening to my ipod and not worry about someone following me. Here I can only really walk on the rambla if I want to listen to music.

living here is paradise after rio, we still dont walk through parks at nite (wouldnt in the uk), but after rio - this is an easy and safe place to live - the only time i feel nervous is when in some crazy taxi :)

that said i have never been robbed anywhere and i was in some sticky places in san jose, but i would reccommend montevideo to almost anyone - if you were to bring up kids and had a choice of countries in the region you couldnt go much wrong.

just my opinion after 3 months here.

jonathanmvd

There are MANY streets in Palermo, Barrio Sur, Centro, Cordon, Tres Cruces and especially Ciudad Vieja where many people feel very threatened in the evening times (and in Ciudad Vieja even at the weekends when it becomes a ghost town).

I'm really happy to hear that you like Montevideo, it is a lovely place, but there is a problem with drugs and street security in many areas and I say this not to overreact but so that people are aware. Not everyone can afford to live in Pocitos so they should know what the other barrios are like too. I don't think street security would have been such a big part of the Nacional party's electoral campaign if it wasn't an issue.

if people are looking for eutopia, they wont find it anywhere (if someone does though please contact me)....to have a thread commenting on every little incident in mvd doesnt help anyone in terms of advice. i appreciate i live in a better area than the ones you mentioned, but as with anywhere in the world these days people still have to use their common sense - if they dont do that, replace montevideo with any place in the world as it will all ring true

jonathanmvd

You see a protest in Uruguay and you feel unsafe? Perhaps you can note that protest in Uruguay are NEVER VIOLENT. Every protest is autorized by a police regulation office and even rival groups sometimes face each other without problem. You will not see that in any other country of the world except in some parts of Europe. You see a protest against some of the American wars? You american? Donīt be afraid! This is A DEMOCRACY. Just go to protesters, ask questions about why they think America is wrong on that specific war. Even tell you are AMERICAN. Nobody willc all you "gringo", "f..n yankee" or nothing like this. Make the proof yourself. Donīt forget that this country is one of the most cult countries in all America, yes, USA included. 100% alphabetization, free University, and every kid gets a free net book wen 6 years old from the government.

Goverment is leftist but nothing to do with Chavez man. Is more like Zapatero in Spain or Bachelet in Chile. You will feel in Uruguay more like in a small and not of the richest european countries rather than a typical latin american country. If you donīt know that truth, you never been here.

Of course you canīt be around with a 5, 000 high definition camera without a risk... right? But if every kid has a netbook and hold it everywere (PLAN CEIBAL) and nobody stole it, this tell you something about our security standards right? Americans: come and enjoy this country you will feel very safe and i bet (as my boss) you will love to come back over and over again and perhaps retire here. ;)

The fact that Uruguay is a very cultural place and that there is a high literacy rate doesn't mean it is free from crime. For a capital city yes it is safe as capital cities go. There is very very little violent crime, however there is a lot of theft and that is important for people to be aware of.

I never said Uruguay was dangerous, but I feel I am one of the few who warns of the dangers because I think that if EVERYONE is singing the city's praises and saying how perfect and wonderful it is then people are going to be misled and may find themselves in situations they could have otherwise avoided.

Just take a look at Mexico. Sometimes I look forward (of course I wonīt be around), but say in 50 years or 100. Caos!

Have a cold beer!

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