Bad story with a happy ending. Kids are home safe and sound, glad to hear. Good job Bajabuddah. Hard lesson learned.

J.R. said "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)." That's what I searched for, also--a 1/2 mile radius of the park.

The link for the map for March (with 1/2 mile radius of the park) is http://mapping.arjis.org/main.aspx

The summary for the month of March (with a 1/2 mile radius of the park) is:


Incidents
Numbers in parentheses indicate features inside he selected area
Aggravated Assault (non-DV) (4)
Commercial Burglary (9)
Malicious Mischief/Vandalism (15)
Rape (1)
Residential Burglary (12)
Robbery (9)
Sex Crimes (Other) (4)
Simple Assault (non-DV) (17)
Theft (34)
Vehicle Break-in (55)
Vehicle Theft (29)

What is it with you and real estate? I don't sell real estate; I'm not trying to sell any real estate I own, and I'm not trying to rent anything to anyone.

It is not only the nationals committing crimes. The local American bussiness are also stealing from the tourists. Be especially cautious of the older Mulege real estate at the pemex south of Mulege. They charged me over 20% to sell a property then did not send all the proceds of the sale. It has been over a year and they are still holding my money stating their needs are greater than mine.

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.

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 mochse:

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.

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!

Artie would like oyou to email him if you have the time, he email is artieochse@gmail.com, thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by farmgal:

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!

She is a very sweet person and I am very happy with most of the posts on here which kept me informed and all of those who assisted. All of you who helped and some even called me it was just nice to have concerned people assist them I am a social worker and also seem to trust and Baja looks so beautiful.

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!!"

HI sorry I wrote to you earlier to give you my son Artie's email and gave you the wrong one, sorry! He would like to email you and thank you as well as ask a few things. ochsearthur@gmail.com thanks

quote:

Originally posted by mochse:

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.

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!

Please if you have the time can email Artie as he would like talk to you.

quote:

Originally posted by mochse:

quote:

Originally posted by mochse:

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.

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!

Please if you have the time can email Artie as he would like talk to you.

email - ochsearthur@gmail.com, thanks! He also wants to thank Kathy, I am not sure but I think I saw her on here.

I agree that there is very little law in Mexico and even less law for Gringos. Locals seem to follow their own rules of conduct, some I like, but it's different from our society. Paid camps are usually assault-safe, though never theft-safe. And it is not fair to compare Tijuana-Rosarito-Ensenada stretch to the rest of Mexico. Tijuana and Ensenada is a hotbed of narcomafia (Mexican and Russian), this is not a secret.

Bajabudha, - I stopped briefly at the RV park where you live and have never heard of any incidents. I wonder if it's the same in summer when very few of permanent campers are around (if anybody at all). Congrats with a new shed, btw.

10 years ago, if you left your vehicle at the South end of the bay and went out of sight of it, it would be pilfered. Nothing has changed. If you went to "Garbage Beach" in Mulege, same thing. We just got back from 3 months in Mulege, some friends left their open jeep with their wallets and video camera in it while diving and got picked off. On our way home we left our truck unlocked in Grand Junction Colorado, while we were in Cabelas.Guess what? We got robbed! Does that mean you shouldnt go to Grand Junction? Dont think so...Means use your head...Cant figure out why crime statistics from San Diego or Warsaw Poland have any relation to this discussion......Must be me...

My 2 cents.

To live or visit Mexico you can NOT be a soft target. 99.9 % of Mexicans are kind and generous. It’s that 1/10 of one percent that wants things easy. You drive and old beat up vehicle, you dress like your poor, even Cavachos can look Mexican. Blend in. If you are rolling around in your $50k RV or suv you are a target. You do not give the police bribe money under any circumstance, never. The majority of crimes are drug related---don't use drugs in Mexico, even pot. Don’t fool yourself; you can not mingle with locals that will sale you a joint or two. Do not get drunk in public, ever. IMHO I feel that the young couple could have had the same thing happen to them in a lonely rest area in Oregon----Lets talk about bad cops, have you heard about San Diego PD lately!

Hey Bubba
You are correct and I've said this b4.... a soft target is a soft target ANYWHERE in the world. Canada...USA...Mexico...Europe. Most thieving criminals are simple opportunist's. If its easy...its gone.

Bubba, sometimes vehicle and/or RV is new, and even if it doesn't cost more than 15K it's still a lot of temptation - with microwave, DVD and other nice things that locals can't afford. Heck, thugs even took battery out of the car (this could've been done to immobilize the victim, but not only).

Expensive vehicle is surely a bad idea, but mostly it's deserted areas with good road access that should be avoided. Abandoned fishing camp 100 miles away from paved road is more secure than a similar place next to Hwy #1. Active fishing camp or a small village is more secure than deserted camp, but theft is more likely than in a deserted place (though less likely than in a major town), and so on.

Blending in? When somebody is sitting in a recliner lounge chair in the shade of the awning in front of his RV, sipping coffee and watching sunset - he is sticking like a sore thumb. Locals don't have RVs.

