Crime, Safety, and the Police

Trolls, and Copy Catting,

I am a grown man. I have had enough of my own perosnal experiences in life that I don't need to scan the internet to find tales that I identify with to share with others as my own.

Once agian, I have been going to TJ for many years and never had a problem until this one. Most people that have gone to TJ have seen people stopped by the police, but from a distance you can't determine what is going on.

I am a simple sane adult. I do not drink, drug, or do anything to stand out. I keep a very low profile but that does not matter much if you are stepping out of a cab and the scam is on and going as soon as your foot hits the street.

Anyone monger that goes to the Zona Rosa is like a duck in a pond. Wrong part of town, questionable motives, and money in their pockets.

It does not matter how much the police make, curruption is an acceptable means to an end in TJ and these things will always happen. Show me a Mexican that does not know that curruption is a way of life in Mexico, and I will show you my new Mars rock.

My job is not to convince anyone that they are in harms way every time they cross the border, or that my experiene was real. When you are in the middle of your own problem you will realize it.

Stay safe in your travels,

Double, i.e. Troll, Copy Cat

Double's report sounded credible to me, but of course everyone can make up their own mind about any report. I recall the previous post which Explorer accused Double of copying and embellishing, but Double's post is not at all similar to that prior post, much less "amazingly similar," except on a very general level (i.e. both incidents happened in the zona near the alley). Perhaps if Explorer had actually taken the time to go back and re-read that prior post (which I did not believe either, by the way), he would not have thrown out his accusation, which really should not be made lightly.

As for Double's statement that the police salaries are not a factor in their corruption, I would simply ask the following: if you were in a job that paid you $300 a month with no realistic hope of ever making legitimately much more, would you break more rules and commit more crimes to make money than you do now?

I'm in the Zona two or three times a week, have been going for years and have never been stopped, searched or questioned.

Funny part is I dress like I always do, which is to say I even stand out in the ritzy neighborhood where I live. Jeans daytime on occasion, but mostly Armani, Hugo Boss, Claiborne, you get the idea, dress slacks and shirt. Nobody screws with me.

Personally, I think the cops mess with the guys dressed the poorest, thats been my observation and experience. Why? I don't know, maybe their intimidated by people that dress. I walk that alley like I own it, but I'm rarely there after midnight and I don't drink so that might have something to do with it.

Also, I carry my atm and credit cards always, I make use of them when I have dates outside the Zona. Any cop that hoisted me would have their hands full, I'd go to jail rather than pay a bribe, any bribe, ever.

I've been in jail twice, I was a lot younger and it didn't scare me then and I'm a lot meaner now. Don't let anyone phuck with you down there, especially a cop on the take.

Hey queer eye,

The cops in TJ are in way intimidated by you a bit. It's just that your number has not come up yet. If the cops won't get you the muggers will if what you said is true which I highly doubt. The prisons in TJ are not Club Meds like the ones across the border.

And by the way,if you think scratching and biting is mean than I guess you're pretty tough. LOL

BEWARE THE FLOWER GIRLS

Glad to see the new section set up for crime, safety and the police. A warning about the "Flower Girls" on Revolucion. These are a group of mostly attractive young women (teens to early 20s) who come out in the very early morning hours on the weekends, when drunken tourists are exiting bars in large numbers. They hold flowers and purport to want to sell them to you.

In fact, they are skilled pick-pockets. Their modus operandi is to approach you aggressively and invade your personal space, two at a time, and try to pick your wallet while you are distracted by the flower ruse and their attractivness. I encountered the Flower Girls awhile back at about 4:00 a.m. while leaving Peanuts & Beer. One girl holding up a flower closely approached me smilingly from the front while one swept by behind me. It happened very fast, but I had heard about the Flower Girls before so I was on-guard and when they got close I instinctively reached to protect my wallet, which, fortunately, was in my front pocket anyway.

They got nothing from me, but I know people who have had their wallet taken and only realized it later. It did strike me as to how effective their technique probably is with people who are not on-guard. I advise everyone to be on guard if you encounter this brazen group of girls.

irish - and to second your observation - i got picked a couple of years ago by the flower girlz - once you recognize thm and they recognize you - it's easy to shake them off - a simple clenched fist and "dejame!" (day-hah'-may is the transliteration) with the accent on the second syllable - as shown - works well - they rep001ter like cucarachas in the light. they got me for a lousy $1 or 2 - didn't matter - the ampount was unimportant - just the principle. their other area is up by rev and premiere (first street) where you cut down toward the walking bridge. they also only seem to target singles - hard to do a group. might be nice to spoof them sometime with some stage money. also assuming the time has passed, probably the same ones i dealt with - were mid teens then a couple of years ago. cute, though (just larcenous)

To all you mongers out there, watch out for the funny money. A friend of mine was in TJ with his wife and kid one weekend and went to the store to buy something; when he left he went to the liquor store next door. Well, what happened was that he got phony money from the first store and the cops busted him stating that he was trying to pass off funny money. Now he is in prison and tells me that his family can't seem to get him out. His family is trying to raise the money but in the meantime he is having a very hard time just staying alive. So far he has actually witnessed 2 murders while in prison. Just be careful when money is exchanged with some of the local vendors. As we all know TJ cops are a-HOLES and the mexican court system is only interested in getting the as much money as possible from an American family.

Mutha.

