Crime, Safety, and the Police

[Hargow20]

The pedestrian bridge is fairly safe. I have only had one incident where this one guy walked behind me and demanded money from me in all my years of crossing the river. Luckily he only got $20. The main thing is to try and walk with other people and constantly look to see who is behind you. There is video cameras on the bridge, but not so sure how often the cops monitor them.

I'll add my 2 cents. I won't wade into the fantasy vs. Fact. But I will relay my story. I'm a guy who has never traveled to Tijuana with anyone else. More often than not, I walk to ZN, over the bridge. Granted, I'm a big guy. By Mexican standards, I suppose 5'11" is tall. I'm also a bit overweight (& wonder if that makes me more or less of a target).

I would just ditto what was already said. Keep your head on a swivel. I've never seen anything like 7 rateros jumping someone. I had one incident personally, where I was certain I was going to be mugged by 2 guys. I followed advice I read here and kept one eye on the back of my head. So I saw it coming. I turned and walked towards them (my thought was. OK at least going to know what's coming). I looked them right in the eye and they backed off.

My point, be aware. I'm 100% certain they were going to jump me if I didn't face them. (This was near the ZN side of the bridge, about 9 PM. Between Piri and Revolucion. Not my smartest move!

[Dcrist0527]

I'll add my 2 cents. I won't wade into the fantasy vs. Fact. But I will relay my story. I'm a guy who has never traveled to Tijuana with anyone else. More often than not, I walk to ZN, over the bridge. Granted, I'm a big guy. By Mexican standards, I suppose 5'11" is tall. I'm also a bit overweight (& wonder if that makes me more or less of a target).

I would just ditto what was already said. Keep your head on a swivel. I've never seen anything like 7 rateros jumping someone. I had one incident personally, where I was certain I was going to be mugged by 2 guys. I followed advice I read here and kept one eye on the back of my head. So I saw it coming. I turned and walked towards them (my thought was. OK at least going to know what's coming). I looked them right in the eye and they backed off.

My point, be aware. I'm 100% certain they were going to jump me if I didn't face them. (This was near the ZN side of the bridge, about 9 PM. Between Piri and Revolucion. Not my smartest move!

[Baxter Slade]

I wish I could give you a like Phordphan.

My thoughts exactly someun doesn't sound right.

[Phordphan]

Interesting thread content the last couple of days.

A new-be to the board missed the trolley. So this puts the timeline somewhere past 1 am. Let's say around 2 am, to give him time to get back from the trolley station to the ZN and do some wandering.

He's wandering around the ZN looking for a $20 hotel for the night (But not in the only marginally habitable hotels, like Coahula, Cascadas or Rizo). We're "half a block" from HK, although the location is very vague. But we've all walked that area. So, I assume we're looking for a hotel along Constitucion? <shudder>. Yes, I realize this sounds insane to most of us, but it must be true. It's posted on the Internet.

We're now mugged by a gang of 7(!) rateros. Well dressed rateros. Including women rateros, presumably well dressed also. I guess on their way to a club. They could have been non-Spanish speaking deportees (I've never met a deportee who didn't speak Spanish, but they must exist, as apparently they are out mugging tourists.).

Now we're all glad that OP is alive and well. I'm guessing that the experience so traumatized him that the events became muddled and difficult to recall. I would never suggest that such a tale is made from whole cloth. I was gently reprimanded on the "other" board when posting my thoughts about a similar poster, who had a similar fantabulous tale, with similarly vague details.

It remains for those seeking information about the dangers of Tijuana to determine fact and fantasy.

[Hargow20]

It important to never let your guard down and constantly look to see who is behind you in the Zona. Everyone needs to keep posting any recent news. I would not be surprised if the Rateros started jumping guys on Constitucion again.

On weekends revolucion has a few thousand club goers. Its a 1 minute walk to the strip club area. I think a lot of it has to do with your height. If you are tall they won't pick you. I'm short but they were all shorter than me. It was men and woman that's why I think it was just a quick grab on the way to the clubs. People get robbed in America also so it can happen anyplace but the point is you are being watched once you walk out of Hong Kong to view the scene. Being careful doesn't help because if you fight back it won't end well. The only thing you can do is hide the passport make sure you have health insurance for foreign country.

