Crime, Safety, and the Police

Just spent 4 nights at The Rio Rita for the Christmas festival as well as to visit the zone. There were a combination of security / law enforcement / military forces patrolling the tourist area along avenida revolucion and in the zona norte. While I personally did not have any interaction with any of these folks other guys weren't so lucky. One of my friends reported being robbed by a municipal policewoman. I also personally witnessed cop patrols on foot harassing white gringos headed into the zone. I got lucky as they were busy harassing and douching to pay attention to my presence walking to purpose and urgency to get to and from the zone. Previously on my visits this year I had 1 incident where I was pulled over but the stop actually went well and I was instructed to hold on to my money in my hand as my wallet was searched. However, this being the few weeks before Christmas it looks as though the honest cops are also pressed for cash for Christmas shopping as my buddy was robbed my a municpal.

Tijuana is trying hard to attract more tourism but stories like these that have been going on for years and years have caused most americans to not even think about visiting Tijuana because it's hard to feel safe when the people who are supposed to be protecting and serving the people are also the most likely to steal and rob.

I have for the last few years on my trips to Tijuana begun carrying a "monger wallet" this is a small wallet with a slot for 4 cards as well as a spot for folded cash.

The 4 cards are.

1 expired drivers license so if the policia try to keep it for a bribe I can walk away from it as my actual license is sitting in my safe in the room.

1 debit card linked to my schwab monger account which only has a couple hundred dollars in it for emergency purposes.

1 room key to my hotel.
1 expired or valid HK VIP card. lately Ive been booking rooms using points so Ive had to stay outside the zone and since HK only does 3 month cards for more than the price was of 1 year previously I have stopped purchasing the VIP card as I'm not in the zone enough to really make it worth it.

And in the cash portion I carry just enough to have a little bit of fun for that evening.

Be careful out there brothers. Move with a sense of purpose and urgency, keep your head on a swivel, and do what you can to protect your wallet and wellbeing while exploring Tijuana.

[QUOTE=Daytonamonger;2967204]Just spent 4 nights at The Rio Rita for the Christmas festival as well as to visit the zone. There were a combination of security / law enforcement / military forces patrolling the tourist area along avenida revolucion and in the zona norte. While I personally did not have any interaction with any of these folks other guys weren't so lucky. One of my friends reported being robbed by a municipal policewoman. I also personally witnessed cop patrols on foot harassing white gringos headed into the zone. I got lucky as they were busy harassing and douching to pay attention to my presence walking to purpose and urgency to get to and from the zone. Previously on my visits this year I had 1 incident where I was pulled over but the stop actually went well and I was instructed to hold on to my money in my hand as my wallet was searched. However, this being the few weeks before Christmas it looks as though the honest cops are also pressed for cash for Christmas shopping as my buddy was robbed my a municpal.

Tijuana is trying hard to attract more tourism but stories like these that have been going on for years and years have caused most americans to not even think about visiting Tijuana because it's hard to feel safe when the people who are supposed to be protecting and serving the people are also the most likely to steal and rob.

Be careful out there brothers. Move with a sense of purpose and urgency, keep your head on a swivel, and do what you can to protect your wallet and wellbeing while exploring Tijuana.[/QUOTE]I was in Tijuana this week and had to deal with police. It was simple they asked for my ID and a few questions and sent on my way. One of the easiest interactions with Tjs finest I ever had.

They are increasing their presence around Centro due to the violence and with the new attractions they have on "La Revu" for Christmas they want the police to keep the criminals out. Now if your a cop and you see asingle male coming from the Zona or going to the Zona you will probably be stopped because it's more likely that you are going to get drugs or returning with drugs. I've read many reports of more Americans going to Tijuana for drugs because they are cheaper. So I highly doubt that if your an American family of tourists you would be stopped in the same manner. Like I mentioned to the other gentleman that was recently stopped and nothing was taken that is just the police doing their job.

