Crime in Buenos Aires, Argentina

#Lilian although u have visited many times Argentina u cant say us safer than USA cus is not. If u have not lived in a country same years as u have lived in USA u cant compare

I've been robbed before. it was not nice..... not at all.

I grew up in the USA (Miami). Born in BSAS. I have visited many times Argentina and can tell you that crime in Argentina is much, much less than in USA!!!

Every crisis is an opportunity! Little portenitas to put in the brothel! Don't miss the great life!

Hello to all. It's not my first time in Buenos Aires (it's my 8th visit to the city), and I have travelling extensively to Middle East, central asia, SE Asia, and almost all Latin america (Guatemala, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico)
But today Sunday 11 February 2018,I have been aggressed in Ave Pte Roque S.Pena (at 2.35 PM in broad daylight), and at 100 meters from the obelisk. There was a men that came from my back, I haven't seen him, he kick my leg to make me fall, then he start to kick me with his fist, and attempted to take my watch. At first I resisted and try to hit his leg, but he continued to hit my face. Saying : quierto quierto , so fearing he would hit my face with his shoes, I let him take my watch. It wa s big mistake, as I should have let the watch in the safe of the hotel room. That laden also steal me a plastic bag, with small purchase on the St Elmo market where I was 45 minutes ago.

But either he had no time, or really he was a stupid ladron (theft in spanish). He gladly didn't took my I Phone, neither my money,or the single credit card I had on my shirt pocket (by security all others credit card were in my hotel room safe).

Glad I had just a bit of blood leaking from my nose, but no nose broken, no ribs broken, and no theeths broken. Just my lips a bit bigger. Witnesser called the police that arrive pretty fast, but despite I could recognize my aggressor, the CCTV camera in Buenos Aires, are for most of them purely decorative. I then spent 2 hours in the Comissaria 03 de Buenos Aires, where they did a good job (I do speak averagely well spanish, and it helps, because police do speak ONLY spanish).

The Government should improve drastically CCTV, and again increase the number of Police in the street, despite, I agree with other comment, there is now in 2018 more police staff in the streets than in previous year, but today was a Sunday, so maybe this explain that.....

Reading previous post, I understand that I shall consider lucky to be almost not physically harmed, as some tourist have been beaten to blood, or attack with knives. I also read a post about a french photographer that was stabbed to death in front of the monument on Guerra de Malvinas in 2012, toget his camera stolen.

But I understand that I have few chance of getting my belongings back.

So travellers, exert extreme caution, even walking alone in broad daylight, left your watch at the hotel.Just carry small amount of pesos, no credit card, no passeport. I had my Belgian ID Card in my pocket. I still have it
I bet larger group of foreigner walking together close to each other ,are harder to target, but it is just an opinion..

If you got more expensive purchase to do, hire a taxi,or an hotel car, go direct to the place you have to go, ask the car to wait you, then return to your hotel.

Walking is great in BA it's a beautiful city, but with empty pocket, and bare wirst.

If I had a suggestion, I would say to the government that ounce a petty criminal had been identified, he should be taken finger prints, and got a 3D scan of his face & body + a DNA sample, and then crosschecking the information with a London alike CCTV network from any events happening in the streets, will make criminality drop, especially if penal time is increase a lot for those who brake the law. Recurrent petty criminal shall also be forced to wear bracelet that they could not remove, and that would help the police to locate them, any time, ounce they have ended up the prison time.

A safer world comes at a cost.

Hy guys
I would like to take my family and live in argentina where could it be the best place to live with 2 kids concerning schools universities and safety and normale place not expensive or cheap

Some of the rates in my opinion are exaggerated, Buenos Aires is not extremely dangerous.

I went to Buenos Aires with my family and we almost got robbed over there and those people got away and the police couldn't catch them so they're still roaming around in the street of Buenos Aires and who knows if they might try to rob someone else? I suggest not to go there because it could be very dangerous