[ScatManDoo]

I was attacked by 7 people at once for my lousy wallet. A half block from Hong Kong. Be careful. Understand many things. If you are from America, Tijuana is no joke, especially the streets with the strip bars. I was attacked for my wallet by likely deportees. I almost died. I don't want to get into the details but I was 50 50 live or die. I had very little money on me. They all spoke perfect English. They must of been deportees, well dressed, looked like they were going to the regular night clubs and needed spending money. I didn't even drink and amazingly was only looking for a hotel because I missed the trolley. I have been on those streets before, and although not robbed, one girl in jeans, dressed like a girl at the office, also speaking English tried to get me to her motel room, I told her ID look but wasn't in mood till I drank. I got to the room the guy was in the room I bet her plan was to get me in the room, call him, then I get robbed. So I dodged that bullet. Really its a lot of bullets to dodge. The place is super exciting and my depression and lack of happiness in my own life had me going back for more till I got mugged and almost killed. That was a few months ago. Also the police will put you up against the van and pat you down often. I spent maybe 6 nights in Tijuana maybe 4 other 4 hour trips, in that time got mugged patted down by police twice. Police didn't take my money. They spoke nicely to me but they were hoping I had drugs or weapons. Essentially the issue is the deportees, they get dropped off, many don't speak Spanish, they have nothing to go to other then rob people. If you go to Tijuana, best to have a secret pocket sewn into pants for the passport, and some money to make it back to the border, and more money in other pockets, they will steal your sweater off you as well. No joke. Overall Mexico I loved and all I got to see was Tijuana revolucion and the strip bars. . But I loved the food, the tacos, the flea market, seeing Mexicans and only Mexicans, I rarely saw Americans walking around, it really felt like and country which I never got that feeling with Canada or Bahamas. 20 dollar hotels. Also don't walk from the border. I did a few times and shouldn't of. My whole life changed from this mugging I had never had anyone lay their hands on me before and now I don't even go to bars in the states because I realized I'm not tall enough to handle drunk guys. Hong Kong staff was good, really all the staff was good, the smaller bars were fine also. If a bar is quiet and not full of customers, you should avoid it, safety in numbers.

You seem to be a bit confused, so I will honor your desire to "not get into the details" as I suspect your details won't shed much light or clarity.

You visited a different Tijuana than the one I am familiar with. In the La Zona that I know, the only "well dressed deportees" seem to mostly be hawkers trying to get me into entering the lousy Tijuana bars or the rip-off Mermaids massage parlor. Muggers tend to work in groups of one or two, not seven "well dressed" rateros all attaching the same poor & crazy sex tourist.

But keep dodging those bullets!

[Hargow20]

Where did this happen. My guess is that you were slightly outside the Zona on Cohullia st. Cohullia can be dangerous at times. Hopefully this is not a new trend.

I was attacked by 7 people at once for my lousy wallet. A half block from Hong Kong. Be careful. Understand many things. If you are from America, Tijuana is no joke, especially the streets with the strip bars. I was attacked for my wallet by likely deportees. I almost died. I don't want to get into the details but I was 50 50 live or die. I had very little money on me. They all spoke perfect English. They must of been deportees, well dressed, looked like they were going to the regular night clubs and needed spending money. I didn't even drink and amazingly was only looking for a hotel because I missed the trolley. I have been on those streets before, and although not robbed, one girl in jeans, dressed like a girl at the office, also speaking English tried to get me to her motel room, I told her ID look but wasn't in mood till I drank. I got to the room the guy was in the room I bet her plan was to get me in the room, call him, then I get robbed. So I dodged that bullet. Really its a lot of bullets to dodge. The place is super exciting and my depression and lack of happiness in my own life had me going back for more till I got mugged and almost killed. That was a few months ago. Also the police will put you up against the van and pat you down often. I spent maybe 6 nights in Tijuana maybe 4 other 4 hour trips, in that time got mugged patted down by police twice. Police didn't take my money. They spoke nicely to me but they were hoping I had drugs or weapons. Essentially the issue is the deportees, they get dropped off, many don't speak Spanish, they have nothing to go to other then rob people. If you go to Tijuana, best to have a secret pocket sewn into pants for the passport, and some money to make it back to the border, and more money in other pockets, they will steal your sweater off you as well. No joke. Overall Mexico I loved and all I got to see was Tijuana revolucion and the strip bars. . But I loved the food, the tacos, the flea market, seeing Mexicans and only Mexicans, I rarely saw Americans walking around, it really felt like and country which I never got that feeling with Canada or Bahamas. 20 dollar hotels. Also don't walk from the border. I did a few times and shouldn't of. My whole life changed from this mugging I had never had anyone lay their hands on me before and now I don't even go to bars in the states because I realized I'm not tall enough to handle drunk guys. Hong Kong staff was good, really all the staff was good, the smaller bars were fine also. If a bar is quiet and not full of customers, you should avoid it, safety in numbers.

