Crime, Safety, and the Police

[Captain Solo]

To Scott Hall.

You 've done well handling Tijuana Polciias properly. Polcicas and soldiers are poorly paid and hungry. If you leave your cash exposed, they would be tempted and would more likely than not, steal from you. But if you hold tight to your cash, they don't have the balls to rob it from your hands.

The keys for survival and progresses in life are prior knowledge and experiences in handling difficult situations. If Tijuana does not have aggressive policia patrols, just imagine the level of violent and property crimes that wealthy mongers could be targeted for. A few mongers would be choked, beat up, knifed and robbed every day before they can get near La Zona to screw any girls.

A few years back I found a few young Mexican soldiers manning a drug checkpoint mid way between Tijuana and Ensenada, wearing full battle fatigues, carrying weapons and heavy combat loads, hanging out in the hot sun, checking cars and buses. I gave them a few ice-cold Coke cans. They were grateful. I would not give money to solders or policias as that can be interpreted as bribes. But if I find them in needs, I would help and try to give them what they need.

A few policias old timers in Tijuana could not shake me down with their automatic weapons late at night. They were reduced to begging me for cervezas money hehe.

A few years back a couple young US Marines were drinking in Adleitas, marveling at the pretty and sexy chicas but did not have enough money to take them upstairs. I told them about street girls' deals and gave them enough money to have a taste of Mexican street chicas hehe. Marines, sialors, soldiers, airmen ect are precious US assets. They have been forbidden to go to Tijuana may be since 2008 due to cartel's violence. Poor kids.

[Dcrist0527]

Totally agree. And great point about it rattling the nerves and not being accustomed to that.

I'm not in law enforcement but I think if I were, anyone in the zona might be suspicious. LOL I say that halfway as a joke. And I agree, if they could pick out the good guys and bad guys, that'd be great. But we all know the percentage of bad hombres in the zona is higher than many other places.

Thanks for reporting. Sucks that it happened to you. But I appreciate you sharing that you were allowed to hold your money. Great to know and I'll benefit from that when it's my turn. I'm probably approaching my 50th trip so I'm probably overdue.

Fair point but it seems like they single out tourists for these random searches. In my mind I'm like, what a waste of time and resources it is to hassle a guy who's done nothing wrong and no threat. Meanwhile there are a lot of genuinely dangerous people out there that they could be focusing on.

[Travv]

To be fair, I saw the Tijuana policia helping an old American tourist with a cane in front of Tijuana Tillys Restaurant last Sunday. Looked like the guy was having a serious health problem and they were helping him into the patrol car to take him to a hospital. So they do provide a service and are not completely useless.

I've said this before and I am not saying this to anyone in particular. Just a general comment.

I think it's important to differentiate being stopped and questioned by police and being robbed by police. We talk alot about safety concerns. Only the police can combat that. So it's like having your cake and eating it too.

Are there corrupt police? Certainly. But I also understand that some of their police work is to talk to people. And when I think about my activities, loitering in the alley for a short time, or when known dealers approach you, I can understand a question from the police.

My only point is we absolutely need to warn each other about corrupt police activity. But we also don't need to overreact "normal" police work.

[ScottHall]

I was exiting Chicago and headed toward Adelitas, and there was a policia car parked on the corner waiting for someone like me. They called me over for questioning and I had no choice but to comply. They asked me where I was going, what I was doing, where I was from, where did I work, do I have drugs. I gave them honest answers about everything and simply told them I was going to Adelitas. I put my cash in my hand and they frisked me down and they let me go. I had about 200 on me, I don't know if they would have tried to take some if I had left it in my pocket while they frisked me. It's the first time I had ever run into policia in about 50 trips. It wasn't too big of a deal but it's definitely not something you want to get used to.

I've said this before and I am not saying this to anyone in particular. Just a general comment.

I think it's important to differentiate being stopped and questioned by police and being robbed by police. We talk alot about safety concerns. Only the police can combat that. So it's like having your cake and eating it too.

Are there corrupt police? Certainly. But I also understand that some of their police work is to talk to people. And when I think about my activities, loitering in the alley for a short time, or when known dealers approach you, I can understand a question from the police.

