Crime, Safety, and the Police

[Hargow20]

I have noticed recently there is guys constantly say "cuantos" especially on Constitucion.

El Rabo is probably in LA Zona a couple times every week and has a lot of dick on the ground intelligence, but he has not posted anything for years.

El Rabo survived in La Zona for over 4 decades, so he knows what he's talking about. His advice is spot on and no nonsense. The dealers are usually zombies near Cascada's back door and in front of Caliente, mumbling non stop "Cuanto, cuanto. " Just stay away from them to avoid raising policias's interests. You will be fine.

I was sitting at the mariscos cart at the school girl corner, chomping down a shrimp coctel. A policia pick up truck, carrying half dozen arrests, stopped on Constitucion, blocking traffic. One beefy guy strode into the sleazy hotel, where you store your goodies, apparently searching for some bad guys. He came out empty handed. His partner was checking a couple guys on the street for papers and let them go. I was sitting right next to the action and they never even looked at me.

The mariscos guy spoke good English, saying policias know all the bad guys and only go after them. They are under strict orders to protect and not to hassle tourists.

I have been driving into La Zona for the past 5 years. Got stopped 2, but claiming to be an abogado, and producing a business card from Internal Affairs' head prosecutor, I got lots of respect from the dumb patrol policias who hide their name tags. The drive is only 10 minutes from the border to HK's parking, without walking and sweating. On the way back at midnight or 7, 8 AM in the morning, it takes about 15 to 20 minutes max to cross in SENTRI lane. I can save so much time, energy, money and feel much safer in my car than walking, I will never walk to La Zona again.

You should go with me some nights, when you are not too busy molesting Yolanda. Hehe.

[Member #4450]

Things seem relatively safe with the recent crackdowns in the Zona. The cops seem to be arresting most of ratero's. Or they have been getting killed. Hopefully this is a result of the new police chief. It is still a good idea keep our guads up. These day I constantly check to see who walking behind me.

I mean after what happened to you, you might want to edit your comment.

[Hargow20]

Things seem relatively safe with the recent crackdowns in the Zona. The cops seem to be arresting most of ratero's. Or they have been getting killed. Hopefully this is a result of the new police chief. It is still a good idea keep our guads up. These day I constantly check to see who walking behind me.

[Captain Solo]

El Rabo is probably in LA Zona a couple times every week and has a lot of dick on the ground intelligence, but he has not posted anything for years.

El Rabo survived in La Zona for over 4 decades, so he knows what he's talking about. His advice is spot on and no nonsense. The dealers are usually zombies near Cascada's back door and in front of Caliente, mumbling non stop "Cuanto, cuanto. " Just stay away from them to avoid raising policias's interests. You will be fine.

I was sitting at the mariscos cart at the school girl corner, chomping down a shrimp coctel. A policia pick up truck, carrying half dozen arrests, stopped on Constitucion, blocking traffic. One beefy guy strode into the sleazy hotel, where you store your goodies, apparently searching for some bad guys. He came out empty handed. His partner was checking a couple guys on the street for papers and let them go. I was sitting right next to the action and they never even looked at me.

The mariscos guy spoke good English, saying policias know all the bad guys and only go after them. They are under strict orders to protect and not to hassle tourists.

I have been driving into La Zona for the past 5 years. Got stopped 2, but claiming to be an abogado, and producing a business card from Internal Affairs' head prosecutor, I got lots of respect from the dumb patrol policias who hide their name tags. The drive is only 10 minutes from the border to HK's parking, without walking and sweating. On the way back at midnight or 7, 8 AM in the morning, it takes about 15 to 20 minutes max to cross in SENTRI lane. I can save so much time, energy, money and feel much safer in my car than walking, I will never walk to La Zona again.

You should go with me some nights, when you are not too busy molesting Yolanda. Hehe.

There are lots of drug sales, mostly meth, going on in the alley and on Constitucion, the guys say cuantos, cuantos, cuantos meaning how many bindles do you want?

I was talking to Yolanda the old lady with the walker on Constitucion, and Coahuila, across the street from the alley, and several guys asked me Cuantos? I just ignored them. Then I was stopped and searched by 2 cops. They asked what I was doing and why was I hanging out by the drug dealers? They were polite and not menacing, kept asking me drugs drugs drugs?, and I said no, beer beer beer! I was friendly and cooperative, and smiled and asked them how their night was going, showed no fear. They searched me, found nothing and sent me on my way, later saw them search another gringo who also had nothing....

[Captain Solo]

Friday night I reached the San Ysidro border crossing at about 8 PM. CBP had a patrol car flashing its beacon on the you turn around lane, with a guy in black toting a M-4 carbine at the turn.

Driving further into the camera lanes under the white rubber canopy, each lane had 2 CBPs guys with M4 carbines, total about a dozen guys, peering into each car. They were waiting with serious fire power for some bad asses on the run into Mexico.

On the way back after midnight on SENTRI lanes, a guy, in short and T shirt, was pulled out of the car, hand cuffed and walked to the admin building. My CBP guy did not know what happened with that guy. I have seen a few times in the pedestrian lines, guys were rushed, tackled on the floor, handcuffed and taken away due to outstanding warrants.

Starting in March 2017, people owing more than $50 K back tax to the IRS will have their passports revoked.

So if you have any outstanding issues with the Federal, state or local law enforcement, it's prudent to avoid crossing borders. It may be safer to use the cartels' giant sling shots that can sling a 200-lbs load 1 mile over the Donald's new wall. Hehe.

[Member #4450]

There are lots of drug sales, mostly meth, going on in the alley and on Constitucion, the guys say cuantos, cuantos, cuantos meaning how many bindles do you want?

I was talking to Yolanda the old lady with the walker on Constitucion, and Coahuila, across the street from the alley, and several guys asked me Cuantos? I just ignored them. Then I was stopped and searched by 2 cops. They asked what I was doing and why was I hanging out by the drug dealers? They were polite and not menacing, kept asking me drugs drugs drugs?, and I said no, beer beer beer! I was friendly and cooperative, and smiled and asked them how their night was going, showed no fear. They searched me, found nothing and sent me on my way, later saw them search another gringo who also had nothing.

Another friend got searched recently and they found his bottle of Viagra LOL they asked where is your prescription, and he told them in Spanish, I saw the doctor this morning in the Zona Rio, he gave me a prescription, I went next door to the farmacia, and the farmacia kept my prescription and gave me the pills. This stumped them, because that is the way it really works, when you fill a prescription, you no longer have the prescription, right? Some farmacias DO have a doctor next door who will write you a prescription for 100 or 200 pesos, but nobody ever bothers. The cops said all right but next time keep a copy of prescription.

Some cops will tell you there is a $200 fine for having Viagra or other farmacia drugs without a prescription, such as Viagra or antibiotics, they will dangle their handcuffs and put their hands on their guns like they are going to arrest you, but I have never heard of them actually arresting a Gringo for non-narcotic drugs who refused politely to pay. They know that some Gringos are just terrified of Tijuana cops and will pay up, but it is 99% bluff, as far as I know.

To put this in perspective, in 500+ visits to Tijuana, I have been searched while walking 3 times with no problems. I stopped driving in, after getting stopped too many times during the drug wars of 2007-2008, once stopped 3 times in one night! A few times I resolved this with 200 pesos, as necessary, just to avoid a lot of wasted time. They really do have the right to ticket you and / or tow away your car for tinted windows or speeding, etc. It just wasn't worth it to me to buy the Mexican car insurance and deal with potential accidents and greedy cops, etc. To save a few bucks on taxis.

If you just take a taxi to and from the clubs, and stay in the block with the clubs and the alley, and mind your own business, your chances of having any problems with anybody are near zero. Just ignore people who come up to talk with you in the street and keep walking. Never carry any kind of knife, even a penknife, teargas, or any other obvious weapon, as there are very strict laws about this. The clubs and businesses pay the cops big money to keep the one block area safe and to not pick on Gringo customers, but the surrounding area, including Constitucion north of the Chicago Club, Coahuila east of Constitucion, are pretty dodgy, especially at night, so don't go wandering around.

There have been several drug shootings this year in the Zona, in the HK, in the alley, and a drug seller was killed on Schoolgirl Corner, Constitucion and Coahuila, in January, so the cops are cracking down on street people. You can see the cops throwing potential bad guys in the back of the police truck and they also have a paddy wagon van, they often arrest 100 people a night in the Zona on busy nights, almost never Gringos. They are protecting us from some bad hombres. Don't go stumbling around drunk, get in fights, use or buy drugs on the street, or hang out with street people, and you will probably never have any problems.

