Peru 2008 Crime & Safety Report

Crime & Safety

Americas - Peru
22 May 2008

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Overall Crime and Safety Situation

OSAC members traveling to Peru should take certain precautions to ensure their safety and security. Doing so will allow them and other American business people living and conducting business in Peru to successfully navigate the crime and safety situation with minimal disruption to their work and personal lives. The Regional Security Office (RSO) at U.S. Embassy Lima presents the 2008 OSAC Crime and Safety Report as a guide for OSAC members and business travelers for use in their overall business operations and living situation. The U.S. Department of State rates Peru as a Critical Threat post for crime. Peru is said to have one of the highest reported crime rates in Latin America, and the Peruvian National Police (PNP) have stated that a crime occurs every three minutes in the city of Lima. Although violent crimes against foreigners are relatively rare, they can and do happen. All U.S. and foreign visitors are vulnerable to crime, as they are often perceived to be wealthier than the local populace and more likely to be carrying large amounts of cash and other valuables.

While U.S. mission members and foreign residents normally reside in affluent areas where private security and local police protection are more effective, their residences (single-family homes) and businesses are frequently burglarized and they are often victimized by street crime. Residential burglaries are most common during the day and on weekends or holidays when houses are left vacant. Thieves often gain entry through unsecured entryways, by tricking domestic employees, or through the use of force when the home is vacant (or appears vacant). The theft of vehicles (including carjackings) and the theft of parts from spared vehicles is another frequent crime. The Peruvian Government has made strides in its fight against domestic terrorism, but the threat of attacks in certain parts of the country still exists, and visitors should take every precaution to avoid traveling to those particular areas whenever possible. Please read the portion of this report regarding the embassy’s Restricted Travel Policy.

Political Violence

There is no real anti-American sentiment in Peru, though a certain portion of Peruvian society, including illegal coca growers, is resentful of U.S. counter-narcotics policies. Others blame U.S. foreign and economic policies for their difficult economic situation. Unrest and disorder are largely temporary and are normally limited to political demonstrations that sometimes become violent. Nationwide transportation strikes are not uncommon and may adversely affect travelers for short periods of time. In 2007 there were large national protests against the government or governmental policies by a wide variety of labor groups. All demonstrations, including peaceful ones, should be avoided, as the possibility always exists that they may unexpectedly turn violent. Most demonstrations in Lima tend to take place in and around the historic downtown area close to the Presidential Palace and the Congress, although they have occurred in other areas of the city as well. Marching groups of demonstrators often force the temporary closure of streets until they pass. Political demonstrations take place in cities throughout the country, sometimes paralyzing road traffic for a few days.

The Peruvian government demonstrated success against terrorist groups in 2007, arresting 189 members, most of whom were inactive, of Sendero Luminoso (SL), or Shining Path, Peru’s largest and most active domestic terrorist group. There are, however, SL columns that remain active, targeting counter-narcotics efforts in the areas of the Upper Huallaga and Apurimac river valleys. These interior areas of Peru are known for significant narcotics production and narcotics trafficking. There were no significant terrorist attacks in Lima or in any other major city or tourist destination in 2007. The last significant SL terrorist attack in Lima occurred in March 2002 in which a car bomb detonated in the parking lot of a shopping mall across the street from the embassy, in the Monterrico district of the city.

Another indigenous terrorist group, the Movimiento Revolucionario Tupc Amaru (MRTA), is inactive except for a limited presence in the Department of Junin. MRTA has not conducted any significant operations since most of their leadership was killed in the rescue operation at the Japanese Embassy in 1999. The U.S. Department of State has removed them from its list of active terrorist organizations.

Finally, members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have reportedly crossed the remote Putumayo River into Peru and engaged in small-unit clashes with Peruvian military and police units who have confronted them. However, there is no information at this time that suggests or indicates that the FARC are conducting terrorist activities or otherwise pose a threat to American interests in Peru.

