Last night a young couple were held up and robbed at knife-point by three Mexican nationals, their belongings strewn, car window smashed in, threatened, laptop, camera, money stolen, battery stolen out of their vehicle. Rape was also threatened.

They were camped alone and isolate, so yes, they were foolish and trusting. Only it isn't just coyotes creeping in the dark when they use knives and threaten rape... still accept it now, ctchfsh?

Oh, as they drove off leaving them stranded they hollered back in English, "WELCOME TO MEXICO!!"

where were they camped? is there a lot of that going on or is it just a now and then event?

As with any crime this is sad to hear. The fact is it's a scary world out there. crime is everywhere and getting worse. I live in Huntington Beach which is a very nice and safe community but even here I have been burglarized and had my truck stolen. There is no place totally safe short of staying in the safety of the 4 walls your house with a gun in your hand. I refuse to live like that. I choose to go out and take my chances in the big bad world. Once again we have to be aware of our surroundings, try and avoid obvious unsafe conditions and than go on with our lives.
So Bajabuddha, yes I still accept the fact that I can't change much of what goes on in the world but I refuse to give into the EVIL. Live your life and deal with what ever comes your way, may it be good or bad.

ctchfsh,
I think you're missing the point bajabuddah and I have been trying to get across to everyone, which is, if someone (collectively us) don't take a stand soon, this thing is going to get so far out of hand that the baja as we know and love will be lost forever. IMHO, of course.......

I do understand why you, as all travelers to Baja as concerned. I have been coming down to Baja for 55 years now and I to am concerned also.I just don't think there is anything you or bajabuddah or any other Gringo can do to change it. If the government can't or won't do anything about it what is it that you think you can do except vocalize your worries.We come and go but the locals have to live there. They are not going to rock the boat. All that can be done is be as vigilant as possible. Like I said, crime is on the rise everywhere.

I'm not going to take sides in this discusion because you've all got some valid points. But as a result of my years dealing with crime in San Diego I think people should keep crime stats in the proper perspective because "crime is on the rise everywhere" as a result of the poor economy.

I just went to the Arjis Crime stat website and searched for crimes during the past 30 days near Balboa Park in San Diego (with-in a 1/2 mile radius).

We all need to be aware .......everywhere we go in the US, Mexico or any other country.

Numbers in parentheses indicate incidents inside the selected area
Aggravated Assault (non-DV) (4)
Commercial Burglary (9)
Deadly Weapons (3)
Malicious Mischief/Vandalism (15)
Narcotics (42)
Prostitution (10)
Rape (16)
Residential Burglary (12)
Robbery (9)
Sex Crimes (Other) (4)
Simple Assault (non-DV) (17)
Theft (34)
Vehicle Break-in (55)
Vehicle Theft (29)

I am the concerned parent of that couple that was robbed and am extremely worried as I have not heard from them since April 1, not even sure if it was before or after the incident. Are they hurt? Did they go to police? Did someone assist them. PLEASE anyone with any information please post! Thank you.

quote:

Originally posted by bajabuddha:
Last night a young couple were held up and robbed at knife-point by three Mexican nationals, their belongings strewn, car window smashed in, threatened, laptop, camera, money stolen, battery stolen out of their vehicle. Rape was also threatened.

They were camped alone and isolate, so yes, they were foolish and trusting. Only it isn't just coyotes creeping in the dark when they use knives and threaten rape... still accept it now, ctchfsh?

Oh, as they drove off leaving them stranded they hollered back in English, "WELCOME TO MEXICO!!"

Please help me with any information that you might have regarding the couple, I am the worried parent and have not heard from them since the 1st. I am flying to California tomorrow and do not know what to do. I would greatly appreciate any information. Did they go to the police? Is there a number that I can call for police?

quote:

Originally posted by JR:
I'm not going to take sides in this discusion because you've all got some valid points. But as a result of my years dealing with crime in San Diego I think people should keep crime stats in the proper perspective because "crime is on the rise everywhere" as a result of the poor economy.

I just went to the Arjis Crime stat website and searched for crimes during the past 30 days near Balboa Park in San Diego (with-in a 1/2 mile radius).

We all need to be aware .......everywhere we go in the US, Mexico or any other country.

Numbers in parentheses indicate incidents inside the selected area
Aggravated Assault (non-DV) (4)
Commercial Burglary (9)
Deadly Weapons (3)
Malicious Mischief/Vandalism (15)
Narcotics (42)
Prostitution (10)
Rape (16)
Residential Burglary (12)
Robbery (9)
Sex Crimes (Other) (4)
Simple Assault (non-DV) (17)
Theft (34)
Vehicle Break-in (55)
Vehicle Theft (29)

How did you manage that JR? I just went to the Arjis site and they have no data after Feb 28, 2011. So your data cannot be for the past 30 days. Furthermore, the San Diego Police crime statistics report almost nothing happened during the first 2 months of 2011 at Balboa park:

http://www.sandiego.gov/police...01102cumneighbor.pdf

There were only 2 violent crimes reported in the 2-month period and no murders or rapes and only 1 assault and 3 vehicle thefts, not 34.