As far as your friend goes getting robbed I think it's best to tell first hand reports here or have your friend give more details on what happened. I have visited Tijuana for 30 years and a large amount of that time I was living in Tijuana and not once was harassed by police for a bribe or robbed and never felt them bugging me more during Christmas.

I agree with your advice at the end and have included a link on someone that posted a long report on how to deal with police in Tijuana. I don't agree with the entire article but has good information for those new to Tijuana. Especially information on how to report corrupt cops that have robbed you. The new Mayor is trying to bring tourists back and they are having a big tourist Expo in the city next year. Supposedly they will have dash cams on the vehicles soon and are also in the process of training "tourist police" that will be bilingual.

The bad part is that I doubt they care about guys going to the Zona because as I've stated before you are not the tourist they are going for. Those that visit the Zona and go back and forth to Centro might want to just accept you are going to be stopped if walking or just pay a small fee and take an Uber or taxi.

This is the link. Not sure for it's been posted before.

[URL]https://wheretheroadforks.com/tijuana-police-corruption-how-to-avoid-paying-bribes/[/URL]

Was in La Zona Sunday night with couple wingmen. Even in the afternoon Pol Muni in quite a few patrol cars and pick up trucks, also Guardia Nacional on foot and on trucks with machine guns, were driving around La Zona again and again.

While we were eating shrimp coctele at Mariscos Paisanos at the Schoolgirl corner, a bunch of G and searched a guy in front of hotel Rapido for a long time. Couple squad cars searched and arrested a bar girl across from HK's back door. Did not see policia patrols in tourists' area on Ave Revo, only in La Zona Norte.

Late night 3 of us in a car left HK about 11, including 1 brand-new noob, first time in Tijuana despite having gone to school in San Diego for years, our money hidden in various places. Policia was searching a guy in front of Pepe's Parking, took him away. Wingmen reported ambushed by policia car North of Pepe, so I went down on Coahuila, turned North on Revo to get on the bridge. Approaching the bridge, I thought I got it made but a patrol car flashed its light and followed us all the way over the bridge, stopped near Easy Parking rotary. The old cop, with a mustache around his big mouth, looking like a rotten hairy pussy, approached the car, asked for license and registration. This old guy rode moto around La Zona for years and had stopped me a couple times. He wanted me out of the car. A younger cop was walking around the car, shining in flash light.

Standing behind my car in their head lights, they asked me lots of long questions, alcohol, drugs, pistolets ect. They were definitely trying to intimidate me to give up money. I kept saying "No Comprendez," denied them all, made a mean face, showed them the Sindicatura business card. Young guy was laughing, said Sindicatura is their friends too. He noted the rear view camera, said it was recording everything. Old guy was smiling, said pussies, Tequilas, hungry, tacos ect. He tried to make light of the situation, joking about our trip. I asked him if he was hungry, asked wingman to give him $5 for tacos, but he shook his head, graciously declined. He was smiling, talked and acted like pals, marvelled that we had a good sexy time with hot chicas and let us go. Noob was scary cat type, sat in my car, nervous.

This old guy had stopped me a couple times on Coahuila but never got money from me. This time I again called his bluff and would go to his station to see a judge. Only weak losers give money to these assholes. Hide your money, resist their shakedowns, call their bluffs, go see a judge and report their shakedowns if they don't let you go.

