What's the crime rate in general in Casco Viejo / Casco Antiguo, Panama City?
Patrizia Pinzon - Arco Properties
The crime rate in Casco Viejo, an enclave in Panama City, Panama, is less than you think. I`ll tell you guys a secret: most people think Casco is safe because there are so many police around. Yes, they contribute a lot, but it is not the key factor. The two things that really make this place a safe area are: it is a community with life happening 18 hours a day... and it is a community, period. What do I mean by this? Think about it: when you live in a...
The crime rate in Casco Viejo, an enclave in Panama City, Panama, is less than you think. I`ll tell you guys a secret: most people think Casco is safe because there are so many police around. Yes, they contribute a lot, but it is not the key factor. The two things that really make this place a safe area are: it is a community with life happening 18 hours a day... and it is a community, period. What do I mean by this? Think about it: when you live in a suburban area, where there are only residences, "on/off" schedules are very clear for potential burglars: most people leave the house between 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and there is absolutely no one around. In Casco, since you have mixed use, there are always people: restaurants, stores, neighbors, you name it. Same in the evening. No dark areas with no life attracting crime. Most areas have some sort of activity, and nothing happens without someone taking notice. And when something does happen, yes, there is a cop right around the corner! So there you go: your best area is where people are .... all the time. And that is Casco! Alive 18 hours a day!
Posted April 25, 2013
Rey Bazán
(Casco Viejo and Casco Antiguo are different names for the same place.)
The crime rate in Casco Viejo is most likely less than in other areas of Panama City because the government of Panama has put an emphasis on security in the area. There are several reasons for this, including that there are lots of tourists in Casco Viejo, both day and night; the president’s palace is in Casco Viejo, where he works; and also we have a couple of major...
(Casco Viejo and Casco Antiguo are different names for the same place.)
The crime rate in Casco Viejo is most likely less than in other areas of Panama City because the government of Panama has put an emphasis on security in the area. There are several reasons for this, including that there are lots of tourists in Casco Viejo, both day and night; the president’s palace is in Casco Viejo, where he works; and also we have a couple of major government agencies here.
The entirety of Casco Viejo is 44 square blocks. It goes from 1st street to almost 14th street. Right now, the best areas are from 1st Street to roughly 10th street. From 10th street to up to about 14th street, you have to be careful. The people there know if you’re not from that area. So even in Casco you have some areas that are still haven’t yet entered the renaissance (urban renewal) process.
Posted August 3, 2014
Charles Conn - The Visitor
Casco Viejo is one of the safer neighborhoods because it is patrolled by security and the national police. You have some kind of security presence on practically every corner. You don’t really hear about robberies taking place in Casco Viejo. There are certain parts of the neighborhood that you just avoid. If you do that, you’re fine.The police are there in Casco Viejo to maintain the safety for tourists because there are some adjacent neighborhoods where...
Casco Viejo is one of the safer neighborhoods because it is patrolled by security and the national police. You have some kind of security presence on practically every corner. You don’t really hear about robberies taking place in Casco Viejo. There are certain parts of the neighborhood that you just avoid. If you do that, you’re fine.The police are there in Casco Viejo to maintain the safety for tourists because there are some adjacent neighborhoods where there are a lot of housing projects, and they want to prevent situations from arising. That’s mainly the reason for the police presence.
Casco Viejo used to have a very high crime rate, but with the gentrification process that has taken place in the last 10 years or so, that has changed. The result is a constant police presence and a lower incidence of crime. I’d say it is even safer than the other areas in Panama City precisely because of the presence of the guards.
Posted January 24, 2015