Tourists, spending their vacations on the beaches of the Chilean Coast, suffer from the thefts, molestation and larceny on these beaches, says "Service of Continents." The sense of danger among the holiday-makers is growing evenings because of teenage gangs gathering on the beaches, drinking and making troubles.

In connection with this, the carabiner corps (Chilean police) has to strengthen the inspection, involving the mobile reserves of policemen on motorcycles and horses, with the increasing the total strength of law enforcement officers by 500 persons.

According to the police sources, the criminals come from Santiago in order to join their "colleagues" from Valparaiso, Cartagena and San Antonio, Reignac, Chili and use the influx of tourists as a cause to activate their misdeeds. Only in Viña del Mar and Reignac the population grows by 500 thousand people owing to the tourists coming.

Police sources, warning the guests, add that the age of criminals ranges from 14 to 25 years. The visitant gangs increase their presence on weekends. They come on Friday evening and return to the capital on Sunday, stay overnight on hills or in the houses of their friends. The thefts from houses, motels and hotels are taking place in general from 14:00 till 19:00 when people go to the beach and after 22:00 when tourists go entertaining to discos or bars.

For the first 15 days of the year 2008 there were registered 534 complaints on thefts with force. However, carabiners and prosecutor's office claim that the number of complaints have decreased at 4.6%, in comparison with the same period in the last year. Nevertheless, the holiday-makers are called for vigilance, in order not to become the victims of criminals.

Police recommends not taking photo and film cameras or jewelry on the beach in order not to simplify the criminals' goal. Besides that, the tourists should properly close the entrance doors, and take away from balconies, porches, passenger compartments and the field of vision all the valuable items, in order not to subject the thieves to the temptation.

There is also a rating of the most dangerous countries for tourism based on the criminality and security level. Tourists are not advised to travel to these countries.