Bubba, it isn't '99% are good people'... it's a cultural thing. I was told by a pseudo-Bajian that said "all the people of Mulege are decendents of the prisioneros and thieving is natural... we don't put bars on our windows in (western shore Baja). Yeah, right. Just spent 5 nights in Ensenada at a 'secure' park and was told if you love it, lock it up or tie it down. It's rampant, and it ain't the 01%ers. What needs to be spoken and put forth is YOU DON'T DEFACATE WHERE YOU EAT.

You also mentioned, and i have a good one about bad cops. Just a week or so after the armed robbery there was ANOTHER one... this one was a friend of mine who rolled his truck, damn-near got killed but luckily only scratches and bruises (thanks to a seatbelt)... a local business owner and her son picked him up at the crash site (angels) and took him back to my beach, and after triaging him for injuries we returned to the crash site to find that most of his stuff that was in the the truck had been pilfered and carted off by passers-by, everything of any kind of value... the local policia and ambulancia were on-scene, but nothing was secured, already taken (stolen). Instead of people securing the scene and helping protect, it was a free-for-all, and between 10:00 and 11:00 p.m. We (he, my better half and i) loaded everything that wasn't already STOLEN in the back of my truck, and waited for the Federales to show, which was another hour. Needless to say he was very shaken and scared, and when the Gestapo arrived around (01:00) they took total advantage of his situation.

Now, consider this... i've learned if it's a single-vehicle accident (gringo or otherwise) no harm, no foul (sort-of). No ticket, no fine, it is an A C C I D E N T. His mistake was in telling the truth, and on these message boards we've discussed the very same thing in other contexts... BE FAIR, TELL THE TRUTH, GET YOUR FMM, play by the rules,ETC....... BULL PUCKEY. He told them he'd had a few beers. WRONGGGGGGGGGGG. Apparently no tolerance laws in Mexico... they threatened him with a $2000 (U.S.) fine, 6 months in prison and deportation, because of his borracho-ness, and EXTORTED A BUNCH OF dolares out of his wallet to let him walk from the scene, no ticket, no fine, no arrest. He was scared shit-less to put it mildly, not to mention being out of a vehicle and surviving a near-fatal accident. NOW, before any of you get hoity toity and high and mighty and say how STUPUD he was for admitting it,remember... if stupidity was a crime we'd all spend a night in jail, and I'D be in for LIFE with no possibility of parole, and look in your own closets first before you condemn. This whole affair for months on this board is because of mistakes by kind people being screwed by unkind people. THIS TIME, it is felony extortion by armed crooks with guns, only they also have BADGES. (Badges? We don't need no STINKING BADGES !!!!!!!!!!! {but it helps}). Bad cops? There's y'er sign. Not to mention, i bet each of the cops on the take and every person responsible for ripping off a near-dead man all had some sort of saint or icon on their dashboard or window to protect them. Not to mention forgiven for admiting it to their imaginary friend on Sunday.

al09, sorry i missed you. Always got a cold one in the fridge, will be beck hopefully latter September. No more at Conception, i'm too old to walk point any more... been doing it 40 years now, gotta put the Nam to bed. Am in San Lucas from now on until sumpin' better comes my way. BTW, if anyone's interested, rumor has it there's a blues festival in Ensenada out at La Bufedora Restaurant on Labor Day-ish, I may be playing bass there, if i live that long. Man, what a season, had too much fun in SPITE of the other stuff. Y'all keep Baja-in' regardless, GD-it. Keep the black side down on the highway, and don't let the bastards win.
Dave

quote:

...when the Gestapo arrived around (01:00) they took total advantage of his situation.

Ha! Bajabudha, you should've known better, you've been living there long enough. NEVER involve Federales, or even a local polizia, after a car accident, if nobody was injured. No matter whether it was a single car accident or a 2-car accident. If your car was damaged, call insurance agent (needless to remind that local insurance is a MUST for Gringos)- and that's it. I agree that in this case there was also a theft, but since most pilferage took place in the presence of the police , - why would anybody want to wait for Federales, I don't know.

And of course, unless strict religious beliefs prevent you from any kind of lying, never tell the truth about drinking in Mexico. It's not that everybody is permanently sober in Baja - of course not; I think they just prey on people in distress (mostly Gringos, naturally), to collect more fines or line their own pockets (or both).

Made my point again...Common sense...don't drive drunk. The one and only DUI I got in the US, California, cost me over 14000.00 bucks, in legal fees and fines. The guy in Mexico got off cheap..

quote:

Common sense...don't drive drunk.

It's not just driving; not to mention that after a beer or two he might have been cleared on breathalyzer under US or Canadian standards if anybody would check. In Mexico "public drunkenness" is a common excuse for police extortion like the one described by BB. They can fine you for mere walking down the street from local bar to your camp.

I wouldn't mind if it was a consistent policy helping keeping streets safe and tidy, but they only do this randomly (which is a normal approach to many things in Mexico). Usually they are after those most vulnerable, regardless of whether that unfortunate guy was really drunk and misbehaved. Just an extortion.