Car rental Venezuela - Crime

Book car rentals in Venezuela now!

Crime

CRIME: Caracas and other major cities in Venezuela are designated by the State Department as high-threat areas for crime. Most crimes are committed against persons on the streets and are usually money-oriented crimes. Incidents occur during daylight hours as well as at night. Jewelry, particularly gold-colored, attracts the attention of thieves. Travelers are advised to leave all such jewelry items, especially expensive-looking wristwatches, at home.

Maiquetia Airport, the international airport serving Caracas, is dangerous. Because of the frequency of robberies at gunpoint, travelers are encouraged, if at all possible, to arrive during daylight hours. If it is not possible to arrive during the day, travelers should use extra care both within and outside of the airport. There have been a number of incidents of robbery at Maiquetia Airport. All arriving passengers are urged to make advance plans for transportation from the airport to their place of lodging. If possible, travelers should arrange to be picked up at the airport by someone who is known to them.

There have been incidents where robbers posing as taxi drivers have presented official-looking credentials to travelers and then robbed the travelers during the taxi ride. There is no foolproof method of knowing whether a taxi driver at the airport is reliable. It is no longer possible to rely on the fact that a taxi driver presents a credential or drives an automobile with official taxi license plates marked "libre." If a traveler must take a taxicab from the airport, the line of taxicabs operated by "Anfitriones de Venezuela" appears to be the safest choice. These cabs are all black Ford Explorers with yellow identification signs on the doors. Passengers may purchase prepaid tickets for the "Anfitriones" taxis at kiosks within the airport terminal. The Department of State is unaware of any robberies perpetrated by drivers of these cabs against their passengers. Travelers arriving late at night, after the black "Anfitriones" cabs have left the airport, should call a 24-hour radio-dispatched taxi service from a public phone in the airport lobby or ask the airline representatives to contact a licensed cab company.

Incidents of taxi drivers in Caracas overcharging, robbing and injuring passengers are common. Travelers should take care to use radio-dispatched taxis or those from reputable hotels. Travelers should call a 24-hour radio-dispatched taxi service from a public phone lobby or ask hotel, restaurant, or airline representatives to contact a licensed cab company for them.

Visitors should note that public phones in Venezuela do not accept coins and that they will need to purchase a phone card from newsstands or kiosks.

Pickpockets concentrate in and around crowded bus and subway stations in downtown Caracas. The poor neighborhoods that cover the hills around Caracas and isolated urban parks can be very dangerous. These areas are seldom patrolled by police and should be avoided.

Many criminals are armed with guns or knives and will use force. Theft from hotel rooms and safe deposit boxes is increasing, and theft of unattended valuables on the beach and from rental cars parked near isolated areas or on city streets is a common occurrence. A guarded garage or locked trunk is not always a guarantee against theft. Subway escalators are favored sites for "bump and rob" petty thefts by roving bands of young criminals, many of whom are well dressed to allay suspicion and to blend in with crowds using the subways during rush hour. Armed robberies are common in urban and tourist areas, particularly in Caracas and Maracaibo. Criminal violence is on the rise. American citizens have been harassed, severely beaten or murdered during robberies. Travelers should exercise caution in displaying money and valuables. Four-wheel drive vehicles have been targeted for carjacking in the Caracas and Maracaibo metropolitan areas.

The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. U.S. citizens may refer to the Department of State's pamphlet, A Safe Trip Abroad, for ways to promote a more trouble-free journey. The pamphlet is available by mail from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402; via the Internet at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su docs; or via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov.