Crime and Public Safety

June 2007

06/16/07

Agua Volcano, Sacatepequez: Two men armed with machetes stole an American’s backpack and money, while he was climbing on the volcano.

06/08/07

Guatemala City, Zone 10: As an adult American was leaving her place of work, armed men attempted to force her into a vehicle. The victim fought back, and escaped unharmed.

06/08/07

Guatemala City, Zone 1: An American tourist was murdered just outside of the Central Market (Mercado Central) around 1 p.m. Earlier, the victim went to the Banco Industrial bank in Zone 4 of Guatemala City and withdrew a large sum of cash. The cash was still in her possession, when she and other family members were standing outside the Central Market in Zone 1. She was held up at gunpoint, resisted, and was shot to death.

06/01/07

Quetzaltenango: A long-term foreign resident was murdered at her home along with her husband.

May 2007

05/22/07

Tikal, Petén: Six foreign tourists (including 4 Americans) were assaulted by four men with guns and ski masks. The tourists, along with a local driver and two guides, were in a microbus at Km. 41 of the road heading from Flores to Tikal, when the assailants forced the vehicle to stop and stole cameras and other personal belongings. No one was injured.

05/14/07

Guatemala City, Zone 1: An American was held up at gunpoint at a traffic intersection, shortly after arriving at Guatemala City’s airport. Money, a U.S. passport, and other belongings were stolen.

05/10/07

Santiago Atitlán, Sololá: Four Americans were robbed at gunpoint appx. 5 Km. outside of Santiago, while driving towards San Pedro. Two robbers jumped out of the bushes, fired guns in the air, and demanded money, phones, and cameras. No one was injured.

April 2007

04/16/07

Guatemala City, Zone 9: An American withdrew money from a bank in Zone 4 (Banco Industrial) of Guatemala City. She and another foreigner were driving away from the bank, when they were forced to stop in Zone 9 by four men riding two motorcycles. The men pulled out guns and demanded money, and knew that the bulk of the money was in the victim’s backpack. The victim gave up the money, and was not harmed.

04/03/07

Asunción Mita, Jutiapa: An American resident of Guatemala was driving on a dirt road, with two local friends. They saw eight men wearing ski masks and carrying guns, so tried to turn around. The assailants fired into the back of the car, killing the American, at Km. 149 Balneario San Juan, Asunción Mita, Jutiapa.

March 2007

03/24/07

Acatenango Volcano, Sacatepequez: While hiking up the volcano at night on an organized tour, a group of 7 (including at least 2 Americans) was robbed by three men armed with guns.

03/22/07

Guatemala City, Zone 11: Around 11:30 pm, five Americans driving in two separate cars were forced to stop by armed men driving a Volkswagen Jetta and wearing ski masks. The victims believe they were followed from the shopping center Miraflores around 11:30 pm. After the Americans were forced to stop, the gunmen said they wanted one of the vehicles and to kidnap the two females. They stole possessions, including the victims’ U.S. driver’s licenses and credit cards, but did not attempt to kidnap them and did not take the cars.

03/15/07

Guatemala City, Zone 6: Three American medical volunteers were at a patient’s home, when five men with firearms entered the home and stole money and medicine.

February 2007

02/22/07

Guatemala City, Zone 13: Two Americans were carjacked shortly after leaving the airport around 10:00 pm. The gunmen stole money, credit cards, and identification. The victims’ vehicle was later recovered.

02/14/07

Guatemala City, Zone 10: An American and two Guatemalans were carjacked around 11:15 p.m. while en route from the airport to a hotel in Zone 10. While driving down a one-way street, a car in the lane next to the victims suddenly pulled in front of them, forcing their car to stop. Two men with handguns got out of the car, told the victims to get out of their car, and demanded money. The carjackers then got into the victims’ car and pushed the American inside, possibly in an attempt to abduct him. The American escaped from the car right away, but the car, including its contents (American’s luggage and money) was stolen.

January 2007

01/27/07

Mixco, Guatemala: An American was assaulted at a car wash in the San Cristobal area of Mixco, while dropping off his car. The assailants attacked him with knives and hammers and stole keys to his car and house, along with his passport, cash, and credit cards.

01/25/07

Valle Nuevo, Jutiapa: An American long-time resident of El Salvador was shot to death shortly after crossing the border from El Salvador to Guatemala.

01/17/07

Antigua, Sacatepequez: A group of Americans were hiking in Cerro De La Cruz (by the giant cross overlooking Antigua) when two men bearing guns and machetes robbed them of all their possessions.

01/11/07

Colomba, Quetzaltenango: A group of eight American volunteers traveling in a microbus were stopped by two armed men wearing ski masks. Cameras, cellphones, and money were stolen.

December 2006

12/31/06

Agua Volcano, Sacatepequez: While descending the volcano, five Americans were robbed by machete-wielding bandits wearing hoods. Passports and personal belongings were stolen.

12/31/06

Guatemala City, Zone 8: Two Americans were robbed at gun point at an intersection in Zone 8 while driving to a family member's residence after having arrived at the airport on a flight from the U.S.

12/20/06

Sajbina, Sololá: Four Americans (2 residents and 2 tourists) were on their way to deliver donations, when their vehicle was stopped in the remote area of Finca Sajbina by 5 or 6 men wearing ski masks and carrying machine guns. The assailants stole the donations, along with a camera, watch, and money. Even though the victims did not resist, the criminals shot the vehicle multiple times. No one was injured.

12/18/06

Champerico, Retalhuleu: An American’s passport and personal effects were stolen by a group of criminals who broke into his mother's house.

12/16/06

Quetzaltenango: An American student went to a restaurant with a member of her host family, and woke up the next morning having been sexually assaulted, but with no recollection of what happened. The man may have put drugs in her drink.

12/12/06

Guatemala City, Zone 13: An American was robbed at gunpoint while entering the driveway of a family member's house after arriving from the airport. Four armed individuals took everything from the car including passport, computer and personal effects.

12/01/06

Guatemala City, Zone 10: The passport and personal effects of an American were stolen at gunpoint while he was driving.

November 2006

11/13/06

Guatemala City, Zone 9: An American businessman was in a taxi from the airport to his hotel. While the taxi stopped for gas, the American was approached by two men with pistols, who robbed him of cash, credit cards, and other belongings.

11/11/06

Chimaltenango: All occupants of a public bus were robbed at gunpoint. One of those victims was an American. His passport and personal belongings were stolen.

11/08/06

Guatemala City, Zone 9: An American who arrived on a flight from the U.S. around 11 p.m. was picked up at Guatemala City’s airport by his Guatemalan brother. About ten minutes drive from the airport, three masked gunmen pulled up in front of them in a white 4-door Toyota. The gunmen then stole the victims’ car and belongings, including a U.S. passport and luggage.

11/07/06

Km. 32 of Carretera a El Salvador: Around 7:30 p.m. an American and two Central Americans were driving on a dirt road detour off Km. 32, when they were stopped by one pickup truck in front of their vehicle and one in back. Gunmen exited the trucks, fired warning shots in the air, and held a gun to the driver’s head while they stole laptops, cameras, a wedding ring, cell phones, and money.

11/02/06

San Marcos, San Marcos: While an American was riding alone in a taxi, the driver attempted to rape her and stole her purse.

October 2006

10/27/06

Guatemala City, Km. 26 of Carretera a El Salvador: An American resident of Guatemala was carjacked by three men with guns. They stole the car and a briefcase containing the victim’s checks and passport. The car was recovered a short distance away.

10/23/06

Guatemala City, Zone 7: An American and her13 year old daughter were carjacked by two armed men. The woman escaped immediately, but the girl was driven to zone 5, then released unharmed.

10/17/06

Guatemala City, Zone 6: A 16 year old American (long time resident) was found shot to death in the neighborhood where he lived.

10/16/06

Guatemala City, Zone 7: During morning rush hour, gunmen surrounded the car of an American and stole a laptop, passport, and other belongings.

10/10/06

Guatemala City, Zone 15: Around 10:30 p.m. an American was driving in Zone 15 (coming from the airport), when an SUV with 2 men waving handguns attempted to force her to pull over, but did not succeed.

10/08/06

Guatemala City: After arriving at Guatemala City’s airport, an American was carjacked about 10 minutes away from the airport. He was forced off the road, then his car and luggage were stolen.

