Yes, petty crimes do occur, but only to those who fail to take common-sense precautions, like putting cell phones and wallets out of sight in the car; like taking the backpack with you instead of leaving it on the beach towel.

Rental cars are especially targeted by beach thieves; so never leave any valuables in your rental car when leaving it unattended. There have been occasions when rental cars are broken into and tires are punctured to stop you leaving the scene quickly to report it to the Police. These incidents occur despite of the Tourist Police who patrol the main beaches.  To have a hassle free vacation in Costa Rica check these Travel Safety Tips.