Post-specific Concerns

Restricted Travel Policy

Many areas of the country are considered dangerous due to potential terrorist and/or criminal activity. Travel to such areas, particularly overland, can be risky. Traveling by road at night is especially dangerous. As a result, the embassy in Lima enforces a Restricted Travel Policy (RTP). This policy governs the travel of official U.S. Government employees and restricts or prohibits their travel to certain portions of Peru. The following areas have regular security problems, are considered restricted to embassy employees, and should be avoided by prudent travelers:

Department of Ayacucho:
--Restricted: Provinces of La Mar and Huanta. Overland travel from Ayacucho to San Francisco is prohibited.
--Permitted: Daylight road travel from Ayacucho City to the city of Huanta. Stay within the city limits of Huanta. Daylight road travel from Pisco to Ayacucho city.

Department of Cusco:
--Restricted: 20-kilometer swath of territory contiguous to the Apurimac River and the Department of Ayacucho.
--Permitted: Everywhere else including Machu Picchu, the sacred valley, and the city of Cusco.

Department of Huanuco:
--Restricted: All areas. The road between Tingo Maria and Aucayacu and north is particularly dangerous both day and night.
--Permitted: Flying into and staying within the city limits of Huanuco and Tingo Maria.

Department of Huancavelica:
--Restricted: Province of Huancavelica, except within the city limits of Huancavelica city, Provinces of Castrovirreyna and Huaytara.
--Permitted: Traveling by train from Huancayo to Huancavelica city is permitted.

Department of Junin:
--Restricted: Provinces of Satipo and Concepcion, east of the Riol Mantaro.
--Permitted: Traveling overland from Lima to San Ramon and La Mered via Tarma is permitted. The cities of san Ramon and La Mered are not restricted.

Department of Loreto:
--Restricted: A 20-kilometer wide strip along the entire Peril/Colombia border. Travel on the Putumayo River is also restricted.

Department of San Martin:
--Restricted: Provinces of Bellavista, Huallaga, Mariscal Cacres, and Tocache.
--Permitted: Flying into and remaining within the city limits of Bellavista, Juanjui, Saposoa, and Tocache. Daytime road travel from Tarapoto to Juanjui and Bellavista.

Department of Ucayali:
--Restricted: Province of Padre Abad (except within the city limits of Aguaytia), and the portion of the Province of Coronel Portililo west of Pucalipa City. 

--Permitted: Pucallpa City is not within the restricted area and travel to Pucallpa is allowed.

Personal travel to these areas is also not permitted for the above-mentioned U.S. Government employees and contractors. Nighttime travel via roads outside the greater Lima area and other cities is prohibited for Government personnel and contractors due to poor highway safety and the threat of bandits, except for nighttime travel by commercial buses along the Pan Americana Highway. There are many contributing factors to this prohibition. Criminal gangs are known to use roadblocks and rob passengers on passing cars and buses. In addition, highways and other roads in Peru are kept in overall poor condition, creating a serious safety threat to drivers. Peru has one of the highest road fatality rates in Latin America. According to Transit Police statistics, 840 people died and over 5,000 were injured as a result of motor vehicle accidents in 2007. Further information on road conditions and road safety can be found on the embassy’s Consular Information Sheet at www.travel.state.gov.

There is no standing travel restriction within the city of Lima. The Regional Security Office considers the following neighborhoods to be relatively safe: Miraflores, San Isidro, Barranco, La Molina, Camacho, San Borja, Monterrico, and the eastern section of Surco. There is no guarantee, of course, that crime will not occur in these areas, and care must still be exercised, particularly at night. Crime is a constant problem in Lima and most other parts of Peru. Street crime is prevalent in most urban areas, particularly in Lima. Carjackings can and do occur. In 2007, an embassy employee was the victim of an armed carjacking in Lima. The employee was not harmed and the vehicle was later recovered but the police have not located the assailants. Sport utility vehicles and sedans with expensive upgrades are the most common type of vehicles targeted by carjackers. The increasingly violent nature of carjackings and the rise in frequency of attempts are cause for concern.