My only point is we absolutely need to warn each other about corrupt police activity. But we also don't need to overreact "normal" police work.

Fair point but it seems like they single out tourists for these random searches. In my mind I'm like, what a waste of time and resources it is to hassle a guy who's done nothing wrong and no threat. Meanwhile there are a lot of genuinely dangerous people out there that they could be focusing on.

[Dcrist0527]

I've said this before and I am not saying this to anyone in particular. Just a general comment.

I think it's important to differentiate being stopped and questioned by police and being robbed by police. We talk alot about safety concerns. Only the police can combat that. So it's like having your cake and eating it too.

Are there corrupt police? Certainly. But I also understand that some of their police work is to talk to people. And when I think about my activities, loitering in the alley for a short time, or when known dealers approach you, I can understand a question from the police.

My only point is we absolutely need to warn each other about corrupt police activity. But we also don't need to overreact "normal" police work.

[ScatManDoo]

From what I have been hearing lately it seems like the police are becoming more active in robbing gringo tourists. AND ITS NOWHERE NEAR CHRISTMAS..

An amigo recently had the cab he was in pulled over by the police. He was ordered out, during the search a good chunk of his money disapeared, but they were kind enough to leave him enough to pay for his taxi ride.

Elections were held just last weekend. So now is the best time for exploiters (like Tijuana Policia) to test how far they can go in their devious efforts.

[Baxter Slade]

I was walking in the alley and two cops stopped me the police car that is always parked on the west end. They questioned me and wanted to search my wallet. When I tried taking money and cell phone they objected. But then they let me hold it in my hands. The cops were disappointed when they did not find anything. That was kind of funny. After this they let me go.

From what I have been hearing lately it seems like the police are becoming more active in robbing gringo tourists. AND ITS NOWHERE NEAR CHRISTMAS..

An amigo recently had the cab he was in pulled over by the police. He was ordered out, during the search a good chunk of his money disapeared, but they were kind enough to leave him enough to pay for his taxi ride.

[Hargow20]

I was walking in the alley and two cops stopped me the police car that is always parked on the west end. They questioned me and wanted to search my wallet. When I tried taking money and cell phone they objected. But then they let me hold it in my hands. The cops were disappointed when they did not find anything. That was kind of funny. After this they let me go.

After many years of having no contact with Tijuana LE, last Tuesday (7/3/18) I was stopped, searched, questioned briefly, and let go. No bullshit on their part. They were polite and patient as I emptied my wallet of dollars and pesos before turning it over to the to search (for drugs, they said). When they asked me if I had any drugs, I smiled politely, chucked politely, and said "no" in a tone that implied that I found that as silly as suggesting that I had the tooth fairy concealed in my trunk.

I had been driving around the block looking for parking, and on what was probably my third pass, they pulled me over.

The location was Coahuila & Martinez. I don't know why, but that intersection was swarming with police and soldiers. With all that "protection", it looked to me like a safe place to park on the street. And indeed, it was.

[Captain Solo]

Wow. Our bro Clam is excellent in uncovering scams in and around Tijuana.

Slashing tires is a serious offense. I will have to stay away from the right SENTRI lane from now on.

While I cruise through the SENTRI lane in less than 5 minutes every time, the ready and regular lanes are always backed up at least 3 to 4 hours, regardless of the time of day or night. When your bladder is about to burst under pressure, there are guys who would drive your car along for $1 while you go off to [CodeWord134]. Do not follow suggestions of a few guys to [CodeWord134] in front of the closed shops in the alleys, as they work with an asshole policia, who would show up on his bike within 30 seconds and ticket you for peeing in public, potentially requiring a big bribe to get out of the jam. What a scam, huh? Keep walking down the road until you find guys who set up a barrel on the floor of a closed shop.

Clam is so good at fighting scams, El President Enrique Nieto should name him his Anti-Scam Minister in Mexico City. Wonder if the propane delivery guy is still screwing Scam 's novia bare back in his bed every weekly delivery hehe.