Would anyone have the phone number of a police station near the area where the robbery of the young couple occurred? Or any thing in that area that I might be able to call to find out if they have been assisted to get help or to a phone.

Hey Fulano,
Instead of trying to prove your superiority over everybody, why don't you spend your time and extensive knowledge(haha) helping out this parent in need. Try doing some good once in a while......

Mochse,
The kids are fine, just shaken of course. I took them to town, the crime was reported to the police (por nada) and I translated for them there, as well as helped them buy a new battery for their car. They are home by now i'm sure. They were welcomed into our little beach by everyone there, fed and comforted. They learned a lesson here.... NEVER camp alone and secluded in Mexico. Don't grab a 'freebie' camping site when you can pay $7 a night for a palapa and company. All ended as well as it could.

As for the rest of the commments here, there's enough problems without namecalling like children. My original point still stands; the Gente of Mulege need to deal with this as well as all parties. I know several business owners in town, have privately discussed all these events with them, and they all agree. And yes, you all have valid points. And as long as this continues i WILL continue to report it as I feel awareness is the key.

1Bajalover, it was near Playa Armenta at the south end of the bay where about 5 years ago there was a robbery and murder of an old gringo camping alone there. Those perps were eventually caught.

bajabuddha, thank you so much for your kindness and answering my plea. I am sure that my son and his girlfriend appreciated your kindness and learned a valuable lesson. You have eased both my mind and her parents as we have not heard from them yet, and they do not know we are aware of any of this. I am going there tomorrow as originally planned this vacation months ago. I can not tell you how much better I feel now. Actually my other son found this site for me and that is where we found out there was such a good Samaritan out there. If there is any way that I can repay your kindness I will. Let me know if you are ever out on the East Coast of NJ!

quote:

Originally posted by vmxracer:
Hey Fulano,
Instead of trying to prove your superiority over everybody, why don't you spend your time and extensive knowledge(haha) helping out this parent in need. Try doing some good once in a while......

Thanks for the advice. I help everybody out by telling them to stay out of Mexico. Had these kids heeded my advice, they would not have been robbed nor threatened with rape, nor would their worried parents be trying to contact them.

They probably got into trouble from reading and believing your BS postings about how much you love Mexico and how great it is(in spite of the fact almost everything you own was ripped off while YOU WERE CAMPING there.) You are part of the problem. You lull people with a false sense of security and entice people into danger. There is no law in Mexico. There is even less law for a Gringo in Mexico.

Those Mexicans who robbed those kids are paying off the police with a piece of the action. There will be no investigation and no arrests. Learn Spanish so you can find out what really goes on down there.

quote:

Originally posted by Fulano:

quote:

Originally posted by vmxracer:
Hey Fulano,
Instead of trying to prove your superiority over everybody, why don't you spend your time and extensive knowledge(haha) helping out this parent in need. Try doing some good once in a while......

Thanks for the advice. I help everybody out by telling them to stay out of Mexico. Had these kids heeded my advice, they would not have been robbed nor threatened with rape, nor would their worried parents be trying to contact them.

They probably got into trouble from reading and believing your BS postings about how much you love Mexico and how great it is(in spite of the fact almost everything you own was ripped off while YOU WERE CAMPING there.) You are part of the problem. You lull people with a false sense of security and entice people into danger. There is no law in Mexico. There is even less law for a Gringo in Mexico.

Those Mexicans who robbed those kids are paying off the police with a piece of the action. There will be no investigation and no arrests. Learn Spanish so you can find out what really goes on down there.

If anyone would have provided me with a workig telephone number or something to read in Spanish I would have gone that route however not having a clue where to go or who to ask is a bit discerning. thanks for the advice but it was not advertised anywhere.

quote:

Originally posted by bajabuddha:
Mochse,
The kids are fine, just shaken of course. I took them to town, the crime was reported to the police (por nada) and I translated for them there, as well as helped them buy a new battery for their car. They are home by now i'm sure. They were welcomed into our little beach by everyone there, fed and comforted. They learned a lesson here.... NEVER camp alone and secluded in Mexico. Don't grab a 'freebie' camping site when you can pay $7 a night for a palapa and company. All ended as well as it could.

As for the rest of the commments here, there's enough problems without namecalling like children. My original point still stands; the Gente of Mulege need to deal with this as well as all parties. I know several business owners in town, have privately discussed all these events with them, and they all agree. And yes, you all have valid points. And as long as this continues i WILL continue to report it as I feel awareness is the key.

1Bajalover, it was near Playa Armenta at the south end of the bay where about 5 years ago there was a robbery and murder of an old gringo camping alone there. Those perps were eventually caught.

Do you happen to know about when the kids left because they have not made it home yet or back to college?