For security, I just wear a pair of gym shorts under my pants. Valuables are in the gym shorts pocket underneath my pants, except for a little play money and a Xerox copy of my passport. If I need to get to my main money, I have to open my pants, LOL, but nobody is going to pickpocket me unless I take my pants off first, LOL. Also, if frisked, they can't feel much in my hidden pockets under 2 layers of fabric.

Another security tip, take a picture of your passport and other docs with your phone and email yourself a copy, if you lose everything you can go to an internet place and print out a copy, the border guys can look you up from your passport number if you show them a picture or copy of your passport face page.

Other excellent safety advice here from One Wing Low, Captain Solo, Saltshaker, Scatmandoo, and other Senior Members. But to summarize, follow the rules you read here and risk is near zero. People ask me if I am afraid going into Tijuana and I say no, I am afraid when I come back and have to drive past the CHP on the way home. Follow a few simple safety rules and have a good time!

Great advice Rabo. I agree with everything you said, I haven't seen you around here in a long time.

Anyway Just to add something to your advice you don't have to worry about not having your passport, you just tell the CBP you lost you passport and by telling him that you are a US citizen they will just ask you a few question and let you go. See by federal law is a felony claming that you are a US citizen if you are not.

Best thing to do is take your driver license with you in a different pocket, I'm very good remembering numbers I do know my driver license and my social security they can look you up with your numbers and they can determine if you are the person you're saying you are.

By the way let me give you my advice don't talk to that woman Yolanda that Hobo has bad reputation and she is a thieve, also don't talk to strangers or beggars on the street cops are looking at you talking to the wrong crowd, just keep on walking and never stop and don't say anything only talk to the alley girls don't talk to any guy outside, I only talk to guys when I'm in the bar but never out on the streets or alley.

The Frontera info is a good site for up to date info and crime in Tijuana, lets not forget soon Tijuana will receive many criminals when the deportation gets in efect From CA prisons. I just wish Tijuana oficials are prepared to remove these scams out of Tijuana, for sure it will damage Tijuana tourism.

[Rabo Verde]

There are lots of drug sales, mostly meth, going on in the alley and on Constitucion, the guys say cuantos, cuantos, cuantos meaning how many bindles do you want?

I was talking to Yolanda the old lady with the walker on Constitucion, and Coahuila, across the street from the alley, and several guys asked me Cuantos? I just ignored them. Then I was stopped and searched by 2 cops. They asked what I was doing and why was I hanging out by the drug dealers? They were polite and not menacing, kept asking me drugs drugs drugs?, and I said no, beer beer beer! I was friendly and cooperative, and smiled and asked them how their night was going, showed no fear. They searched me, found nothing and sent me on my way, later saw them search another gringo who also had nothing.

Another friend got searched recently and they found his bottle of Viagra LOL they asked where is your prescription, and he told them in Spanish, I saw the doctor this morning in the Zona Rio, he gave me a prescription, I went next door to the farmacia, and the farmacia kept my prescription and gave me the pills. This stumped them, because that is the way it really works, when you fill a prescription, you no longer have the prescription, right? Some farmacias DO have a doctor next door who will write you a prescription for 100 or 200 pesos, but nobody ever bothers. The cops said all right but next time keep a copy of prescription.

Some cops will tell you there is a $200 fine for having Viagra or other farmacia drugs without a prescription, such as Viagra or antibiotics, they will dangle their handcuffs and put their hands on their guns like they are going to arrest you, but I have never heard of them actually arresting a Gringo for non-narcotic drugs who refused politely to pay. They know that some Gringos are just terrified of Tijuana cops and will pay up, but it is 99% bluff, as far as I know.

To put this in perspective, in 500+ visits to Tijuana, I have been searched while walking 3 times with no problems. I stopped driving in, after getting stopped too many times during the drug wars of 2007-2008, once stopped 3 times in one night! A few times I resolved this with 200 pesos, as necessary, just to avoid a lot of wasted time. They really do have the right to ticket you and / or tow away your car for tinted windows or speeding, etc. It just wasn't worth it to me to buy the Mexican car insurance and deal with potential accidents and greedy cops, etc. To save a few bucks on taxis.