[WombatEd2]

After many years of having no contact with Tijuana LE, last Tuesday (7/3/18) I was stopped, searched, questioned briefly, and let go. No bullshit on their part. They were polite and patient as I emptied my wallet of dollars and pesos before turning it over to the to search (for drugs, they said). When they asked me if I had any drugs, I smiled politely, chucked politely, and said "no" in a tone that implied that I found that as silly as suggesting that I had the tooth fairy concealed in my trunk.

I had been driving around the block looking for parking, and on what was probably my third pass, they pulled me over.

The location was Coahuila & Martinez. I don't know why, but that intersection was swarming with police and soldiers. With all that "protection", it looked to me like a safe place to park on the street. And indeed, it was.

[Dcrist0527]

You're probably right. Yes, I have seen at least two banda bands staying there. One band took up a ton of rooms. There were between 20-30 of them.

Who knows what happened. I did not know her well. I knew her name and she was always kind, almost flirty. But I also saw her attitude too when something went wrong with some group at the restaurant. I agree. A message was being sent with something so gruesome. Regardless, just sad.

Mmmm, the problem with Hotel Ticuan is that its right next to last pulgas which is known to be a mafia hotspot, since its close by I am pretty sure that a lot of the "banda" bands stay there and the mafiosos follow them all over, its their favorite music, so there is a very good chance that this girl had a lot of interaction with the mafia and may have had friends that were mafia members, she may have been invited to a celebration and things went bad, if the other guy that was with her was also a Ticuan worker he may have ended the same way.

Those type of horrible killings are always related to the mexican mafia, the horrible way they kill the victims its a way of punishment for something.

[Ctytek]

Did this "scam" happen to you personally? If not. You are just spreading hearsay. There are enough posters on this forum who love to make up stories and spread urban legends. Let's stick to the facts and report things witnessed first hand.

LOL. Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it's not going on. Perhaps it would be wise to lessen your ignorance and open yourself up to the possibility that things occur in the world that you never see.

[Hargow20]

There was a attempted mugging on Cohilla st just east of Constitucion that happened during the daytime around 1 pm. If anyone has any recent news on increase rateros's muggings lately please post..? It is quite possible that the ratero's have started jumping people on the streets again. Last year the Rateros' were mugging people on Constitucion just north the alley. So keep your guard up and look behind you.

[ClamSlammer]

Your tales are pure BS, specially the one about flat tires, I cross the border 3 to 4 times a week on both crossing and never seen these so called scam artists changing flat tires.

LOL. Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it's not going on. Perhaps it would be wise to lessen your ignorance and open yourself up to the possibility that things occur in the world that you never see. And it's not like the tire scammers are flattening 100 tires a day-they're not. You erroneously make this false assumption. Doing so at such high volume will surely attract unwanted attention and investigation. They do it very sparingly. In order to notice the tire scam, you'd have to be in the far right lane, or perhaps the 2nd from right. Otherwise with all the cars piled up you'd never notice. And many victims opt not to pay for the scammers tire services, instead they just drive over with a flat tire and deal with it after they cross. Talk to some of the tire shops in Chula Vista and they will confirm they've witnessed an increase in customers whose tires inexplicably go flat while waiting to cross back to USA.

And I don't know how you could call the case de cambio scam "BS" because you've never seen tires get changed at the border. Somehow you find those two events are related somehow. I'd love to hear your logic on that.

[Jim0129]

That is horrible! Itzel was a great girl. Always kind to me.

Her lack of English and my crappy Spanish always made for comical interactions. She was also smart. There was a girl I spent nights with, at Ticuan, Itzel told me to get rid of her. Should have listened to her! LOL.

I too would be surprised if Ricardo was the suspect. Always seemed to be a good and hard-working guy. Hope that he's found and innocent! Thanks for sharing.

Mmmm, the problem with Hotel Ticuan is that its right next to last pulgas which is known to be a mafia hotspot, since its close by I am pretty sure that a lot of the "banda" bands stay there and the mafiosos follow them all over, its their favorite music, so there is a very good chance that this girl had a lot of interaction with the mafia and may have had friends that were mafia members, she may have been invited to a celebration and things went bad, if the other guy that was with her was also a Ticuan worker he may have ended the same way.

Those type of horrible killings are always related to the mexican mafia, the horrible way they kill the victims its a way of punishment for something.