Actually, I think the returning affulent people only caused the rate of home invasions to shoot up, which although only anecdotally, have risen sharply since 20

Actually, I think the returning affulent people only caused the rate of home invasions to shoot up, which although only anecdotally, have risen sharply since 2010 - which also coincedes with Ecuador being rated the #1 place to retire so also saw an influx of rich (actual and relative) foreigners coming in, buying land and building (actual and relative) mansions. Having lived in Ecuador for 10 years, I have not heard any anecdotal evidence of this report (in fact the counter). But that is mostly from middle class inlaws. Perhaps the reduction is in the barrios, which would not be felt / known nor reported