Crime, Safety, and the Police

[Captain Solo]

I tried this new egress route Friday night. It worked perfect.

11 PM traffic was light. There were still dozens people waiting in line for the collectives with lots of open and lighted store fronts on F Martinez and Calle 2. No policia squad cars were seen all along that route.

You are not likely to get ambushed by policias when streets are busy. If stopped, just pull over near the waiting crowd so there are plenty of witnesses. Even Polciia assholes don't have balls to rob you in front of people.

It's safest to go South on Ninos, West on Calle 1, South on F Martinez, then East on Calle 2 to I5, where there are people and lighted stores, making it harder for policias to shake you down.

[Phordphan]

Good advise. Except I am not sure if you want to walk a few blocks outside of Zona at 1:00 AM. The worst that can happen to you is getting picked up by criminal policia impostors.

The irony is that once you are in the Zona, there won't be any real criminals trying to hurt you since the area is patrolled by scores of police cars. Outside of Zona, you are basically on your own. There is a parking place on Calle 2 and Ave Negrete.

But I wouldn't dare walk to Zona and back from there.

Let's think about this for a second. There are "scores of police cars" in the zona for a reason. Believe it or not, that reason is that there are probably more "real criminals" per square meter than anywhere else in Tijuana. Also, more gringos to shake down - Lots of bars, lots of gringos, some who are driving and may have had a few... You do the math.

Have you been outside the zona at 1:00 am on a Friday or Saturday? It's dangerous, but that danger is the risk of being trampled by the crowds. Revu is busy from Primera to Ticuan. Now a Tuesday or Wednesday is another story, but it's hardly a ghost town these days.

Insider tip: Park at Ticuan and taxi / Uber to and from the Zona. Leaving Ticuan, Calle 8 is a straight shot to Sanchez Taboada, and from there it's extremely easy to get to Padre Kino and the SENTRI lanes.

[Captain Solo]

Amen! Your advise is logical and solid.

I keep telling the bros it's far more risky walking outside of La Zona at any time, day or night (unless you want to count on your obese escorts for protection hehe).

There are far many more Policias patrol on foot. They stop, search and rob pedestrians all the time, if they look suspicious, or drunk in public. If you stagger walking back, you give them excuse to search you for being drunk in public. In addition on foot you can easily be choke held by cholos, robbed of wallets, pants, shoes etc. You'd would look seriously funny, waiting a long time in line at the border butt naked with your dick sticking out in the wind. Hehe.

Driving your own cars is still far safer, quicker and less work than walking through Mexican customs and take cabs. They don't even look at or stamp passports when you cross the border in cars. It usually takes me 10 to 15 minutes driving from the last exit in US to HK parking. Just go slow, 20-25 MPH, blend in with local traffic, obey all traffic signs, avoid the big pot holes that can bend your axles. If stopped by policias assholes, act normal and confident, and insist you did not break any laws. The worst that could happen is a small cerveza propina, a small cost for the convenience and safety of driving.

Good advise. Except I am not sure if you want to walk a few blocks outside of Zona at 1:00 AM. The worst that can happen to you is getting picked up by criminal policia impostors.

The irony is that once you are in the Zona, there won't be any real criminals trying to hurt you since the area is patrolled by scores of police cars. Outside of Zona, you are basically on your own. There is a parking place on Calle 2 and Ave Negrete.

But I wouldn't dare walk to Zona and back from there.

[MikeyOC]

One can always park closer to the border in one of the paying garages, and walk two blocks to the Zona and back.

Good advise. Except I am not sure if you want to walk a few blocks outside of Zona at 1:00 AM. The worst that can happen to you is getting picked up by criminal policia impostors.

The irony is that once you are in the Zona, there won't be any real criminals trying to hurt you since the area is patrolled by scores of police cars. Outside of Zona, you are basically on your own. There is a parking place on Calle 2 and Ave Negrete.

But I wouldn't dare walk to Zona and back from there.

[Captain Solo]

Exiting la Zona at night after a mission is no less exciting then driving a F-15 Strike Eagle, egressing a target after dropping your loads of bombs, jinxing your ways out in the sky full of bursting flaks, exploding SAMs and creepy MIG -29's crawling up your asses. Hehe.

The street North of hotel Leyva and the North part of Revolucion have been undergoing construction, sometimes they are blocked off, difficult to navigate and way too dark and deserted. You can easily become bait to the dumb policias.

It's safest way is to go West on Coahuila, South on F Martinez, then East on Calle 2 to I5, where there are people and lighted stores, making it harder for policias to shake you down.

Alternately, go West on Coahuila towards PLaya for 2 blocks, turn right on Ave Cinco de Mayo, go North 3 blocks you will run into the expressway Via International (Tijuana Ensenada road), exit at O Campo then turn left at Calle 2. This Northern zone is pretty dark and less likely staked out by policias, but you still have to deal with the robbing fuckers hanging out on o Campo and Calle 2. This route is dark, farther, less direct, and may confuse the less experienced drivers.

Despite spending most of their life shaking down tourists, Tijuana policias are amazingly fast in arresting shooting criminals. One theory has it that they just quickly nap the stupidest guys near the crime scene and beat the shit out of them for signed confessions. Hehe.

Do not drive on weekends at night in LZ unless your car is a clunker. I used to drive on the street Baja California which is right behind hotel Leyva towards east and then make a left to take Highway 1 then exit at Avenida Negrete towards Calle Juarez, bypassing all the trap points. But even this route is now patrolled by policia. They got it all covered.

Tijuana policia is supposedly the best paid police force in Mexico but these incompetent guys spend more time harassing their own people and tourists than solving the crimes.

How about first going West towards la playas before finding an exit route?

[Jackie888]

One can always park closer to the border in one of the paying garages, and walk two blocks to the Zona and back.

