Casablanca - Post Report Question and Answers
Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
It is a normal city, meaning that there is crime, bad neighborhoods, harassment of women, and normal precautions should be taken. Police support may be limited at times, so avoiding these risks on your own is the best way. - Sep 2022
Covid restrictions, including travel, are in place at this time. Women are sometime harassed if they are alone, though a terse firm glance refrain most from engaging insistently. Avoid flashing valuables to avoid petty crime - be aware of your surrounding - same as at home. Drive defensively. - Jun 2021
Petty crime is VERY high in Morocco due to the poverty. Do not wear nice jewelry out in public. Hold tight to cell phones, purses, cameras, etc. Several consulate members have had pick pockets snatch and grab their jewelry, phones, etc. - Feb 2016
Petty crime is very high. Pickpockets and snatch/grab are common (even in the nice areas). Certain areas of town muggings are more frequent (usually with knives, no guns). - Jul 2014
Don't wear a necklace if you're out and about - chances are it will be ripped off your neck. The more than occasional protest is typically peaceful but you'll want to avoid certain areas. Be more wary on days there's a soccer match. The tram is fine but skip the buses; most people drive themselves. Women alone need to be careful; there have been accounts of attacks on single women by other women, and sometimes women will be harassed/followed by local men. - May 2014
Street crime is pretty prevalent -- snatch and grabs from motorcycles and robberies with knives. The criminals aren't afraid to hurt people. Some issues with soccer mobs before and after games, but the government has been cracking down on that. - Jun 2012
I think the previous post reports gave Casablanca a bad rap. There's no serious violent crime to speak of, and aside from the occasional purse snatching here and there, it's no different than living in any large city, just watch your back. - Apr 2010
There are serious personal and terrorism security concerns in Casablanca. At one point, nearly a fourth of all women associated with the Consulate had been victims of a mugging or attempted mugging. These muggers have often presented and threatened to use knifes to gain valuables. The use of a moped to snatch a purse is also a concern. In terms of terrorism, the Consulate was closed for seven weeks in the Spring of 2007 due to security concerns associated with two suicide bombings in the area in March. Government of Morocco authorities seem committed to stopping these people, but regional terrorism issues are a concern. - Mar 2008