September 2006

09/19/06

Lake Atitlán, Sololá: Two Americans were robbed while driving along the back roads on the East side of Lake Atitlán.

09/15/06

Guatemala City, Zone 12: Electronics and passports belonging to two Americans were stolen from their Guatemalan father’s home. No one was home during the home invasion/robbery.

09/12/06

Guatemala City, Zone 15: A foreign tourist landed at La Aurora airport around 1:00 a.m. and was picked up by a friend in a private vehicle. As they were driving on Vista Hermosa Boulevard, a 1992 Toyota Tercel forced them off the road. The attackers punched the tourist in the face and stole the vehicle, including the suitcases, laptop computer, money and documents which it contained. The stolen vehicle was recovered, but not its contents.

09/05/06

Guatemala City, Zone 6: A 14 year old American resident of Guatemala, along with her mother, stepfather, and two brothers (all Guatemalan), were found murdered close to the road Calzada La Paz.

August 2006

08/15/06

Patulul, Suchitepequez: An American tourist and four Guatemalans were driving in a sedan from Cocales to San Lucas Tolimán around 3:00 pm. When they reached Km. 168 and had to slow down because of speed bumps, three men wearing ski masks and armed with guns forced them to stop. The thieves stole a diamond ring, wedding ring and other jewelry, digital camera, money, and U.S. passport. As the victims were driving away, the thieves shot at their car, causing five bullet holes. No one was injured.

08/08/06

Guatemala City, Zone 5: An American visiting family members in Guatemala was shot to death by a man on a motorcycle, as the American and several Guatemalan family members were on their way to the airport in a taxi. No one else was physically harmed, and nothing was stolen.

July 2006

07/14/06

Quezada, Jutiapa: A 14 year old American tourist was kidnapped from a relative’s house by three armed men. The kidnappers entered the home around 9:00 pm, by following the father in as he was entering the garage, before the door had time to close. The boy was released unharmed on July 20, after his family paid a ransom.

07/14/06

Guatemala City, Zone 11: Two American women were driving when gunmen approached the car and demanded their purses.

07/06/06

Guatemala City, Zone 13: An American family of tourists was carjacked on the road departing La Aurora airport.

07/05/06

Antigua, Sacatepequez: An American woman was robbed at gunpoint.

07/02/06

Guatemala City, Zone 7: An American was picked up in an old sedan by a Guatemalan relative at La Aurora airport around 7:00 am. When they were stopped at a stoplight on Calzada Mateo Flores, approximately 20 minutes from the airport, armed men approached the car and told the passengers to get out. In addition to stealing the car, the thieves took the luggage, laptop, and U.S. passport. The car, but not any contents, was later recovered.

June 2006

06/29/06

Puerto Barrios, Izabal: While driving in a pickup, an American woman resident in Puerto Barrios was shot to death by armed gunmen on motorcycles. Her Guatemalan bodyguard was also murdered. Her five year old American son was in the vehicle at the time, but received only minor injuries.

06/25/06

Guatemala City, Zone 13: An American and two Guatemalan family members were departing the La Aurora airport, when their car and its contents were stolen by armed men. No one was injured.

06/24/06

Mazatenango, Suchitepequez: An American woman and her Guatemalan husband, both residing in Mazatenango, were shot to death outside their house, by two armed men on motorcycles.

06/22/06

Guatemala City, Zone 13: An American was walking on Avenida las Americas, near the Crown Plaza Hotel, when two armed men stole his laptop, credit cards, jewelry, and U.S. passport.

06/21/06

Guatemala City, Zone 15: All passengers on a public bus, including five Americans, were robbed by armed men around Km. 13 of the Carretera al Salvador.

06/20/06

Santa Cruz, El Quiché: A twenty-year old American resident was reported abducted from her school. She was released unharmed three days later in Solola, without any ransom payment.

06/19/06

Guatemala City, Zone 13: An American was picked up by two Guatemalan friends at La Aurora airport around 7:00 a.m., in their SUV. As they were waiting in traffic at a busy intersection, shortly after leaving the airport, two men with guns approached the vehicle and said, in English, “Give me everything you’ve got”. A laptop, luggage, cash, and U.S. passport were stolen. No one was injured.

