Dominical Warnings and Dangers

We were parked within eyesight of our car at a soda restaurant.

THREE MEN CAME IN AND TWO DISTRACTED US WHILE THE THIRD WENT AND STOLE OUR VALUABLES.
The car was locked.
It was afternoon daytime.
The car was in front of us.
DONT LEAVE ANY VALUABLES OUT OF YOUR REACH.
The police said they were professional thieves and that this happens all the time.

We were pulled over in a 80 km zone going 100km while passing another car. The officer showed us a photocopy of the rates for tickets that showed a price of $600 US. Then he added the rental company's fee $200- making it $800 ticket.
He proceeded to ask "HOW MUCH CAN YOU PAY NOW? and saw what I had in my wallet, which was $300, and he was going to take all of it until I began to cry. Then, he said "$200 is ok".
We were told that this is a racket, and there have been police fired for such behavior and there have been news shows exposing the racket. Too bad no one told us before hand!!

If you are using a car there, never leave any thing valuable in your car.

Say if you have problem with your car and become immobile, keep an eye on the people that are helping you, if any. Do not ever let them distract you from looking over your personal belongings inside the car. We have been to CR a lot of times and seen enough tourists being victimized by these petty crimes. Play safe at all times. I know, even in Dominical.