Santiago has the dangers of any city of its size, but it is safer than other Latin American countries. In busy areas, beware of pickpockets. A recent government study showed that most people were robbed in Santiago during the evening rush hour.
Though there is less robbery late at night, the crime tends to become more dangerous. Think twice about walking home at night. If you are going a short distance, a taxi is inexpensive.
Watch your belongings while on buses and the metro. Some pickpockets are very skilled at emptying your pockets on crowded buses.
Tourists and foreigners are especially vulnerable. Do not carry your passport, but a photocopy. Do not carry large sums of money with you. You may also want to leave credit cards behind that you do not plan to use.
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