Mochse, they left the Mulege area Saturday, he (Art) said he had a mid-term on Tuesday (today) he absolutely had to be back for... they both also said there was no need to contact you until they got back as not to worry you needlessly (damned kids these days!!) as it would only cause more stress that wasn't necessary. I appologize if my post upset the scheme of things, and I truly hope all ends well on this. I'm hoping they will contact you when they get settled in, as I'm sure they don't know that you're aware of this whole mess. As I said, their concern was as much about you as their own predicament. Let me tell you that Art handled the event in probably the best and most responsible way possible, everyone on our little beach agreed it could have gone a lot worse if he'd acted differently. Give 'em my regards, hope the new battery worked ok for them... it was not the perfect 'correct' battery, but down here you make-do, and we did make sure it was sufficient for the operating of that particular car. Just for my own piece of mind lemme know when they do contact you.

I appreciate your kudos, there are a FEW of us left down here that still practice the 'Espiritu-Baja' that we actually used to HELP each other when the fecal material hit the roatary oscillator instead of name-calling and one-up-manship that seems to be escalating (on this site).

quote:

Originally posted by Fulano:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by JR:
QUOTE]

How did you manage that JR? I just went to the Arjis site and they have no data after Feb 28, 2011. So your data cannot be for the past 30 days. Furthermore, the San Diego Police crime statistics report almost nothing happened during the first 2 months of 2011 at Balboa park:

http://www.sandiego.gov/police...01102cumneighbor.pdf

There were only 2 violent crimes reported in the 2-month period and no murders or rapes and only 1 assault and 3 vehicle thefts, not 34.

Don't know about the police report, but Arjis for March 3-6 shows the following totals:
Incidents
Numbers in parentheses indicate features inside the selected area
Aggravated Assault (non-DV) (4)
Commercial Burglary (9)
Deadly Weapons (0)
Malicious Mischief/Vandalism (14)
Narcotics (37)
Prostitution (0)
Rape (1)
Robbery (7)
Sex Crimes (Other) (3)
Simple Assault (non-DV) (16)
Theft (32)
Vehicle Break-in (51)
Vehicle Theft (28)

They seem to have stats posted for March.

quote:

Originally posted by Pstreet1:
Don't know about the police report, but Arjis for March 3-6 shows the following totals:
Incidents
Numbers in parentheses indicate features inside the selected area
Aggravated Assault (non-DV) (4)
Commercial Burglary (9)
Deadly Weapons (0)
Malicious Mischief/Vandalism (14)
Narcotics (37)
Prostitution (0)
Rape (1)
Robbery (7)
Sex Crimes (Other) (3)
Simple Assault (non-DV) (16)
Theft (32)
Vehicle Break-in (51)
Vehicle Theft (28)
They seem to have stats posted for March.

Good morning Pat, glad you could join the dialogue. Did you read the posts carefully dear? Perhaps you did not read the part where JR said he was just giving the stats for Balboa Park?

Here is a link to a screenprint of the Arjus Crime Map for JUST BALBOA PARK for all of March, 2011.

http://i54.tinypic.com/289j01x.jpg

Aggravated Assault (non-DV) (4)
Commercial Burglary (0)
Deadly Weapons (0)
Malicious Mischief/Vandalism (2)
Narcotics (0)
Prostitution (0)
Rape (0)
Robbery (1)
Sex Crimes (Other) (0)
Simple Assault (non-DV) (3)
Theft (3)
Vehicle Break-in (23)
Vehicle Theft (3)
Big difference when you actually read for comprehension, right?

Now, Pat dearest, would you like to discuss the fact that there have been 8 murders in your little town of Rosarito (population 77,000) in the past 7 days? That works out to an annual homicide rate of 540 per 100,000 (100 times the rate in the US and 10 times the rate in New Orleans.) Or are you just going to dismiss it all by saying YOU feel safe and YOU would not live there if YOU did not feel safe? It is, after all, all about YOU and YOUR real estate investments in Rosarito, verdad?

quote:

Mochse, they left the Mulege area Saturday, he (Art) said he had a mid-term on Tuesday (today) he absolutely had to be back for... they both also said there was no need to contact you until they got back as not to worry you needlessly (damned kids these days!!) as it would only cause more stress that wasn't necessary. I appologize if my post upset the scheme of things, and I truly hope all ends well on this. I'm hoping they will contact you when they get settled in, as I'm sure they don't know that you're aware of this whole mess. As I said, their concern was as much about you as their own predicament. Let me tell you that Art handled the event in probably the best and most responsible way possible, everyone on our little beach agreed it could have gone a lot worse if he'd acted differently. Give 'em my regards, hope the new battery worked ok for them... it was not the perfect 'correct' battery, but down here you make-do, and we did make sure it was sufficient for the operating of that particular car. Just for my own piece of mind lemme know when they do contact you.

I appreciate your kudos, there are a FEW of us left down here that still practice the 'Espiritu-Baja' that we actually used to HELP each other when the fecal material hit the roatary oscillator instead of name-calling and one-up-manship that seems to be escalating (on this site).

Maybe you've heard already. The young couple arrived home in the wee hours Tuesday morning. The young woman works for my husband and I. She's come to mean a lot to me. I just wanted to add my appreciation for your help and support in getting them back home safely!