Crime, Safety, and the Police

[Phordphan]

I read a very recent report on Hong Kong's Yelp that police are actually targeting taxis leaving the zona and shaking down the passengers. That level of corruption sounds pretty damn horrifying. I'm a bit concerned because I'm taking my first trip, staying at Ticuan, and planning on using taxis. Is this a common occurrence and what is the best way to handle such a sketchy situation?

This has been going on for many years. No, it's not a common occurrence, but it does happen. They are fishing, looking for drugs and such. So, don't be a dick and come to Tijuana with weed or some other drug.

The best way to handle it is to use Uber. Cheaper than taxis, better cars, better class of drivers. Just make sure your cell has Mexico / international data roaming.

[ScatManDoo]

I read a very recent report on Hong Kong's Yelp that police are actually targeting taxis leaving the zona and shaking down the passengers. That level of corruption sounds pretty damn horrifying. I'm a bit concerned because I'm taking my first trip, staying at Ticuan, and planning on using taxis. Is this a common occurrence and what is the best way to handle such a sketchy situation?

Recently I have read about more police shakedowns of mongers that were riding in taxis than the number of muggings of mongers walking the short distance between PedWest and La Zona. I still would only make that 2-block walk into LZ during daylight hours.

[Surf69]

I read a very recent report on Hong Kong's Yelp that police are actually targeting taxis leaving the zona and shaking down the passengers. That level of corruption sounds pretty damn horrifying. I'm a bit concerned because I'm taking my first trip, staying at Ticuan, and planning on using taxis. Is this a common occurrence and what is the best way to handle such a sketchy situation?

[Scbb1]

I used my passport card to cross back to the US by foot on Memorial Day. Some Mexican girl in line said if I had the card I could use the ready lane so I tried it. It worked and I was through customs in 10 minutes from arriving at PedWest.

[DramaFree11]

Why do some of you dumb asses go to a different country with out a passport, and even more fucking stupid, bring weed. Just fucking stupid!

You, are 100% correct. One thing to not take your passport, but to take drugs to a foreign country is Insane. I do not use the waiters at all at HK, but if you must have drugs, ask them or girls. Watch locked up abroad. It can get out of control very fast, you are playing with fire. $50 will be nothing if they take you to jail, add a couple of zeros.

[ScatManDoo]

Why do some of you dumb asses go to a different country with out a passport, and even more fucking stupid, bring weed. Just fucking stupid!

Well Tom,

My passport has been missing for more than a year. So for nearly a dozen recent trips I've gone with no passport, just a drivers license. The CBP doesn't seem to mind too much. They punch in my CDL number and it seems to informs the agent on their computer that I do have a current passport.

As for your second criticism.

I take the 5th.

[Hargow20]

The article also said for people to be careful for Memorial day weekend.

Thank you for the link to that news article Hargow.

The Leyva family employees private guards to patrol their two hotels: Hacienda de Santiago and Hacienda de Posada (formerly known as Hotel Levya).

These private guards dress in all black uniforms. I've seen them often at those two hotels, but I have never seen them engage with anyone. Instead they appear to perform regular guard functions, like "observe and report" to the policia if actual police activities are needed (questioning, detainment or arrest).

Because of their uniforms, guests and residents of those two hotels often humorously refer to them as the "Men in Black".

[Muncher8888]

Just dial literally 078 from our cell phone, no more no less digits to get them?

http://www.descubretijuana.com/en/at...and-contact-us

[FRobertson]

Why do some of you dumb asses go to a different country with out a passport, and even more fucking stupid, bring weed. Just fucking stupid!

Some people love the thrill, I guess.

Or they wish to live a healthier life on a low-calorie prison diet with opportunity for physical exercise, no alcohol, and an occasional sperm snack?

[TomJackin]

Was here for my second time Tuesday-Wednesday, had an awesome time, but found some trouble haha.

Don't have a passport so had to pay 20 $ bribe to cross on Tuesday. Wednesday morning I had just woken up, major hangover. Mucho tequila.

Didn't even get 50 feet away from Hong Kong before I got stopped. Forgot I had weed pen on me. They found it, told me either jail or take the 45 $ from my wallet and put it back in my pocket for them to take.

Sucks, overall, the trip was worth it, thankfully I only had a little bit of cash on me when I was stopped.

Why do some of you dumb asses go to a different country with out a passport, and even more fucking stupid, bring weed. Just fucking stupid!

[OrganicAlo]

Was here for my second time Tuesday-Wednesday, had an awesome time, but found some trouble haha.

Don't have a passport so had to pay 20 $ bribe to cross on Tuesday. Wednesday morning I had just woken up, major hangover. Mucho tequila.

Didn't even get 50 feet away from Hong Kong before I got stopped. Forgot I had weed pen on me. They found it, told me either jail or take the 45 $ from my wallet and put it back in my pocket for them to take.

Sucks, overall, the trip was worth it, thankfully I only had a little bit of cash on me when I was stopped.

[ScatManDoo]

It's quite possible that fake police will try and rob people in the streets as well. I have noticed that some private security officers wear uniforms that are identical to police uniforms. They wear patches that say Privada. Hopefully the Mexican police crack down on this before it gets to out of hand. We should all pay close attention to this. If anyone has any recent news please post and report it to tourist info line....?

I https://www.10news.com/news/local-ne...na-into-the-us).

Thank you for the link to that news article Hargow.

The Leyva family employees private guards to patrol their two hotels: Hacienda de Santiago and Hacienda de Posada (formerly known as Hotel Levya).

These private guards dress in all black uniforms. I've seen them often at those two hotels, but I have never seen them engage with anyone. Instead they appear to perform regular guard functions, like "observe and report" to the policia if actual police activities are needed (questioning, detainment or arrest).

Because of their uniforms, guests and residents of those two hotels often humorously refer to them as the "Men in Black".

[Hargow20]

It's quite possible that fake police will try and rob people in the streets as well. I have noticed that some private security officers wear uniforms that are identical to police uniforms. They wear patches that say Privada. Hopefully the Mexican police crack down on this before it gets to out of hand. We should all pay close attention to this. If anyone has any recent news please post and report it to tourist info line....?

I https://www.10news.com/news/local-ne...na-into-the-us).

[Baxter Slade]

To Baxter Slade: Why would you be unaware that your singles were gone until you noticed later that they were missing from your pocket?

Maybe I am not understanding what you wrote. Didn't you say you saw the Policia handing out your money to other people?

It was not much later. I keep my money fairly organized. So when I was stopped. Iwas able to get my phone and the bigger bills in my hand and was not that concerned with the ones. After being released and once back in the bar I reached in my pocket and noticed the whole wad of 1's was missing. Never even knew he took them during the search.

On a side note this cop was getting out of control. The day before he had thrown an amigo against a wall and stole money from him. Many in the zona hated this guy. SG's were pissed as they would see this guy robbing tourists and felt like he was stealing money that should go to him. I also later found out the mesero who lent me his phone to report the crime was his godson. (Even he hated this guy) I had to borrow the phone because mine was not working to reach the Tijuana emergency number.

[ScatManDoo]

Maybe you never read my story were the cop became very angry I was holding the money in my hand. He actually started yelling you think I want your money. Ha ha ha. He then pulls out his wallet and shows me all his money and says you think I want your stinkin money. He then proceeds to grab money out of my hand and pass it out to people on the street to show me he doesn't need my money.

While this was far from the normal shakedown which Jackie described. You get a far to brazen asshole and anything can happen. At least in this case the outright theft of my money allowed me to call the emergency number and report him and a short time later my money was returned to me.

Yes Jackie you do remember. Hugs from the supervisor and the crooked cops and a refund. And the money in my hands was a bunch of $5 s. But once the cops were gone I realized the wad of $1 bills that I had left in my pocket was missing. I guess that pissed me off enough to report it.

While the most common shakedowns involve making you think you broke the law. Like having an ED pill or drunk in public. Then they request you can make the problem go away with a bribe. If they don't have anything on you then to secretly relieve you of a 20 or some amount they think you might not notice is common. And then as you stated not that common but there are those rouge thieves masqurading as Tijuana police who will outright rob you.

This is the type of common policia shakedown was what I was remembering. Policia intimidation and false assertions that over-the-counter Viagra was illegal to possess in Tijuana. Some mongers dolled out some pretty large amounts of money under the threat of being hauled off to Jail.

To Baxter Slade: Why would you be unaware that your singles were gone until you noticed later that they were missing from your pocket?

Maybe I am not understanding what you wrote. Didn't you say you saw the Policia handing out your money to other people?