[Captain Solo]

Friday night I had 2 patron tequila shots and 3 beers. Unlike other nights with just beers, the Tequila was giving me a buzz. We drove back to the border via Benito Juarez just before midnight.

From half a mile away, I saw the flashing yellow beacons at the 3-way split, so I know there was an alcohol check point. I was trying to turn away from Benito Juarez, but the dumb policias already erected barriers to block off all turns. About 2 dozens cars were heading into the checkpoint like fish floating into a death net. Damn.

Why do they have to do a check point on the night I tried Tequila? 2 policias were standing on either sides of the lane, but apparently they had not stopped any cars before mid night, as I saw no cars parked near the big truck with the pretty young nurse molesting guys with her breath analyzer.

Like last time, poiicias looked into our car with their flash lights, but we put on our Mormons' faces hehe, and cruised right past the cones towards the border. Gringos arriving after midnight were very likely to get pulled over for breath test.

Just to avoid this check point after midnight, I will probably go South on Revo into downtown Tijuana and cross over the river to Padre Kino for the SENTRI lanes, a little farther but safer.

Re. Sound7, Solo Tijuana DUI. 04% BAC; California DUI, EtG testing likely. Be safe.

[Sound7]

Solo Tijuana DUI .04% BAC; California DUI, EtG testing likely. Be safe.

Comrade Sound7 is concerned the bros would get nailed for DUIs in Tijuana, get thrown in jail and get raped by La Zona's obese female Policia Commandante hehe.

Walmart has a breath analyzer accurate to 0.01 BAC for $7, good enough for me.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/2017-New-...vice/596770981

Occasionally Tijuana policia would have an alcohol check point after midnight on Benito Juarez, 1 block West of Negrete, right before the street splits into 3 lanes to San Diego. If you see trucks flashing yellow lights near that corner, just get out of that street, go around that road block to get back to the border.

If I drink less than 5 beers in 5 hours, I would be legal in Tijuana. If not, I would crash in a Tijuana hotel and try to book a toda la noche with one of the pretty HK girls. Hehe..

[Captain Solo]

Comrade Sound7 is concerned the bros would get nailed for DUIs in Tijuana, get thrown in jail and get raped by La Zona's obese female Policia Commandante hehe.

Walmart has a breath analyzer accurate to 0.01 BAC for $7, good enough for me.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/2017-New-...vice/596770981

Occasionally Tijuana policia would have an alcohol check point after midnight on Benito Juarez, 1 block West of Negrete, right before the street splits into 3 lanes to San Diego. If you see trucks flashing yellow lights near that corner, just get out of that street, go around that road block to get back to the border.

If I drink less than 5 beers in 5 hours, I would be legal in Tijuana. If not, I would crash in a Tijuana hotel and try to book a toda la noche with one of the pretty HK girls. Hehe.

Re. Sound7 Costco unit $25 good for 100 plus tests with three individual blowers.

0.00 to 0.40 % BAC accuracy plus minus 0.00 to 0.01.

Good for Mexico no EtG testing (USA only).

Light weight key change. 40 gam (1. 5 oz).

http://www.wardelab.com/19-3.html (EtG USA / California) optional testing.

DUI conviction and impact more than $25.00.

