Some 1,348 U.S. passports were stolen in Costa Rica during the 2006-2007 fiscal year – equal to almost four a day, the daily La Nación reported.

As of the March of this year the number has already reached 556, according to the report, which cited information from the U.S. Embassy of Costa Rica.

Tourists are the principal victims of such theft, the report said, but U.S. residents here too have been affected.

The figures put Costa Rica among Italy, France and Mexico as the countries reporting the highest incidence of U.S. passport theft.

Authorities recommend keeping a photocopy of your passport, including one of the page showing a valid entry stamp, at all times.

A passport from the United States can gross up to $7,000 on the black market.