managua express robbery

I was in MGA the other week running errands and it turns out that someone staying in the same guesthouse was robbed in a taxi. It seems she was approached by a pleasant Nicaraguan woman who asked where the foreign woman was going and then she said she was going to the same place. She asked if they could split the cab fare. They agreed and hailed down the next cab. Shortly thereafter 2 more women entered the cab and the 3 started beating on the traveler while the cabbie took them to an ATM, where she was forced to take out the maximum withdrawal from the 2 cards she had on her. I don´t believe she suffered any permanent injuries but was quite shook up and out more than $1000. I´m told she filed a police report, which might not lead anywhere unless there was a working camera at the ATM.

The only real heads up she had, from what I could tell, was that the taxi price quoted was way too low for the destination. It was a set-up, pure and simple. She was doomed the minute she agreed to share a cab with a stranger.

Tourism is up, so the problems will increase. If you are new, here are some things to remember about taxis in MGA: Always be on guard and look at the red license plate to be sure your taxi is a taxi. If you are staying at a small hotel, the owner will often volunteer to call a taxi he knows is legit. I avoid taxis that are ¨waiting¨, such as in front of a store or restaurant. I feel safer hailing down one that is just cruising down the street where there is no particular source of foreigners or upscale customers. Just to avoid hassle, I avoid the vulture cabbies in front of international bus stations. Stall a few minutes, then look for a middle-aged cabbie in the background who doesn´t appear hyperactive. Or hail a cab on the street if it is still light out..

A Managua taxista recently told me to never let a taxista stop for gas or run an errand on the way to your destination. If it is a set up, other people will flag down the cab at the designated place and you will be in a cab full of crooks. I have been in cabs that stopped at gas stations and never had a problem but since talking to this guy I am more alert, and if anyone enters under these circumstances, I will bail. If you are paying to go all the way across town, you can specify directo without other passengers. If there are other passengers, always sit in the rear seat near the door. If someone gets in after you, get out and let them sit in the middle. If you are overloaded with baggage or have stuff in the trunk you are especially at a disadvantage. I almost never go out at night in Managua, but you don´t have to be a complete party pooper—go in a group and take a cab directly from your hotel to the restaurant or whatever your destination is.

You should also consider how many credit/debit cards you are carrying and you can call your bank and have them lower the daily limits. This won´t prevent a robbery, but at least it lowers the incentive. Ride with the taxi windows at least part of the way up to help limit grab and run intersection robberies. Another taxista recently advised me that the intersection near Pricemart is the worst in the city for this.

Outside of Managua, you should not have this type of problem in Nicaragua but in the boonies occasionally you may have to demand to leave a cab if the driver is unsafe or will not eject a drunk.

If it is of any consolation, there are more dangerous cities in Central America than Managua. Express robberies depend in part on the anonymity of big cities and should not yet be a problem outside of Managua.