Crime in San Pedro Sula has increased to the point where the national government has taken the drastic step of passing a law that allows police searches of private homes without a warrant, and is considering other measures. The police force in San Pedro Sula has more than doubled since the beginning of the year, but businessmen and their families now go out only in armored cars or with a carload of accompanying bodyguards. Crimes range from gang violence to kidnappings, and murders have increased 25 percent since 1995, but common crime in poor neighborhoods is down.