[Captain Solo]

I left hotel Cascada at 9:11 in the morning, taking a new route via F Martinez then calle 2, to get to the border.

Traffic on Calle 2 to the few Ready Lanes backed up to Via Rapida, probably 2 to 3 hours wait.

Traffic on 9 Sentri lanes backed up to big ad TV and cross over foot bridge. My total time from hotel to CBP was 27 minutes.

The pedestrian line backed up to the park near the foot bridge. CBP was letting groups of 10 to go through the turn stile gate, probably 1 hour wait.

[MikeyOC]

At the end of the day, it all comes down to what kind of car you drive. Policia is not going to pull over 2001 Corolla because they know they would be wasting time.

The whole LZ is swarming with policia on weekend nights and if you were able to drive out of there unscathed, I think it is your luck more than anything else regardless of which routes you took.

I am seriously thinking about buying a clunker exclusively reserved for driving to Tijuana. My 2011 BMW with tinted windows definitely seems to have a bulls eye on it.

[Captain Solo]

Constitucion is usually blocked off at night by moto cop at bar Malquerida, cannot get to Calle 1.

I tried a new route today. It looks good:

Ninos South to Calle 1 (avoid the swap meet on F Martinez daytime weekends, but street is open at night).

Turn right on Calle 1 go West 1 block.

Turn left on F Martinez go South 1 block.

Turn left on Calle 2 go East towards I 5 at the border.

This route has a lot of stores and local traffic. If you get stopped by policias, they are less likely to rob you.

Captain: The next north-south street west of Nino Heroes is named "Martinez". However auto traffic is limited on weekends on Martinez because of a large outdoor swap-meet on that street.

I was thinking of using good-old Constitution Avenue on my next driving exit from La Zona. In the past that couldn't be done, but now that Constitution handles traffic in both directions, it may be my next path to 2nd street out of LZ.

It would be nice to waive 'adios' to the paraditas as QW & I head north after the weekend.

[Jackie888]

How about first going West towards la playas before finding an exit route?

[Captain Solo]

From Coahuila go South on Nino 1 block.

Turn right at Calle 1.

Turn left on F Martinez.

Turn left on calle 2 to the border.

This area has local shops and enough traffic that you can blend in and are less likely targeted. Even if they stop me, I can mange not to let them steal my money.

Well, in order to get to Constitution, you still need to drive on Calle Coahuila? The Tijuana's finest got all the routes covered. As far as I can see there is really no easy route out of LZ, especially at night on weekends.

Do not drive on weekends at night in LZ unless your car is a clunker. I used to drive on the street Baja California which is right behind hotel Leyva towards east and then make a left to take Highway 1 then exit at Avenida Negrete towards Calle Juarez, bypassing all the trap points. But even this route is now patrolled by policia. They got it all covered.

Tijuana policia is supposedly the best paid police force in Mexico but these incompetent guys spend more time harassing their own people and tourists than solving the crimes.

[MikeyOC]

Captain: The next north-south street west of Nino Heroes is named "Martinez". However auto traffic is limited on weekends on Martinez because of a large outdoor swap-meet on that street.

I was thinking of using good-old Constitution Avenue on my next driving exit from La Zona. In the past that couldn't be done, but now that Constitution handles traffic in both directions, it may be my next path to 2nd street out of LZ.

It would be nice to waive 'adios' to the paraditas as QW & I head north after the weekend.

Well, in order to get to Constitution, you still need to drive on Calle Coahuila? The Tijuana's finest got all the routes covered. As far as I can see there is really no easy route out of LZ, especially at night on weekends.

Do not drive on weekends at night in LZ unless your car is a clunker. I used to drive on the street Baja California which is right behind hotel Leyva towards east and then make a left to take Highway 1 then exit at Avenida Negrete towards Calle Juarez, bypassing all the trap points. But even this route is now patrolled by policia. They got it all covered.

Tijuana policia is supposedly the best paid police force in Mexico but these incompetent guys spend more time harassing their own people and tourists than solving the crimes.

[Baxter Slade]

I will file charge with Sindicatura, then will write to Police chief and the Mayor.

Thanks for bringing up the previous incident. Need details in post #11456, but it's not in this thread. Where was it posted? IHave to remember this cop Benito Canesa.

Its in the general report thread. From around late Sept.

Please keep us informed on how it goes with Sinducatura. Just be prepared for the, "so did you actually see him take the money?" question.

[ScatManDoo]

Captain: The next north-south street west of Nino Heroes is named "Martinez". However auto traffic is limited on weekends on Martinez because of a large outdoor swap-meet on that street.

I was thinking of using good-old Constitution Avenue on my next driving exit from La Zona. In the past that couldn't be done, but now that Constitution handles traffic in both directions, it may be my next path to 2nd street out of LZ.

It would be nice to waive 'adios' to the paraditas as QW & I head north after the weekend.

[Captain Solo]

Was looking for dates in Craigslist. Ran across this warning. This girl Sinthia or Danna is seriously attractive. Would be very nice dating and fucking her, but not implicated by her husband in drugs smuggling:

http://tijuana.craigslist.com.mx/w4m/5537460648.html

Warning to men to be careful with this girl named Sinthia or Danna.

She claims to be a college nursing student and single without children, but this is a lie. She never graduated from high school and she is married with children.

She is looking for men with luxury cars Sentry Lane Ready Pass or the United States. Her husband will hide drugs in his car while in the hotel or restaurant with her or she will borrow your car for a day to show her friends, and her husband will hide more drugs in his car. Her husband follows her home in the United States to recover the Narcotics your car while you are at work or sleeping.

It is a scam that has been doing this for a while or do not trust Sinthia Danna. If you need help with it send me a message here.