If you just take a taxi to and from the clubs, and stay in the block with the clubs and the alley, and mind your own business, your chances of having any problems with anybody are near zero. Just ignore people who come up to talk with you in the street and keep walking. Never carry any kind of knife, even a penknife, teargas, or any other obvious weapon, as there are very strict laws about this. The clubs and businesses pay the cops big money to keep the one block area safe and to not pick on Gringo customers, but the surrounding area, including Constitucion north of the Chicago Club, Coahuila east of Constitucion, are pretty dodgy, especially at night, so don't go wandering around.

There have been several drug shootings this year in the Zona, in the HK, in the alley, and a drug seller was killed on Schoolgirl Corner, Constitucion and Coahuila, in January, so the cops are cracking down on street people. You can see the cops throwing potential bad guys in the back of the police truck and they also have a paddy wagon van, they often arrest 100 people a night in the Zona on busy nights, almost never Gringos. They are protecting us from some bad hombres. Don't go stumbling around drunk, get in fights, use or buy drugs on the street, or hang out with street people, and you will probably never have any problems.

For security, I just wear a pair of gym shorts under my pants. Valuables are in the gym shorts pocket underneath my pants, except for a little play money and a Xerox copy of my passport. If I need to get to my main money, I have to open my pants, LOL, but nobody is going to pickpocket me unless I take my pants off first, LOL. Also, if frisked, they can't feel much in my hidden pockets under 2 layers of fabric.

Another security tip, take a picture of your passport and other docs with your phone and email yourself a copy, if you lose everything you can go to an internet place and print out a copy, the border guys can look you up from your passport number if you show them a picture or copy of your passport face page.

Other excellent safety advice here from One Wing Low, Captain Solo, Saltshaker, Scatmandoo, and other Senior Members. But to summarize, follow the rules you read here and risk is near zero. People ask me if I am afraid going into Tijuana and I say no, I am afraid when I come back and have to drive past the CHP on the way home. Follow a few simple safety rules and have a good time!

[EBoardbuilder]

Thanks for the warning I use pedeast all the time what time this happen day or night? Was he alone or behind you was he one of those kids selling chewing gum?

The incident occurred two Saturdays ago it probably was around 8:30 pm. I don't know if he was with the group of kids selling chewing gum but he definitely knew a few of the kids around the area just off of his body language. But I did not see him talking to any of the other children before trying to pick me. If I see him again I'll try to get a better description of him possibly take a picture if I can do it inconspicuously. Good luck stay safe.

[Member #4450]

Was visiting the zona this evening, and there was a body (covered with a white sheet) outside the alley entrance of Hong Kong. 7:30 PM or so.

Police had taped the area off.

Not sure about what happened.

Left the zona around 8:30 PM or so.

WTF another old dude playing superhero with a Viagra cocktail and a three way!

[Member #4450]

Be on the watch out for a kid maybe 8-10 years old 4 foot 8 ish male wearing darker clothes near pedeast he is an excellent pickpocket, lucky I knew he was going to try something so I caught him lucky, I didn't break his wrist when I caught him trying to pick it. Probably won't help since there are a ton of kids in that area just keep an eye on your phone keys wallet.

Thanks for the warning I use pedeast all the time what time this happen day or night? Was he alone or behind you was he one of those kids selling chewing gum?

[EBoardbuilder]

Be on the watch out for a kid maybe 8-10 years old 4 foot 8 ish male wearing darker clothes near pedeast he is an excellent pickpocket, lucky I knew he was going to try something so I caught him lucky, I didn't break his wrist when I caught him trying to pick it. Probably won't help since there are a ton of kids in that area just keep an eye on your phone keys wallet.

[DduFail]

Was visiting the zona this evening, and there was a body (covered with a white sheet) outside the alley entrance of Hong Kong. 7:30 PM or so.

Police had taped the area off.

Not sure about what happened.

Left the zona around 8:30 PM or so.

[Member #4450]

[Message to Admin deleted]

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[Captain Solo]

The bros have to get pass many tough cops in California before they have to deal with a few soft policias in la Zona.

What does a speed trap by San Clemente have to do with crime, safety, and cops in Tijuana?

[Member #4450]

P[Message to Admin deleted]

EDITOR's NOTE: This report was edited to remove a message directed to the Forum Admin.

The open Forum is not the appropriate venue to contact the Forum Administration regarding individual questions, complaints or comments about the administration of the Forum. Instead, please use the Contact Us link at the bottom of this page to send me an email voicing your complaints about the administration of the Forum, and I will respond as quickly as possible. Thanks!