Crime, Safety, and the Police

[Jinxx]

I use credit cards and ATM cards all over Tijuana EXCEPT for the Zona Norte. Never had a problem.

My card got cloned by a restaurant Ricardo's at Plaza Rio. I've noticed that some restaurants bring the card reader machine to your table and do the transaction right in front of you which might be preferable to the waiter taking your card to do the transaction in the back. In Ricardo's the mesero took my card to the back and the next day I got the alerts from my bank suspicious charges on my card.

ATMs from any major bank should be safe. There's a HSBC ATM inside the Calimax at constitucion and second ave, which I think is the closest real bank ATM to the zona.

[ClamSlammer]

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[Dcrist0527]

Possibly true, if you stay at fleabag hotels in ZN, which I never do. Ticuan Hotel rooms have solid fireproof safes, and I have never heard of anyone having an issue with those. I am sure hotel management has the master key, but I am certain cleaning staff has no way to open those.

Bringing your own travel safes and locking those in larger suitcases. That's massively overthinking and over complicating things. Great if it works for you, but I couldn't be bothered.

I'm somewhat familiar with Ticuan's process. I've had issues with their safes twice. Once, it was locked upon my arrival. Two doormen came up to open it. They said it was policy to have two people. The next occurrence was on another trip. A few days into my visit, the safe stopped working with my cash and valuables in it. Turns out the battery fell out because the battery door was missing. This time, only one door man opened it.

In either case, as Ctytek pointed out, Ticuan is relatively safe and I would highly doubt the "master key" is readily accessible by anyone.

[Ctytek]

I agree that it's best to use cash only, but I can't bring myself to trust hotel safes in Mexico. They're are broken half the time, anyway, but I worry about how secure they really are from the hotel employees. Isn't there a master code or something they use to assist people who've forgotten their combination?.

Possibly true, if you stay at fleabag hotels in ZN, which I never do. Ticuan Hotel rooms have solid fireproof safes, and I have never heard of anyone having an issue with those. I am sure hotel management has the master key, but I am certain cleaning staff has no way to open those.

Bringing your own travel safes and locking those in larger suitcases. That's massively overthinking and over complicating things. Great if it works for you, but I couldn't be bothered.

[Artisttyp]

I agree that it's best to use cash only, but I can't bring myself to trust hotel safes in Mexico. They're are broken half the time, anyway, but I worry about how secure they really are from the hotel employees. Isn't there a master code or something they use to assist people who've forgotten their combination?

I use a travel safe. It's a heavy nylon bag reinforced with steel cable that I can padlock and anchor to pipes or furniture. I usually put it out of sight inside a buttoned shirt hanging in the closet, with the locking cable looped over the bar. Mine is made by Pacsafe, but there are several other manufacturers.

Won't stop a determined thief with some real tools, like boltcutters, but certainly works for opportunists or your casual burglars.

I have been using a Pacsafe for years. As an added layer of protection I never have it visible. What I do is put in in a locked suitcase then lock the suitcase AND the PacSafe to wherever. That way Someone would need to rip apart the suitcase first before they were confronted with the PacSAfe. Not highly unlikely that it could be done but it presents more of a challenge to thieves and less time efficient from a grab and dash perspective.

There are also many other creative stash options available on Ebay or Etsy. It just takes time and putting some thought into it.

Another option is to use the Pacsafe IN A SAFE. Most safes have a master key which management has.....just a thought to ponder.

[Dogers69]

I agree that it's best to use cash only, but I can't bring myself to trust hotel safes in Mexico. They're are broken half the time, anyway, but I worry about how secure they really are from the hotel employees. Isn't there a master code or something they use to assist people who've forgotten their combination?

I use a travel safe. It's a heavy nylon bag reinforced with steel cable that I can padlock and anchor to pipes or furniture. I usually put it out of sight inside a buttoned shirt hanging in the closet, with the locking cable looped over the bar. Mine is made by Pacsafe, but there are several other manufacturers.

Won't stop a determined thief with some real tools, like boltcutters, but certainly works for opportunists or your casual burglars.

I wouldn't do this. It attracts attention. ID put a computer and phone I can afford to lose in a safe, personally, my approach is leave 5 bucks on top of your stuff, if someone comes in the room they may take the 5 bucks and go. I left a broken laptop in my car, eventually the tow truck driver or mechanic stole it. People can break thick bike lots in few seconds. I had my backpack chained to amtrak seat on the floor, got up for 5 minutes, return to somebody in my seat slicing it up because the chain attracts attention. Its like a sign to criminal "this is the bag you want to steal".