Crime and Gang Activity

Residential burglaries, mostly of single-family homes, occur on regular basis. Pick-pocketing, purse snatching, “smash and grab” robberies, the theft of items from unoccupied vehicles, and the theft of vehicle parts (mirrors, lights, etc.) are common crimes. Gangs of roving youths, known as “piranhas,” typically attack as a group and steal anything of value, including clothes, from their victims in broad daylight on city streets.

These gangs often operate with impunity and with little or no fear of the police. The police recorded six kidnappings in 2007, a noticeable decrease from the 30 kidnappings that were reported in 2006. Although in Lima kidnappings have been primarily short-term and geared toward ATM and bank withdrawals, there has been an increase in long-term kidnappings focused on acquiring large sums of cash, with the targets being wealthy or suspected wealthy people residing in affluent areas. In 2007, U.S Embassy Lima was alerted to the kidnapping of an American living in Lima. The victim was kidnapped at gunpoint during the day from a popular supermarket. After three hours, he was released unharmed and with only minor personal items taken.

Natural Disasters

Earthquakes and tremors are common throughout the year and visitors should be prepared to deal with these and other natural disasters. There have been several devastating earthquakes throughout Peru’s history and Peru has the highest rating for seismic activity assigned by the State Department. In August 2007, the south of Peru experienced an 8.0 earthquake that killed 510 individuals and injured thousands. The Regional Security Office has an Emergency Preparedness Coordinator that can provide helpful information and guidance to visitors on what to do in the event of an earthquake. Mudslides and landslides also occur with frequency during the rainy season and often shut down or close roads for extended periods of time. Travelers should be sure to consult the embassy’s Consular Information Sheet, either through the U.S. Department of State’s webpage www.state.gov or the embassy’s webpage: http://peru.usembassy.gov.

Police Response

With the exception of several special units, PNP lacks professionalism in comparison with U.S. standards. Many police are eager to serve but do not have the necessary training and equipment necessary to effectively serve the populace. Morale is poor, pay is low, and corruption is rampant, which has helped create an overall negative image of the police in the minds of the populace. Police have been known to either solicit bribes in order to supplement their salaries, or may readily accept bribes when offered. Police response to reported crimes is notoriously slow and in many cases largely ineffective. There is a police presence in all major cities and towns, but they are often unable to respond to calls for service and are incapable of proactively fighting crime. Any circumstance involving a violation of the law, including traffic accidents, must be reported to the local police station. Police will not initiate an investigation of any incident until a report has been filed. Foreign visitors who become victims of a crime should contact the Policia de Turismo (tourist police) whenever possible. The tourist police are among the more knowledgeable and helpful of police units, can be found in the major tourist areas, and are more likely to speak English.

Police Emergency Numbers

Policia Turismo Lima
--office: 332-3222
--Telefax: 431-1668

Trujillo
--Region: (044) 232-552
--sub region: 221-908
--Fax: 207-054

Iquitos
--Region: (065) 232-453

Cusco
--Region: (084) 242-611
--Telefax: 802-606
--Turismo: 249-654

Chiclayo
--Region: (074) 237-740
--Fax: 235—534
--Central: 236-700
--Turismo: 236-700 extension 311

Cajamarca
--Sub-region: (076) 822-832, 822-165
--Fax: 823-438

Huaraz
--Region: (043) 721-592

Chimbote
--Region: (043) 329-205, 321-651
--Fax: 346-606

Huaricayo
--Region: (064) 217-458, 234-651

Ica
--Region: (056) 218-456

Ilo
--Provincial: (053) 781-331
--Fax: 781-212

Huanuco
--Provincial: (062) 513-262, 513-480
--Fax: 512-220

Piura
--Region: (073) 305-455, 307-650, 326-071

Medical Emergencies

Emergency medical service is generally not reliable in Peru. The embassy health unit recommends the use of private ambulance services whenever possible. Telephone numbers for these services can be found in local telephone directories. The quality of medical facilities also varies from location to location, and U.S. health insurance is almost never taken. For this reason, treatment may be held up until proof of ability to pay is shown, either by cash or credit card. The following are U.S. Embassy Lima-recommended health clinics in Lima:

