In 2019, Alejandro Abarca experienced an armed robbery while working in his family's tamale shop near the Mercado Borbón in central San José.

His mother, Itza Abarca, recounted how the traumatic experience prompted them to close the business in 2023 due to escalating insecurity in the area.

This incident reflects a broader trend affecting local businesses, with over 6,296 business license cancellations recorded by the municipal authorities from 2019 to 2024, averaging more than 1,000 closures annually.

The closure of local businesses has been notably high during the COVID-19 pandemic and has continued to climb in subsequent years.

In 2024, 811 businesses closed—a rise of 56 from the previous year.

Nearly half (49%) of these closures occurred in three districts of San José identified as having the highest crime rates: Merced, Hospital, and Catedral, according to crime statistics from the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ).

Merced accounted for 1,031 business license cancellations, while Hospital and Catedral had 1,030 and 1,024, respectively.

Business owners in these districts continually cite rising insecurity as a primary reason for their closures.

Natalia Villalobos, who once owned a bakery near La Dolorosa, indicated that escalating crime forced her to shut her shop earlier than planned, stating that it became impossible to keep business hours from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. due to feared threats.

She noted that by 5:30 p.m., they had to close the gates and rely on customers' goodwill to make purchases.

Villalobos also experienced an attempted robbery and observed an increase in drug activity, homelessness, and deteriorating conditions in the area, corroborating her decision to cease operations.

In the first half of 2024, San José recorded 9,294 reported crimes including thefts, robberies, and vehicle break-ins, half of which occurred within Merced, Hospital, and Catedral.

This trend is longstanding, as these districts have consistently reported the highest crime rates.

Hospital averages approximately 1.8 robberies daily, contrasting sharply with San Francisco, which had recorded only 0.2 incidents per day in 2024.

Claudia García, who operates a mobile accessory shop in Merced, detailed experiencing numerous thefts, including the disappearance of displayed items and confrontations with individuals committing theft.

Furthermore, both Catedral and Hospital have ranked among the top districts for vehicle thefts, meanwhile also reporting high homicide rates in recent years, with Hospital counting 44 and Merced 38.

The increasing prevalence of crime has significantly affected consumer behavior, as many potential customers are deterred from shopping due to safety concerns.

García remarked that high crime rates result in decreased sales, prompting business owners to consider closing or relocating their ventures.

Despite ongoing police patrols and surveillance measures, local business owners express feelings of vulnerability and inadequacy in protection.

Some members of the business community claim that reporting crimes can lead to greater scrutiny from authorities rather than effective resolutions.

Several business owners highlighted their dissatisfaction with municipal priorities, feeling that issues such as tax collection and enforcement of regulations for street vendors take precedence over providing a safer environment for businesses.

Local residents have reported instances of vigilantism stemming from frustration with law enforcement’s responsiveness to crime.

García recounted an occasion where a suspected thief was apprehended by local vendors, leading to physical retaliation before police intervened.

These sentiments underscore a growing urgency among local business owners for actionable responses to the increasing insecurity plaguing their neighborhoods.