I stayed overnight at Cascadas on Monday. Tuesday morning around 10 am I was walking through the HK back alley looking at the girls outside when I made the turn towards Gloria bar. There was an old lady on the floor begging for change so she could buy herself something to eat. I felt bad for her so I handed her 20 pesos. Just as I was heading back towards Cascadas a cop car rolled up to me and told me to turn towards the wall. Two guys came over and searched me, asking if I had been drinking or had any drugs. I said no. They told me the old lady said I threatened her. I told them bullshit. They asked what I had said to her and I told them nothing and that I had simply just handed her 20 pesos. They said giving money to the homeless is prohibited and is a punishable offense. I told them that was bullshit as well. They took my wallet and searched through it. I had around $300 in it. Thankfully they didn't really go through it enough to see exactly how much I had on me. They told me to get in the cop car and I asked why. They said they were going to take me to the "judge" to fine me for giving money to the old lady. I told them I knew they were bullshitting and said ok let's go to the "judge" then. I got in and one of the cops got in the back seat with me. He took my phone and it was locked so he asked me to unlock it while his partner circled the block. I shook my head and said I wasn't going to unlock it. He said he needed to see if there was any illegal activity on it and I told him it was none of his business what was on my phone. They ended up taking me to the police station which wasn't too far away from HK, only several blocks to the west towards playas. The guy asking me to unlock the phone then headed inside. The guy driving the car then started talking to me in a normal manner asking what I do for a living and stuff like that. He told me I shouldn't be giving money to the homeless because it encourages them to stay in the area and they are trying to get rid of them. I told them if I would have known it was a punishable offense (which I know it isn't), I wouldn't have done it. He then asked what I wanted to do, basically baiting me to offer a bribe. I told him I was willing to wait and see the judge since I knew I didn't do anything wrong. He said it was fine if I wanted to do that but that it could take hours. I told him it was fine and that I had all day. He said he had all day too since he has just started his shift. His partner then came over and asked him how I wanted to handle it and if I still wanted to see the judge. I said look guys, I know this is bullshit. I told you I'm willing to wait and see this so called judge and I will pay whatever fine there is for giving a homeless person money. The partner said fine and headed back inside. The cop in the car with me then said it could really take hours if I wanted to see the judge. I then said ok let's cut the bullshit, how much to let me go so I can go on about my day and you go on about yours? He said it was my call to offer. I said look I really shouldn't be giving you anything since I didn't do anything wrong, so I'm not going to give you a hundred bucks or anything like that. He then asked how much again and I said I would give them $20 a piece to let me go and that I also wanted a ride back. He said it wasn't up to him and that he would have to consult with his partner. He then texted him which prompted him to come back out. He hopped in the back seat with me again and said the judge was very busy and that they were going to let me go and I could pay the fine directly to them. These guys are Class A bullshit artists. I handed the $40 over and they gave me my phone back and started heading back towards HK. They pulled into an alley a couple blocks away and told me they were going to drop me off there so people wouldn't see me get out of their car. I thought for sure someone was going to pop out of nowhere and try to rob me but thankfully there wasn't anybody around and was able to make it back to Cascadas.

I know I shouldn't have given them anything but I really think they would have jerked me around for hours if I wouldn't have and at the time $20 each didn't really seem like much seeing as how you can easily blow that on some fichas. Just sharing my story so you guys can be careful. Since my Spanish is decent I was able to communicate with them. Who knows how it would have went for someone who doesn't speak the language. But if they stop and pull you over knowing you didn't do anything wrong, just remain calm and refuse to give them any inordinate amount of money, or any at all. Since its the holiday season, theyre really trying to get anything they can. If youre going to the zona better to take the shuttle directly to HKs front door and go inside. Try not to wander outside too much. When you leave, ask for a shuttle to take you straight back to the border again to minimize any interaction with cops.

[QUOTE=Nothing24;2967322]I stayed overnight at Cascadas on Monday. Tuesday morning around 10 am I was walking through the HK back alley looking at the girls outside when I made the turn towards Gloria bar. There was an old lady on the floor begging for change so she could buy herself something to eat. I felt bad for her so I handed her 20 pesos. Just as I was heading back towards Cascadas a cop car rolled up to me and told me to turn towards the wall. Two guys came over and searched me, asking if I had been drinking or had any drugs. I said no. They told me the old lady said I threatened her. I told them bullshit. They asked what I had said to her and I told them nothing and that I had simply just handed her 20 pesos. They said giving money to the homeless is prohibited and is a punishable offense. I told them that was bullshit as well. They took my wallet and searched through it. I had around $300 in it. Thankfully they didn't really go through it enough to see exactly how much I had on me.[/QUOTE]Definitely after Trumpy got elected I'm seeing more and more reports of Pokicia encounters.