06/18/06

Guatemala City, Zone 14: An American family’s house was broken into by men armed with guns, who tied up the family while they stole electronics and U.S. passports. No one was injured.

06/17/06

Guatemala City, Zone 13: A family of three Americans was picked up at La Aurora airport around 7:00 am by two Guatemalan family members, in their SUV. The vehicle was stopped by armed men, near the acqueduct on the road leaving the airport. The thieves stole the vehicle and all contents. No one was injured.

06/07/06

Guatemala City, Zone 13: At about 7 am, an American couple was carjacked while leaving the Guatemala City airport. Just after the aqueduct, a car stopped in front of the victims’ car and armed men got out. They stole the victim’s car, luggage, and belongings, including their U.S. passports.

06/06/06

Guatemala City, Zone 15: At 11:45 am, an American woman and her American child were driving in Vista Hermosa. Armed men approached the car and told the woman to get out. She got her child out of the car, and the men stole the car.

06/03/06

Quetzaltenango: At about 1 am, an American woman and her foreign companion were abducted. Several armed men forced them into a vehicle, drove them to a house, robbed the couple, and raped the American woman.

06/02/06

Guatemala City, Zone 13: At about 10 am, an American woman departed the Guatemala City airport in a car with several other people. Just outside the airport, near the aqueduct, armed men approached the car on foot. They told everyone to get out of the car and stole the vehicle, including luggage and the woman’s U.S. passport.

May 2006

05/18/06

Guatemala City, Zone 9: A foreign man was shot in the foot during a robbery near the Marriot Hotel parking lot on 14 Calle, close to the POLITUR booth. The robbery took place in the afternoon.

05/04/06

San Lucas Tolimán, Sololá: At about 5 pm, 3 American citizens were assaulted while driving a minibus on RN-11 between Cocales and San Lucas Tolimán. A pickup truck carrying 4 armed men forced the Americans to stop. The armed men said they were police, entered the shuttle bus, and drove it to a secluded area off the highway. The men robbed the Americans of their valuables, tied them up, instructed them not to move until after it got dark, and appeared to leave the scene. A short while later, the Americans attempted to untie themselves and one of the armed men reappeared and hit them, though no one was seriously injured. Later that evening, the Americans successfully untied themselves and sought help.

05/03/06

Guatemala City, Zone 10 or 15: At about 9:30 or 10:00 pm, a foreigner was driving from Zone 15 to Zone 10. While stopped at an intersection, he noticed two motorcycles, one carrying two men stopped next to his car, and another immediately behind his car. One of the motorcycle riders pulled out a semi-automatic weapon. The foreigner created maneuver space by bumping the motorcycle behind him and the car and front and sped away avoiding a potential carjacking.

April 2006

04/22/06

Guatemala City, Zone 11: At 11:45 am, an American tourist was robbed at gunpoint after using an ATM adjacent to the Tikal Futura Hotel. She was not injured, but her passport and wallet were stolen.

04/20/06

Guatemala City, Zone 11: At about 7 pm, an American man visiting family in Guatemala was shot and seriously wounded in an attempted home invasion robbery. When armed men approached the house where the American man was staying, he shut the door to the house and he was shot through the door. The American man spent one day at a hospital in Guatemala City, and then was flown to the U.S. by air ambulance for surgery and treatment.

04/16/06

Antigua, Sacatepéquez: At about 10 pm, a group of American high school students was robbed at gunpoint while walking down a main street. Two students had their passports stolen.

04/11/06

Aldea Sanjón, Momostenango, Totonicapán: At 12:20 pm, five foreign tourists and their local driver and guide were assaulted at km 215 of CA-1 while driving in a minibus between the La Mesilla border crossing and the city of Quetzaltenango. A black pick-up truck carrying six armed men intentionally crashed into the minibus and forced it to stop. One of the men took control of the minibus and drove it off the highway into a wooded area. The victims were threatened with the guns, robbed of all their possessions, and tied up and left in the forest.

04/09/06 to 04/16/06

Antigua, Sacatepéquez: During the Semana Santa holiday week, at least 12 U.S. passports were stolen in Antigua. A total of 47 foreign tourists were victims of crimes in Antigua that week, including 7 who were victims of armed robberies.

