Crime, Safety, and the Police

[QUOTE=Simmer;2210501]Wells Fargo do it too.

Chip or not, usage online is easy with just the human readable information on the card. Even card present transactions: see below.

The US's reluctance to move to chip and PIN, as used in most other western countries by then, was the supposed lack of benefits to security. How it's been implemented (chip and signature, not chip and PIN) explains that logic. I can't remember where I read this but supposedly the fraud rate dropped by 90% in Europe with the introduction of chip and PIN, whereas the US fraud rate only dropped 10% with chip and signature. That low figure is not helped by the fact most US places will accept a swipe instead of a chip read if the chip doesn't work. In other words, clone a card, stick a dummy chip in it, fail to read the chip when you pay, retailer lets you sign instead. I believe in Europe many retailers would decline to accept payment in this case, rather than risk a chargeback.[/QUOTE]95% of the places I use a crd in the us, use a chip reader.

They are all "required" to. Not all of them do, which is a significant liability for them.

One other point to clarify regarding online purchases. The safeguard there is that annoying CVV on the back of your card. All online vendors are "required" to validate that number. The reason: that number is not contained on the magnetic strip. In theory, it proves you have the card & not a clone.

[QUOTE=Basketball101;2210828]95% of the places I use a crd in the us, use a chip reader.[/QUOTE]

Statistics are not good but I still feel safe in Adelita, Hong Kong, Av. Revolucion, Motel La Mansion. Here is a link to the article from "San Diego Reader" [URL]https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2018/aug/08/stringers-tijuanas-most-violent-month-all-history/[/URL]#.

Statistics are not good but I still feel safe in Adelita, Hong Kong, Av. Revolucion, Motel La Mansion. Here is a link to the article from "San Diego Reader" [URL]https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2018/aug/08/stringers-tijuanas-most-violent-month-all-history/[/URL].

Good advice, very sad what is happening, but unfortunately the case in most major cities in America and Mexico. Take a cap a night, and be aware of your surroundings you should be fine.

I feel relatively safe in Tijuana. But I always look to see who is behind me in the Zona. It is also important to keep abreast of the crime trends in Tijuana. Just remember when crime goes up the ratero's muggings and police shakedown's become more common.

[QUOTE=StRobert;2211652]Statistics are not good but I still feel safe in Adelita, Hong Kong, Av. Revolucion, Motel La Mansion. Here is a link to the article from "San Diego Reader" [URL]https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2018/aug/08/stringers-tijuanas-most-violent-month-all-history/[/URL]#.[/QUOTE]

Most of the violent crimes in Tijuana are on the outskirts of town. A lot of it is (like in the US) local on local, drug related, or family related. The San Diego article mentioned crimes in the "safe" areas are all as stated prior. And I think the last shooting near the Hong Kong club was in October of 2012. (Was in the parking lot a half block away.) Not as bad as living in Chicago, where bystanders are getting hit left and right.

Great points, Sailor.

I'm not a fool. This playground has danger. But I do take issue with some of the article. It seems to want to point out that the violence is spreading to tourist areas. And there have been a very small number of incidents in those areas that should raise awareness and even concern. But the article uses a sensational story about a clearly mentally disturbed man to justify the premise of spreading to tourist areas. This was a deranged man in his home. Hardly something to worry the tourists about!

As many have stated before me, the media loves to grab you with headlines and then draw illogical conclusions from faulty logic. We are best served by evaluating the facts ourselves, not accepting the headline or some "reporter's" spin.

[QUOTE=OnceSailor;2211818]Most of the violent crimes in Tijuana are on the outskirts of town. A lot of it is (like in the US) local on local, drug related, or family related. The San Diego article mentioned crimes in the "safe" areas are all as stated prior. And I think the last shooting near the Hong Kong club was in October of 2012. (Was in the parking lot a half block away.) Not as bad as living in Chicago, where bystanders are getting hit left and right.[/QUOTE]

It might be my size or maybe the color of my skin (I'm browned skinned, but not of Hispanic descendancy).

I been going to Tijuana since 2000 and have only got confronted by the cops once. I'll admit I was wasted.

I simply took out my wallet and Passport. They asked the usual question. Where you going. Do you have any drugs.

Want to be safe in Tijuana? Don't go exploring at night. Stay in the Zone or in the night clubs. Don't get at #$tfaced. If you do, get a local hotel room. Sleep it off. Don't ask for drugs.

[QUOTE=OnceSailor;2211818]Most of the violent crimes in Tijuana are on the outskirts of town. A lot of it is (like in the US) local on local, drug related, or family related. The San Diego article mentioned crimes in the "safe" areas are all as stated prior. And I think the last shooting near the Hong Kong club was in October of 2012. (Was in the parking lot a half block away.) Not as bad as living in Chicago, where bystanders are getting hit left and right.[/QUOTE]Just recently there was a killing in the alley near HK where someone was shot and killed. That would be just a half a block or so away near HK's alley entrance. Also there was a shooting on Coahuila near HK last year where a police officer was shot and killed.

[QUOTE=Dcrist0527;2211901]Great points, Sailor.

I'm not a fool. This playground has danger. But I do take issue with some of the article. It seems to want to point out that the violence is spreading to tourist areas. And there have been a very small number of incidents in those areas that should raise awareness and even concern. But the article uses a sensational story about a clearly mentally disturbed man to justify the premise of spreading to tourist areas. This was a deranged man in his home. Hardly something to worry the tourists about!

