Comments on: Street crime in Buenos Aires

By: Pickpocket statistics | Thiefhunters in Paradise

Pickpocket statistics | Thiefhunters in Paradise — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:27:00 +0000

[...] from her shoulder on the street. …It’s slit with a razor in broad daylight. …A gold chain is yanked from your neck. …A backpack is taken from an airport luggage cart. …A briefcase from the ground [...]

By: Anon

Anon — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 05:08:36 +0000

We travelled in BA and a man vomited everywhere on the subway train. We tried to help and got our laptop stolen in the process. We are street wise New Yorkers and did all the precautionary things you should do, with the laptop strapped to my partner’s body at the front, not left unattended,arm over the side of the bag, we’ve ridden the subway in NY our whole lives etc. but the scam was a low life one as the guy was really, really ‘genuinely’ throwing up. Police very helpful though.

By: Colton Brisk

Colton Brisk — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 07:30:03 +0000

Don’t forget to hit el ateneo. BTW someone who posted here is dead wrong… you hear English everywhere in BUE.The police (such as they are) will of extremely little if any help to you, except for insurance purposes. Guys, watch out for Argentine women. There’s lots and lots of handguns and submachine guns here (nice and cheap too), some food for thought

By: Colton Brisk

Colton Brisk — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 07:24:29 +0000

BsAs….No city like it. I benn to 4 continents, cities i’ve walked include BUE NYC, Seoul, DF, Montreal,…They’re all different but they’re all the same. Show people that you’re stupid and I promise bad things will happen to you anywhere. While you in ARG, get out and see the country, sip some mate’ in one of the provincial towns with the locals, Have some asado, Jump south to Patagonia, do this stuff. BA is a great town, but there’s alot more to Argentina. And the Argentines. !Argentinos ,esto gringo te queiro mucho!

By: Bambi

Bambi — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 02:22:45 +0000

Good point, Holly. The “mustard trick,” which I call “the pigeon poop ploy” when perpetrated in Barcelona, and is sometimes called “the condiment caper” in New York, happens in many big cities. It’s said to originate in South America, and police photos of perps seem to bear that out.

By: Holly

Holly — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 21:56:21 +0000

I lived in Buenos Aires for five years and while I won’t go so far as to say it’s 100% safe, nothing ever happened to me while I lived there.

The mustard trick happens to locals too. A person who worked with me came into the office covered with it after being sprayed just two blocks away.

The police, as in many areas, are usually working with the thieves, so it’s of no use to go to them. It’s just a waste of time.

If you’re a paranoid traveler, then avoid Buenos Aires and any major city anywhere, even in the US. Stick to small towns. But if not, take the usual travel precautions and you should be fine.

By: David

David — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 08:42:49 +0000

Robberies are the most popular sport and way to get easy money in Buenos Aires Capital City. The robbery at Banco Provincia is just part of daily life here, and of course the city government turns a blind eye on everybody and spends public funds on new park benches, tourist attractions and the like, Here’s some video footage from a robbery at my candy store that took place back in July 2010. Nice and quick and well planned as you can see, after reporting it to the police and almost every other store on our block being held up at gunpoint, of course we still NEVER see a police officer around here. The mayor, Mauricio Macri, just had a lovely wedding and loves to blame the president for everything that happens in the country, however he is the one in charge of the police, but of course does nothing to protect the people…….NOW YOU KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN BUENOS AIRES, CAPITAL FEDERAL!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ypn-gjCETr4

By: REX

REX — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 02:13:39 +0000

Talking about thieves:
ORLANDO, Fla — A local man wants to warn others about carport break-ins, and he’s pleading for help after thieves took off with his dog and thousands of dollars in electronics and jewelry.
Miguel Taveras walked around his neighborhood Saturday, hanging up signs on telephone poles. He’s offering a reward for anyone who brings his dog Bronx, home.
He said someone broke into his house Wednesday, took his 3-month-old American bulldog, along with two televisions, two play stations, three laptops and expensive diamonds and pearls.
He said in broad daylight they broke down the back door to get inside.
He said police told him burglaries in College Park are a problem and the thieves are targeting homes with hidden carports like his.
His carport doesn’t face the road and it’s hidden with shrubbery.
“The only thing we care about is our dog, Bronx. That’s all we want back,” Taveras said.
A few weeks ago, the same thing happened to another homeowner down the road who also has a carport.
A spokesperson with the Orlando Police Department said they can’t pull reports on the weekend.

