Crime

It is difficult to participate in a conversation pertaining to El Salvador without someone in the mix eventually bringing up the subject of crime -- and for good reason. 

Most news about El Salvador that expatriates receive leave the impression that the country is fraught with indiscriminate and violent crime. Add to this a recently released report putting El Salvador at the top of the most violent nations on Earth. I am not going to get into debating the merits or flaws of the report, but the reality of the situation in the country is not as dire as what many outside the country might think.

Danger definitely exists, as it does in Los Angeles, my adopted home. Prudent behavior goes a long way both in San Salvador and Los Angeles. Much like I wouldn't walk around a tough neighborhood in Los Angeles wearing a thick gold chain around my neck, I don't do the same in San Salvador -- unless I wanted undesired attention.

While my example is a bit of a hyperbole, it serves to illustrate where many people go wrong. 

The behavior that keeps you safe wherever it is you call home as an expatriate will also help keep you safe in San Salvador and other places in El Salvador. Unfortunately, some people tend to forget this point when they jump on the plane taking them to El Salvador (or any other place for that matter).

Much like in major cities within the United States, violent crimes are often associated with specific areas of San Salvador or other destinations in El Salvador. And much like in Los Angeles, this fact doesn't mean the possibility of something occurring outside those areas is eliminated, it merely means the chances are reduced. To give you an example, there are many small towns in El Salvador where violent crime is completely unheard of. 

Petty theft or vandalism is a different story, which brings me to another important point. Violent crime may be concentrated in specific neighborhoods, but petty crimes aren't, and this is something that is quite a bit different than what you may be accustomed to in your current place of residence.

For example, in Los Angeles, the chances of me running into an armed mugger on the streets of a decent neighborhood are pretty slim. Even in tough neighborhoods, it is not common place. This is not to say that muggings do not occur. My point is merely that they usually do not take place within such threatening context like that posed by someone pointing a gun at you.

In San Salvador, one can never be too careful about this point. The best advice I can give you is to be vigilant. Do not flaunt cash, jewelry or other valuables. If you think someone is following you, the safer assumption would be to assume that they are, in which case, go into a store or other place where others are nearby. 

Likewise, be vigilant of vehicles that pass by you. There are known cases of people reaching out of car/bus windows to grab at things you might be wearing, such as a hat, sunglasses or your camera, if you decide to hang it from your neck -- which you shouldn't be doing in most places. Again, being prudent goes a long way. Personally, I don't carry much more than a few dollars, my DUI (identification), my mobile phone and sometimes a credit card.

Should you find yourself in need of emergency services -- fire, medical or police -- call 911, like you would in the US or Canada. 

Aside from the small villages I mentioned earlier, there are also a number of places that you can visit within San Salvador, and El Salvador in general, with similar levels of safety that you would find in your home. 

I'll discuss some of the more popular places in a future post.