04/07/06

Guatemala City, Zone 5: Around 1:45 pm, a twelve year old American girl was kidnapped. She was walking to a fast food restaurant close to her home, when two unknown men forced her into a car. The girl was able to escape from the vehicle when it was stopped in traffic. She ran to safety and was unharmed.

04/05/06

Guatemala City, Zone 1: At 7:30 am, two men posing as cleaners knocked on the hotel room door of a foreign tourist staying in Zone 1. She opened the door and then one of the men burst into the room, grabbed her, and covered her mouth. The victim was then raped and robbed of her belongings. The men bound and gagged her before fleeing. The woman escaped about an hour later.

04/04/06

Antigua, Sacatepéquez: An American was driving through the Jocotenango area of Antigua, when he was pulled over by two men on police motorcycles. The men demanded the American get out of his car. They searched him and pretended they found drugs. The two men then got in the car with the victim and instructed him to drive to a secluded back road. There they were joined by three others dressed in police uniforms. The assailants threatened the American, ransacked his car, and stole valuables including a watch and over $200. The victim was not injured.

March 2006

03/26/06

Antigua, Sacatepéquez: A foreign diplomat and his friend parked their car three blocks from the main square, in a main tourist area, at about 3:00 pm. As they were standing outside the car, two men armed with handguns threatened them and forced them into the car. The gunmen drove the vehicle out of the town, with the two victims in the back seat. About 10 minutes drive out of town, the victims were forced to give up their shoes, and then were let free. The criminals escaped with the car and its contents, including jewelry, cell phones, credit cards, and money. The victims walked back to Antigua barefoot, but were unharmed.

03/24/06

Ciudad Vieja (near Antigua), Sacatepéquez: Around 10:30 pm, five armed assailants broke in to the house of an American. The assailants brought two elderly neighbors as hostages, and proceeded to steal valuables. They raped a Guatemalan woman who was in the house. One of the criminals was killed in the attack, another two wounded. The American was shot, but recovered.

03/21/06

Guatemala City, Zone 1: An American woman was staying at a friend’s house, when at least three men broke in and stole valuables, including money, jewelry and passports. It is believed that the assailants forced their way in to the home when the gate was opened to allow a delivery. No one was injured.

03/21/06

Guatemala City, Zone 13: Two American children, along with Guatemalan relatives, were departing Guatemala City’s La Aurora airport around 8:00 am when their car was stopped by armed men from two different vehicles. The vehicle and all contents, including luggage and passports, were stolen. No one was injured.

03/16/06

Guatemala City, Zone 9: An American and two other foreigners were on their way to Guatemala City’s La Aurora airport when armed men approached their car at a stoplight. The thieves stole valuables, including money and passports. No one was injured.

03/10/06

Near Yaxhá Ruins, Petén: Two Americans were traveling in a tour company’s mini-bus, along with a local driver and tour guide. Along a dirt road, not far out of Yaxhá ruins, a man standing in the road with a gun forced the vehicle to pull off the road. A group of 7 or 8 armed men then came out of the bushes. The victims handed over money, cameras, and other belongings. No one was injured.

03/01/06

Km. 155 of CA-9 Highway, near Gualán, El Progreso: Four foreign tourists were driving in a rental car with Salvadoran plates on CA-9 (Atlantic Highway), when they noticed a truck following them around 10:30 am. At approximately Km. 155, the truck, which was carrying three armed men 17-20 years of age in blue uniforms, suddenly passed them, braked in front of them, and started shooting at the car. Simultaneously, a car came up beside the tourists on the left side, and tried to ram them. The tourists tried to escape by immediately putting their car in reverse, but were quickly overtaken. The assailants then forced their way into the car by breaking the windows with gunfire. They demanded money, were given about 400 Quetzales (appx. $53), and then shot the driver and front seat passenger multiple times. Both victims survived, but one needed a medevac back to his home country. The two passengers in the back of the car were unharmed.