[Centurion200]

lock your cash in hotel safe, upon arrival to Tijuana..

I agree that it's best to use cash only, but I can't bring myself to trust hotel safes in Mexico. They're are broken half the time, anyway, but I worry about how secure they really are from the hotel employees. Isn't there a master code or something they use to assist people who've forgotten their combination?

I use a travel safe. It's a heavy nylon bag reinforced with steel cable that I can padlock and anchor to pipes or furniture. I usually put it out of sight inside a buttoned shirt hanging in the closet, with the locking cable looped over the bar. Mine is made by Pacsafe, but there are several other manufacturers.

Won't stop a determined thief with some real tools, like boltcutters, but certainly works for opportunists or your casual burglars.

[Hargow20]

I have not had any problems either. But the only ATM machines I trust are the ones at the major banks like HSBC. I avoid the ATM's and carry the cash I need. I do carry a ATM card for emergency's. The ATM card is the only card I bring with me. If I get robbed the ATM is easier to replace.

I use credit cards and ATM cards all over Tijuana EXCEPT for the Zona Norte. Never had a problem.

[Phordphan]

There are a couple of very basic rules to follow, to never have any issues with skimmed ATM or Credit Cards:

- get cash in dollars rom a major US Bank ATM - * on the US side.

- exchange portion of dollars for pesos in San Ysidro, before crossing over (to get the best rate).

- lock your cash in hotel safe, upon arrival to Tijuana.

- pay in cash and in pesos for everything you can, while in Tijuana.

- do not use ATM cards or Credit Cards in Tijuana!

Follow these simple rules and you will never have an issue. The advise about "freezing cards" is just over complicating things, and won't protect you from getting skimmed.

I use credit cards and ATM cards all over Tijuana EXCEPT for the Zona Norte. Never had a problem.

[TJLee]

Ctytek,

That's the most convenient way and about 90% of mongers do, but it also make them a walking ATMs for corrupt cops & drivers. Having been pulled over by cops from taxis & ubers from border to zona or reversed, I'm not going to bring over $20 on me. I used the clubs' ATMs 4 times a day as needed. I also bring money orders made to myself instead of cash to deposit for next day use.

[Ctytek]

There are a couple of very basic rules to follow, to never have any issues with skimmed ATM or Credit Cards:

- get cash in dollars rom a major US Bank ATM - * on the US side.

- exchange portion of dollars for pesos in San Ysidro, before crossing over (to get the best rate).

- lock your cash in hotel safe, upon arrival to Tijuana.

- pay in cash and in pesos for everything you can, while in Tijuana.

- do not use ATM cards or Credit Cards in Tijuana!

Follow these simple rules and you will never have an issue. The advise about "freezing cards" is just over complicating things, and won't protect you from getting skimmed.

[Captain Solo]

RickyVee.

I never used a debit card with my checking account in a major retail bank, but the account was hacked for $700. Hackers can clone cards but can also break into bank's databases.

I suspect ATMs with major banks in Tijuana on Revo may be safer, but there is still no guarantee. It's a long walk and I would save only $15 for each exchange on San Ysidro Blvd. So we just have to stop in downtown San Ysidro to exchange cash to pesos.

Long term I would order a few thousands pesos from my bank and just hang onto them until I go to La Zona. Thanks for your suggestions. May be guys who walk to Revo will use those banck.

[RickyVee]

I always use major bank chains in Tijuana. Bancomer has 24 hour ATMs in zona rio never had an issue. I withdraw before I hit the zona. If you need to reup pesos use the ATM on revo inside Caliente casino a short walk from the zona it's an Affirme bank never had an issue with cloned cards.

[Captain Solo]

TJLee.

You can lock your card up, unlock it before use, then lock it up again with the mobile app.

I will have to do it in my next trip to Asia or Europe.

My theft proof method, always locked my mongering card when not in use, thru the app, and it's safe from many attempts in the US. Schwab will make my deposit fund available the next day if I deposit a money order to myself thru the app.

My theft proof method, always locked my mongering card when not in use, thru the app, and it's safe from many attempts in the US. Schwab will make my deposit fund available the next day if I deposit a money order to myself thru the app.

[TJLee]

My theft proof method, always locked my mongering card when not in use, thru the app, and it's safe from many attempts in the US. Schwab will make my deposit fund available the next day if I deposit a money order to myself thru the app.