The Costa Rica Star recently reported on how Gollo and the Ministry of Health are working together to fight dengue fever in Costa Rica.

Mauricio Monge, manager of chainstore Gollo’s Grecia outlet, was freed early Saturday after being held hostage by four criminals who attempted to rob the store Friday night.

The quartet surrendered themselves to police after five tense hours of negotiation with the national investigative agency, OIJ.

Police national chief Juan Jose Andrade confirmed that Monge was unhurt.

OIJ’s specialized negotiating team took advantage of the fact that the scene was surround by no fewer then 60 law officers and escape was impossible.

Jose Francisco Araya, spokesman for the chain, said at about 7 p.m. Friday it became obvious that “an irregular situation” had developed at the store.

Immediately, Araya added, protocols that the firm has practiced were activated. He did not elaborate on what the protocols were exactly or how word of the hostage holding was transmitted to the outside of the Grecia store.

Witnesses told La Nacion that the robbers took advantage of employees leaving the store at quitting time to enter. Within minutes after the situation was discovered, police began sealing off the area around the store.

Armed robberies and such flagrant crimes are on the rise here, with 1,100 more cases this year than in 2012.