Mutha;
wow that sucks. Was your friend given pesos or dollars?

I've always thought that TJ would be a great place to spend phony US currency. Unless the chcas start carrying marker pens.

Can someone holler back to me with a hotel suggestion for street girls except Cascadas???
thanks in advance.

Cruiser

The story below is funnier than the money. TJ cops are easy to payoff, unless they are convinced that you have committed a crime that money can't or shouldn't go away. For them to pass up a mordita generally means that they feel that the person is truly guilty and the crime is serious. So, don't be surprised if there is more to the story, that they searched the guy's hotel room and found a bushel of fake money.

Moreover, there is something fishy in the events as related, he goes out to the store, picks up some fake bills, and then gets arrested for passing out fake bills. If you think about that sequence, its rather odd.

Remember, everyone in prison is innocent.

Explorer, that may be the case. This friend of mine is not the most honest person in the world and has been in trouble before but it was for assualt charges in the U.S. I only know his side of the story. Although, using funny money in TJ is not a bad idea. I have thought about it on occassion but I'm too lazy to pursue it. I'd rather just pay the girls in real dollars and be done with it. It may very well be that he made and attempted to use funny US money and got busted. Regardless, his family is having one hell of a time getting him out.

Mutha.

From US embassy in Mexico:

In some instances, Americans have become victims of harassment, mistreatment and extortion by Mexican law enforcement and other officials. Mexican authorities are concerned about these incidents and have cooperated in investigating such cases. However, one must have the officer's name, badge number, and patrol car number to pursue a complaint. Please note this information if you are ever involved with police or other officials. In addition, tourists should be wary of persons representing themselves as police officers or other officials. Request evidence that any such people are in fact who they claim to be.

Consulate Nuevo Laredo
Allende 3330,
Col. Jardín
Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas 88260

Phone: (867) 714-0512
Fax: (867) 714-7984

Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. / 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Principal Officer: Thomas Armbruster

Also found: Concerned U.S. citizens may contact the U.S. Embassy or any U.S. consulate to discuss precautions that they should take. Four Americans were kidnapped in separate incidents in Nuevo Laredo during the Spring and Summer of 2002.

CRIME IN BORDER CITIES: Visitors to border cities such as Tijuana , Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, and Nogales should remain alert and be aware of their surroundings at all times. Visitors are very vulnerable when visiting the local "red light districts," particularly if they are departing alone in the early hours of the morning. Municipal and traffic police are aware of the danger and regularly check the area for persons carrying weapons or drugs and for drunk drivers. Nonetheless, Americans can still fall victim to crime in these districts. In Ciudad Juarez, there has also been a rise in automobile accidents in which municipal police extort money from U.S. citizen victims.

Just various comments I found on these US Embassy, and US consulate internet websites, pertaining to Mexico, and Nuevo Laredo.

Joe Driver

I also had an ex employee who tried to use phony money in TJ. He tried to use a fake $20 at a club. It didn't work. The police were quickly there and took him away.

I don't know how long he was locked up or what fine he paid. We had to let him go for not showing up at work.

I suggest that nobody try this. They've been using US dollars for along time and can probably spot a fake as good as anyone in the US.

About a month or ago i was in the zone a few blocks south of the alley, scouting for SGs when a local called me over trying to sell viagra. After looking at the pill with a package that looked tampered with, he gave me some massage parlor card as I left.

2 blocks later the local police call me over and start the shakedown.

After asking for ID and wondering if it was my 1st time in TJ (this was afternoon) the asked me to empty my pockets looking for drugs. I assured them I have never taken any of any kind I kept waiting for the punchline, which never came. The handed me back my wallet after not finding anything and sternly warned me to not talk to guys and the street, and to head back towards the main drag.

With my tail tucked between my legs I was so relieved I escaped with no bribe money and no threats of beating, I hightailed it back to the safety of Adelitas and my $60 chicas. Lessoned learned for this gringo, dont stray too far from base, especially when along and be careful who you talk with.

Happy Humping

KM

[size=-2][u]EDITOR's NOTE[/u]: [blue]Posting of this report was delayed pending revisions to [u]capitalize the word "I"[/u]. To avoid future delays, please use a capital "I" to refer to yourself in future reports. [i]Thanks![/i][/blue][/size]

Got dropped off tonight at the SENTRI border crossing point by a Taxi around 1 AM. A couple of TJ cops came and shone their flashlights in my face and ordered me to empty my pockets. They kept asking me if I bought any pills or Viagra. I was clean, so they reluctantly let me go. It was clear they wanted to shake me down if they found any excuse.

it's strange, i've driven thousands of miles in mexico and have never had any problems with police, except in tj. my buddy and i were driving back from baja california and i took him to adelitas for a little refreshment.

after we left, and were heading to the border, we get pulled over by a motorcycle policia and told how the terrible gringos were speeding. we were moving with traffic at about 25mph. they took my buddys license and told us to follow them to the police station.

of course, we don't go to the police station, but to a quieter place to see how much they can shake us down for. they started to say that, "oh you don't want this ticket to get on your insurance and raise your rates". yeah, like a tj police ticket is ever going to show up on your us insurance.

they wanted $100 or so, and my buddy had $40 left over from adelitas and he just gave them that. i've had some good experiences in tj in the 80's and 90's, but thing like this just make me not interested in ever going there again.