As many have stated before me, the media loves to grab you with headlines and then draw illogical conclusions from faulty logic. We are best served by evaluating the facts ourselves, not accepting the headline or some "reporter's" spin.[/QUOTE]I was just in Las Playas de Tijuana about 3 days before that incident. It would have been crazy if all that was going on while I was there. The funny thing is that I didn't see not one police in the beach area or on calle Del Pacifico but I did see ocean rescue there. I have seen more police on San Diego and LA beaches than Tijuana beaches.

Chances are = you won't get hurt in Tijuana, if you practice basic safety rules, don't engage in risky activities. But to compare Tijuana to Chicago or any other US city is absurd. The level of violence and associated corruption of law enforcement is exponentially higher in Mexico. Making Mexico far far more dangerous. There is just no comparing US and Mexico.

[QUOTE=OnceSailor;2211818]Most of the violent crimes in Tijuana are on the outskirts of town. A lot of it is (like in the US) local on local, drug related, or family related. The San Diego article mentioned crimes in the "safe" areas are all as stated prior. And I think the last shooting near the Hong Kong club was in October of 2012. (Was in the parking lot a half block away.) Not as bad as living in Chicago, where bystanders are getting hit left and right.[/QUOTE]

I'd say it's incomparable, but only because of what you pointed out. The dangers are different. Chicago's violence is wide spread and in some instances, more random. In Tijuana, the violence is more targeted. Usually. But the corruption and policing practices exposes you to a different type of danger. You have the shakedown game. But you also have the federales battling the narcos. Again, those battles are largely outside of where mongers hang out. Usually.

To me, it's hard to compare the two. And I'm not sure I'd say one is more or less dangerous than the other. Totally different experiences.

[QUOTE=Ctytek;2213644]Chances are = you won't get hurt in Tijuana, if you practice basic safety rules, don't engage in risky activities. But to compare Tijuana to Chicago or any other US city is absurd. The level of violence and associated corruption of law enforcement is exponentially higher in Mexico. Making Mexico far far more dangerous. There is just no comparing US and Mexico.[/QUOTE]

Number of people murdered in Tijuana in July alone is just slightly below the number of people murdered in Chicago during all of 2018.2018 Tijuana murder rate per capita is about 10 x higher than Chicago's. Chicago gun violence is largely contained to a few gang dominated neighborhoods on South and West sides of the city, majority of North side is near violence free. Tijuana violence on the other hand has been spilling into traditionally touristy areas as of late. Several murders in Centro and Zona Norte this summer.

Even if you take relative lawlessness and police corruption in Mexico out of the equitation. Tijuana is far more dangerous than any US city, it's not even close.

[QUOTE=Dcrist0527;2213934]I'd say it's incomparable, but only because of what you pointed out. The dangers are different. Chicago's violence is wide spread and in some instances, more random. In Tijuana, the violence is more targeted. Usually. But the corruption and policing practices exposes you to a different type of danger. You have the shakedown game. But you also have the federales battling the narcos. Again, those battles are largely outside of where mongers hang out. Usually.

To me, it's hard to compare the two. And I'm not sure I'd say one is more or less dangerous than the other. Totally different experiences.[/QUOTE]

Statistically, yes, I agree. Not even close. But that's a slightly different argument than which city is more dangerous. Granted, that's a fool's argument, as it is impossible to know. But I believe (admittedly, I could be wrong), the murders in Tijuana are much more targeted. They are also more brutal (mutilation, burning, hanging, etc.), but that also lends credence to my point. These murders are targeted at narcos. I think that has to be part of the conversation.

[QUOTE=Ctytek;2214101]Number of people murdered in Tijuana in July alone is just slightly below the number of people murdered in Chicago during all of 2018.2018 Tijuana murder rate per capita is about 10 x higher than Chicago's. Chicago gun violence is largely contained to a few gang dominated neighborhoods on South and West sides of the city, majority of North side is near violence free. Tijuana violence on the other hand has been spilling into traditionally touristy areas as of late. Several murders in Centro and Zona Norte this summer.

Even if you take relative lawlessness and police corruption in Mexico out of the equitation. Tijuana is far more dangerous than any US city, it's not even close.[/QUOTE]

True, most MX murders are targeted. The same is also true for US cities. Continuing with Chicago example - 90% of gun violence that Chicago is so infamous for is gang-on-gang wars, retaliation cycles, etc. If you aren't affiliated with gangs and don't live in gang war zone areas. You have nothing to worry about.

The big difference with Mexico is that a scale of violence is on a different level. And the fact that the cartels run the show. While the law enforcement is corrupt, incompetent and ineffective. Maybe AMLO will turn things around, but I doubt it.

[QUOTE=Dcrist0527;2214345]Statistically, yes, I agree. Not even close. But that's a slightly different argument than which city is more dangerous. Granted, that's a fool's argument, as it is impossible to know. But I believe (admittedly, I could be wrong), the murders in Tijuana are much more targeted. They are also more brutal (mutilation, burning, hanging, etc.), but that also lends credence to my point. These murders are targeted at narcos. I think that has to be part of the conversation.[/QUOTE]