[QUOTE=EnterTheV;2967363]Definitely after Trumpy got elected I'm seeing more and more reports of Pokicia encounters.[/QUOTE]My goodness I thought it was bad people thinking that the police only stop people because it's Christmas and they want money now it's Trump being elected. LOL!

So in your world the police only stop Americans and they don't harass the local citizens as well.

Charged for giving money to street beggars? This is the most ridiculous charge by policia ever. I suppose these dumb policia think it's legal for cartels send kids on bikes to collect heavy taxes from all street vendors regularly.

Christmas is approaching. Policia is all over La Zona shaking down mongers for Christmas money. Multiple groups of heavily-armed Guardia Nacionals were patrolling on foot and trucks, searching pedestrians. Did see them arrest a bar girl across from HK back door, also a guy in front of Pepe's parking.

I was driving North on Ave Revo, seeing no policia cars, but 1 came out from nowhere and followed my car over the bridge. They acted very professionally, likely because I showed them the Sindicatura card and the car has front and rear cameras. I got out of the car, genuinely pissed off, showed a mean face, confronted them loudly. They were trying to calm me down, did not search me or the car, let us go in 5 minutes. If they rob me I would follow up with complaints to their station and Sindicatura.

The bros should complain about specific personnel to the new mayor, Ismael Burgueño, Tijuana chamber of Commerce, Sindicatura ect. Even anonymous letters or emails with some details of date, time, car numbers, personal descriptions ect would put some screws into them.

Unbelievable they police would come up with such a bogus charge. A few years back some police stopped on east side of the pedestrian bridge where the McDonalds used to be. The police searched my phone and tried telling me that a girl wearing a skirt was pornography. Only child porno is illegal in Mexico.

Heavy national guard presence in the Zona is nothing new. I was in Tijuana last Sunday and there was roughly the same number of guardia as usual. I have not seen the guardia stop any US citizens. The national guard appear to be mainly stopping dealers.

[QUOTE=CaptainSolo;2967429]Charged for giving money to street beggars? This is the most ridiculous charge by policia ever. I suppose these dumb policia think it's legal for cartels send kids on bikes to collect heavy taxes from all street vendors regularly.

Christmas is approaching. Policia is all over La Zona shaking down mongers for Christmas money. Multiple groups of heavily-armed Guardia Nacionals were patrolling on foot and trucks, searching pedestrians. Did see them arrest a bar girl across from HK back door, also a guy in front of Pepe's parking.

I was driving North on Ave Revo, seeing no policia cars, but 1 came out from nowhere and followed my car over the bridge. They acted very professionally, likely because I showed them the Sindicatura card and the car has front and rear cameras. I got out of the car, genuinely pissed off, showed a mean face, confronted them loudly. They were trying to calm me down, did not search me or the car, let us go in 5 minutes. If they rob me I would follow up with complaints to their station and Sindicatura.

The bros should complain about specific personnel to the new mayor, Ismael Burgueo, Tijuana chamber of Commerce, Sindicatura ect. Even anonymous letters or emails with some details of date, time, car numbers, personal descriptions ect would put some screws into them.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=CaptainSolo;2967429]Charged for giving money to street beggars? This is the most ridiculous charge by policia ever. I suppose these dumb policia think it's legal for cartels send kids on bikes to collect heavy taxes from all street vendors regularly.

Christmas is approaching. Policia is all over La Zona shaking down mongers for Christmas money. Multiple groups of heavily-armed Guardia Nacionals were patrolling on foot and trucks, searching pedestrians. Did see them arrest a bar girl across from HK back door, also a guy in front of Pepe's parking.