--Clinica Anglo Americana
Tel: 221-3656
Av. Salazar sin Cuadra 3
San Lisidro District

--Clinica San Felipe
Tel: 219-0000
Av. Gregorio Escobedo 650

--Jesus Maria
Clinica San Felipe Urgent Care Center
Tel: 219-0000 Ext. 718
Av. Javier Prado Este 4841

--La Molina
Clinica San Borja
Tel: 475-3141, 475-4410
Av. Guardia Civil 337

--San Borja District
Clinica El Golf
Tel: 264-3300
Av. Aurelio Miro Quesada 1030
San Isidro District

How to Avoid Becoming a Victim

Travelers should maintain a low profile whenever possible. They should also attempt to dress down and avoid carrying large sums of cash, credit cards, ATM cards, cameras, and wearing expensive jewelry. It is recommended that money be changed at local banks or at established hotels, rather than through the moneychangers that operate in vast numbers along city streets. Credit card fraud is rampant and many travelers have reported the theft of their card numbers while traveling in Peru. The embassy recommends that travelers limit their use of credit cards to paying only for hotel expenses or purchases at well-established businesses. Travelers should exercise caution when withdrawing money from ATM machines. Criminals have been known to keep banks under surveillance and, after identifying an individual who has withdrawn cash, either immediately assault them or follow them to another location before committing the robbery. In 2006 several high profile Peruvian citizens fell victim to such robberies after being followed from a bank to their house by assailants. Under Peruvian law all people must carry one form of valid photo identification. Due to the large trade in stolen U.S. passports, travelers are cautioned to avoid carrying their passports whenever possible, but should carry a photocopy of the data/biographic page, the page containing the visa (if needed), and a copy of the Peruvian Immigration form received at the port of entry. Additionally, some type of valid form of photo identification must also be carried, such as a driver’s license; original passports should be locked in a hotel safe or other secure location.

Tourists should try to travel in groups whenever possible and use radio-dispatched taxicabs rather than public transportation. There are a number of radio dispatched taxi services available in Lima, all of which provide generally reliable service in late model sedans. These “radio taxis” offer a higher degree of security since criminals, operating in groups or individually, have been known to pose as taxi drivers and prey on unsuspecting individuals. Particular care should be exercised when traveling to and from Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima. The embassy has seen a rash of crimes in which thieves smash the car windows of slowly passing or stopped vehicles and steal items of real or perceived value from unsuspecting travelers, such as purses, laptops, backpacks, and luggage. Several members from the American community have reported items being stolen from their checked luggage at the international airport. Caution should also be used when placing valuables, specifically electronic items, into checked luggage when traveling through the airports in Peru.

There are several competent private security businesses operating in Peru, many of which offer a wide variety of services such as executive protection, private investigations, guard services for large events, armored car services, and physical security for both work and residential locations. The Regional Security Office at embassy would be happy to discuss the security concerns of all U.S. business travelers contemplating a trip to Peru, provide recommendations for security companies, or to otherwise be of assistance to OSAC members while in country.

Contact Information

Regional Security Office: 618-2469
RSO: George Nutwell
DRSQ: Peter Kramer
ARSO: Pamela Maldonado
ARSO/I: Gab Guerrero
ARSO: Aaron Lafortune
ARSO: Rich Rowan
Embassy Operator 434-3000
Consular Affairs 618-2518
Political Section 618-2510
Economic Section 618-2410
Marine Post One 618-2436

OSAC Country Council

There is an active OSAC Country Council in Lima that encourages all potential members to join. Prospective members can obtain further information on how to enroll by contacting the Lima Country Council at the American Chamber of Commerce at 011-511-241-0708. For further information regarding security issues in Peru, visit the Regional Security Office’s Internet website at http://peru.usembassy.gov/wwwsrso.shtml, or contact the Regional Security Office by phone (01 -511-618-2469) or fax (011-511-618-2278). More information is available by calling the U.S. State Department’s consular information number (202-647-4000), or visiting their website at http://travel.state.gov.