By: BLD

BLD — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 00:44:20 +0000

Just got back from Buenos Aires and got my purse picked the first night right outside the Marriott. The management at the Marriott was cavalier and shrigged ..oh that’s Buenos Aires …certainly not a way to encourage future tourism. We r experienced travelers but they went though zipped purse, zipped wallet hooked inside purse with loop keychain. on another trip a friends wife was knocked down and her watch stolen by perps who zoomed off on a motorcycle.

By: James

James — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 07:09:14 +0000

I have spent two months in Buenos Aires; one month in 2008 and one month this past summer. I think I walked 100 miles in the city, a lot of it on and around Calle Florida. I did not witness any crimes nor did I ever feel threatened. I did not carry a wallet nor wear a watch. I kept my small camera in my pocket. I didn’t wear Disneyland tee shirts. I did have a backpack, which I held on my chest when I was in the crowded Subte (subway).Yes, there is crime there, as in any big city. St. Louis was just named as the most dangerous city in the U.S. Will I continue to visit Buenos Aires, one of the most amazing cities in S.America? You bet…

By: Porteno Lover

Porteno Lover — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 12:48:06 +0000

I lived in Buenos Aires from 2006 – 2008 and was never a victim of crime because I was “street smart” and never wore flashy jewelry, “dressed the part”, and never acted as a dumb tourist. BA is a fabulous city and like every other large city, there are problems and places to avoid. Saying that, however, I have seen purses stolen from people walking on the street, but BA can’t be beat as it’s one of my favorite cities in the world.

By: Ray

Ray — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 15:32:57 +0000

Some of the posts are ridiculous. If you think BA is dangerous, then avoid Sao Paulo and Mexico City which have far higher criminality. In fact, avoid Caracas, Lima, Rio de Janeiro, pretty much all of Latin America. While you are at it, avoid Cape Town, Bombay, Delhi, and huge swathes of Africa and Asia. Turn on the news in Miami or New York and every day a fast food restaurant is being held up, there is a home invasion, or some tourist was mugged. A message for Ian, please avoid Argentina and Latin America entirely. People like you the region can do without. I previously lived in and have been traveling regularly to Argentina for the past ten years and have never had any problems. Those posts that recommend dressing down, or as my father used to say, keeping a low profile are spot on. You Euros somehow think that everything is better and safer in the old world. I witnessed street crime in Zurich (the man robbed someone and escaped on a bicycle) and Madrid. This is a GLOBAL problem. Governments need to take more action and in some countries empower law enforcement and give them the tools to fight this scourge. However, the recent crisis created more poverty, and hence more criminality. The world needs more enducation and more jobs to put a dent in this problem.

By: Benedikte

Benedikte — Sat, 08 May 2010 18:02:12 +0000

I just returned from Buenos Aires- was waiting for a taxi outside the apartment I had been renting – the taxi was late- I had two big suitcases filled with instruments and a bagpack with passport, green card, airplane ticket, money, computer etc. A person came up and asked if I needed a hotel – I said no- that was a distraction- somebody stole my bagpack while I answered – the police did not want to come and help- nobody on the street was hepful – I warn everyone that goes to Buenos Aires to keep everything on your body in pockets- not in bags or visible- do not talk to anyone you do not know- do not look like a tourist in any way- a very disappointing experience with consequenses- I had to wait for several days for letter of transportation at the US Embassy and I also had to get a passport on the Danish embassy. And get a new airplane ticket. Not a great experience.

By: Ian

Ian — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 06:21:59 +0000

I am a frequent traveller to Latin America and I often advise friends to avoid Buenos Aires. My advice to travelers in Buenos Aires is to dress down and take safe taxis while avoiding walking if possible unless it is in a very upscale part. I personally choose to carry a knife and a collapsable truncheon whenever I do have to walk there. I’ve lost track of how many street crimes I have witnessed. Aside from cheap leather goods, there is little of interest in this city as it is an impoverished graffiti filled shabby imitation of a European city. If Buenos Aires were a woman then she would be one of those typical middle aged Argentines with the cheap peroxide blonde hair, she is desperately trying to look young and European while fooling no one. Buenos Aires offers nothing you can’t find elsewhere. If observing and studying street crime is your hobby then is is a great destination.

By: Barry Carr

Barry Carr — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:15:17 +0000

I’ve got to agree with John. Handing over your money is feeding the hand that bites you. My experience, even here in the U.S. is that streets are safest when citizens are willing and prepared to defend themselves. It isn’t pretty, but it is the truth.