I was driving North on Ave Revo, seeing no policia cars, but 1 came out from nowhere and followed my car over the bridge. They acted very professionally, likely because I showed them the Sindicatura card and the car has front and rear cameras. I got out of the car, genuinely pissed off, showed a mean face, confronted them loudly. They were trying to calm me down, did not search me or the car, let us go in 5 minutes. If they rob me I would follow up with complaints to their station and Sindicatura.

The bros should complain about specific personnel to the new mayor, Ismael Burgueo, Tijuana chamber of Commerce, Sindicatura ect. Even anonymous letters or emails with some details of date, time, car numbers, personal descriptions ect would put some screws into them.[/QUOTE]I drive in Tijuana a lot but not in the zona. How do you contact the Sindacatura? Have they ever helped you with the police?

Go to their office in city hall, file a complaint, talk to prosecutors, take their business cards, best one is the director's.

[QUOTE=AmorPorFavor;2967499]I drive in Tijuana a lot but not in the zona. How do you contact the Sindacatura? Have they ever helped you with the police?[/QUOTE]

Sindacatura.

Tel: (664) 973 7273 Ext. 7273 and 7767.

Complaints. Spm. Sindicaturajuana. Gob. Mx.

Complaints: Disindicaturajuana. Gob. Mx.

[URL]http://www.sindicatura.gob.mx/[/URL]#/ default.

[QUOTE=AmorPorFavor;2967499]I drive in Tijuana a lot but not in the zona. How do you contact the Sindacatura? Have they ever helped you with the police?[/QUOTE]

Always take your money and cell phone and hold it in your hands. Sometimes the cops will try and stop you. They tried this one time. But they relented when I insisted. If you sense that a cop is about to stop you take your money out beforehand and hold it.

In addition to the Sindicatura they have an actual phone number to assist tourists specifically. 078, the only issue is that it says it's only available to talk live with a person from 6 am to 6 pm. If you go further down they give specific instructions on what to do if you encounter a law officer who you feel is not doing their job. The most important thing is to get the officers name, badge number so you can report them. I'm sure if Nothing would have done this in some matter things would have went differently.

I've never had to get to that point but unless the tools that the Tijuana government put out to help tourists not be victimized we have no one to blame but ourselves.

Some suggest writing to the Mayor but that person is busy with other issues and most of the jobs when it comes to leadership positions is delegating. They have departments to deal with these issues so I'the go that route first and if you feel they aren't doing enough then I'd go up the chain of command.

This is the link to the 078 website which is in English.

[URL]https://bajacalifornia.travel/assistance-078/[/URL]

Have tried calling the touris info number (078) in Tijuana with. Why T-Mobile number and it does not work.

My understanding is that 911 does not work on Tijuana with T-Mobile does not work either.

[QUOTE=Sol12;2967600]In addition to the Sindicatura they have an actual phone number to assist tourists specifically. 078, the only issue is that it says it's only available to talk live with a person from 6 am to 6 pm. If you go further down they give specific instructions on what to do if you encounter a law officer who you feel is not doing their job. The most important thing is to get the officers name, badge number so you can report them. I'm sure if Nothing would have done this in some matter things would have went differently.

I've never had to get to that point but unless the tools that the Tijuana government put out to help tourists not be victimized we have no one to blame but ourselves.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Hargow20;2967665]Have tried calling the touris info number (078) in Tijuana with. Why T-Mobile number and it does not work.

My understanding is that 911 does not work on Tijuana with T-Mobile does not work either.[/QUOTE]Thanks for letting us know. I wonder if you have that problem because your phone doesn't change to the local Tel Cel network. I know when I lived in Tijuana I would actually get US coverage in certain parts of the city. Especially close to the border like the Zona Norte. I seem to remember reading of others who have issues getting Uber at the border because the phone stays on the US system.

If I remember correctly someone suggested doing something to the roaming on your phone to fix that issue.

Maybe someone that has had success will chime in.

I would still contact them after the fact and let them know what happened. That link I posted had an email address and a physical address.