Puerto Limon pledges security increase
Officials from the Port of Puerto Limon, Costa Rica, Tuesday pledged to significantly increase security in the port area in the aftermath of a highly publicized incident last week in which a 70-year-old tourist from a cruise ship confronted and killed a mugger during an attempted robbery of a tour van.
An Associated Press report said the number of police on duty in the port area will be doubled when a ship is in port, and police will be watching vehicles used to move tourists between the port and shopping areas. The area also plans to install security cameras around the port area.
In the incident last week, three armed robbers attempted to rob about a dozen tourists on a bus. The tourist, reported to be a retired member of the military, put a headlock on one of the assailants, breaking his collarbone. The injury apparently contributed to the 20-year-old assailant's death from asphyxiation, reports said.
Authorities did not charge the tourist, ruling he acted in self defense. The man returned to the United States over the weekend through Port Everglades, but avoided members of the press waiting for his arrival.