February 2006

02/28/06
03/01/06

Ciudad Vieja (near Antigua), Sacatepéquez: Three armed men wearing ski masks forced their way into a house in Ciudad Vieja at 9:30 pm on February 28. Two of the men carried guns and the third was armed with a machete. The assailants raped one of the American women who was staying there. They then searched the rooms (where a family of American tourists was staying) and stole jewelry, money and electronic equipment, departing around 3:00 am.

02/20/06

Guatemala City, Zone 13: Around 7:00 am an American and his Guatemalan friend were leaving Guatemala City’s La Aurora Airport in the Guatemalan’s car. On the road out of the airport, just before the brick aqueduct, multiple armed men got out of two cars and demanded money from them. The armed assailants took money and passports, and then drove away with the car and luggage. No one was injured. The car was later recovered, but with none of its contents.

02/17/06

Guatemala City, Zone 13: Around 7:00 am three American tourists were in a shuttle bus leaving Guatemala City’s La Aurora Airport. On the road out of the airport, just before the brick aqueduct, two men armed with guns got out of another car and approached the stopped shuttle bus. The men pointed a gun at the driver and one entered through the passenger side. The tourists and driver got out of the bus and handed over their money. No one was injured, but the criminals drove away in the shuttle bus, which still had the tourists’ luggage and one of their passports inside.

02/08/06

Guatemala City, Zone 13: Around 7:00 am a resident American and Guatemalan were leaving Guatemala City’s La Aurora Airport in a U.S. government vehicle. The victims were traveling on Ave Juan Pablo II when two armed men approached them on foot, while they were stopped in traffic just before Boulevard Liberacion (near the brick aqueduct). The robbers approached the vehicle from the driver’s side, displayed a handgun, and demanded that the victims open the vehicle doors, which they did. The robbers removed the victims’ luggage, laptops, cash, and briefcases. No one was injured.

02/07/06

CA-1 Interamerican Highway, Totonicapán Department: Around 1:00 pm two resident Americans were riding in a local bus when three armed men forced the bus to stop around 20 miles north of Cuatro Caminos Junction. Two of the men boarded the bus and robbed all passengers of their money, cell phones, passports and other identification documents. No one was injured.

02/04/06

Old Highway 1 / RN-11, Chimaltenango Department: During the afternoon, a resident American and his Guatemalan friend were traveling in a pick-up truck on a shortcut road to Antigua from the turn-off at Las Trampas (a shortcut off the CA-1 Interamerican Highway on East side of Lake Atitlan). They came upon two vehicles blocking the road after a blind curve. Several armed men in ski masks were standing by the vehicles. Two approached the victims, fired guns into the air, and demanded the occupants open the vehicle doors. The victims complied and were robbed of cash and personal items. No one was injured. As the victims were leaving, they saw approximately ten vehicles stopped on the road, apparently also being robbed by the same men.

January 2006

01/20/06

Agua Volcano: An American citizen male and his wife were robbed by assailants carrying machetes and guns as they were descending Agua Volcano near Antigua. The thieves threatened to kill the hikers, and stole a backpack containing a video camera, U.S. passport, and other items. The victims did not resist, and were not injured in the attack. The victims were hiking with a Guatemalan guide. The attack occurred in an area that was out of sight of the tourist police stationed to protect tourists at various points on the volcano.

01/16/06

Road near Los Churuneles, Chimaltenango Department: At approximately 7:30 am an American family was driving on RN-11 (a shortcut off the CA-1 Interamerican Highway on the east side of Lake Atitlan) when about ten masked men with rifles fired shots at their car, forcing them to stop. This road is also known locally as “Las Trampas” (see similar incidents on 12/15/05 and 12/07/05). Two local buses and five other vehicles were also stopped by the robbers. The armed men stole cash, a cell phone, and jewelry from the Americans, and also robbed the other vehicles. They fired many shots at one of the other vehicles, slightly injuring the man inside. The Americans were uninjured.

01/13/06

Guatemala City, Zone 10: Around 6:15 am, a Radisson Hotel shuttle on its way from the hotel to the airport was at a stoplight when a man outside the shuttle pointed a gun at the driver and then entered through the passenger side. The criminal stole passports, suitcases, credit cards, and other identification from the two American passengers and their newly adopted Guatemalan baby. No one was injured.

View Crime Incidents Involving Foreigners during 2005