I have lived in Santiago for six months and took my mother on the tour when she wanted to see the city. We were given two large red wristbands which I believe made us a target to get mugged in the Santa Lucia area. People were waiting across the street from the bus stop - we got off to walk - the middle of the day in a pedestrian market with police on every corner, and a man ran up from behind my mother, ripped off her necklace, and ran so fast we couldn't catch up. We believe he was not acting alone - he knew right where she was and what she was wearing. Are these bus drivers aware of where the muggers are - are maybe one or two working with them? A week after this happened to my mother, we spoke with a couple visiting from Egypt and they had the same thing happened to them -The woman was mugged as she was getting on the bus at the Santa Lucia stop. This time their bus driver said at the Santa Lucia stop: "You need to get off here, I'll wait for you". As soon as they got off the bus drove away. They saw people across the street waiting for them and did not feel safe, and they sat down on the bench to wait for the next bus. As the next bus came, the man turned his head for just a second, and as he turned back his wife's purse and belongs had been taken. They were seasoned travelers and he said this had never happened to them in any other city. My mom said the same thing. I should have warned her never to wear jewelry- but it was much too easy to be walking targets with large red wrist bands. I will never use the on/off bus again, nor recommend it to anyone else. read more