A couple was arrested as suspects of participating in at least 20 thefts that took place between June 2017 and February 2018 and where tourists were the main victims.

The man of last name Caicedo and a native of Colombia and the woman, a Costa Rican of last name Centeno, would operate by puncturing the tires of the tourists’ vehicles and then showing up to offer help, at which point they would steal their valuables.

According to the authorities the couple would stand watch close to rental cars and would follow their targets for a period of time, when the tourists would make a stop the couple sought the opportunity to damage the tires.

When the foreigners got back to the car they would approach them to offer their help and the minute they got distracted they would steal their belongings, usually purses or backpacks.

The couple was detained in San Francisco, Heredia. The incidents usually took place during the weekends and mainly in the areas of Alajuela and San Jose. At the moment of their arrest the couple had several purses with cash of different currencies, among them euros and dollars, they also found brand handbags, wrist watches, and the tools used to puncture the tires. The couple used a vehicle or sometimes a motorcycle.

According to Walter Espinoza, director of OIJ, the woman speaks English, this helped the couple earn the trust of their victims.