[Sound7]

Apple and Oranges; Tijuana and LV not in the same group. Macau and LV more similar. Dubai and LV?

In Las Vegas this weekend, a guy committed an act of extreme violence, shooting hundreds of random victims with automatic assault rifles at a country music concert across from Mandalay Bay Resort. At least 58 dead for now:

http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/02/us/las...***/index.html

The murders in Tijuana are mostly targeted between drug dealers. It may be safer to go to Tijuana for Mexican music, food and chicas.

[Hargow20]

Dinotrex.

It is important to constantly look to see who is walking behind you in Tijuana and especially the Zona. The Zona will seems safe and then the crime will start picking. When this happens the bandito's come out and police will be out looking shake guys down. Earlier this year the Rateros were hanging out on Constitucion and were jumping guys in front of the stores. The odd thing is that these guys looked fairly normal. So the lesson is to always keep your guard in Tijuana.

[Sound7]

Costco unit $25 good for 100 plus tests with three individual blowers.

0.00 to 0.40 % BAC accuracy plus minus 0.00 to 0.01.

Good for Mexico no EtG testing (USA only).

Light weight key change. 40 gam (1.5 oz).

http://www.wardelab.com/19-3.html (EtG USA / California) optional testing.

DUI conviction and impact more than $25.00.

Re: Solo.

I had 3 beers in 3 hours in HK and got stopped by policia on the dark stretch of Benito Juarez corner of Negrete, where the road spits 3 ways. The pretty nurse let me blow into a breath analyzer and showed it to me. It measured 0.03% so she let me go. If Tijuana limit is 0.05 % I would have to knock down 5 drinks in 3 hours to exceed legal limit, or 9 drink for the 0. 08% limit the US. 4 other Mexicans were arrested, cars impounded, while their families hang out waiting in the dark.

[R]Alcohol Breath Analyzers [ / are]are sold in eBay for about $3. Don't know how accurate they are, but I will buy a few to hand out to friends and family.

For the bros to stay safe on the long drive to Tijuana.

[Sound7]

Re: Solo Tijuana Detox.

EtG reading with confirmation biomarkers esults are accepted by the courts in suspected DUI cases. Tiger wood nailed via biomarker testing. Suspected DUI.

Tijuana good option to detox to EtG to less than 500 level if driving to USA. Use other means of transportation to avoid the EtG 500 trap.

Google: EtG biomaker testing and results.

http://www.wardelab.com/19-3.html

[Captain Solo]

Re Dinotrex.

Take taxi from the border to HK or Adelita on the nice, clean, well-lighted and guarded Calle Coahuila. Stay around the bar block and the Callejon Coahuila (the alley behind HK and hotel Cascada). There are plenty of bars' security guards, meseros and touts hanging out day and night with video cameras. So that area is mostly safe from crime.

Any time, anywhere in Tijuana, only go where there are plenty of people. Don't walk into small alleys by yourself day or night. Walk near curbs or on the streets away from hiding places. Avoid talking to strangers who approach you on the streets. They may be selling drugs, and may set you up, or draw attention from policia. Don't take anyone's suggestion to [CodeWord134] in public places, as their conniving policia friends would quickly zoom in on their bikes while your pants is still down and shake you down for illegal urination. If being searched by policia, hold all your cash and wallet in your hands so they cannot steal from you.

I had cash, wallets and other valuables outside safes in hotel Cascada with HK and street girls' companies all night and nothing has been stolen in all those years. One time I gave the wrong bills to a pretty street girls. 2 hours later, just to find out how she honestly would act, I demanded my change back. She quickly gave me back 200 pesos in excess. Just try that in other countries and see what happens hehe. She was very pretty and sexy. I posted her pics a few times.

You would be plenty safe in Tijuana if you act with cautions as if you were in downtown LOS Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, New York, Washington DC. Tijuana has lots of uniformed, auxiliary and plain clothed policia patrolling La Zona Norte. If in trouble just yell " Ayuda,! Ayuda! Rateros!" and do fight back. Just beat the shit out of any rateros.

Just don't go to any outdoor country music concert in Tijuana or any where in the US. Hehe.