BajaNomad - Scary story confirmed.

Scary story confirmed.

windsurfeddy - 9-12-2007 at 11:47 AM

My good friend Rob {corky} from San Diego has confirmed the veracity of the carjacking from one of the victims, Roger.
The Federal police is being very cooperative with the legal/insurance claims paperwork.

oldhippie - 9-12-2007 at 11:52 AM

These stories have not been reported anywhere I can find other than message boards. Why not? Has anyone seen these stories anywhere except blogs?

Yesterday I telephoned the American Consulate in TJ, where I live, trying to find out what they know, and after being transferred two times, left a voice mail with my phone number. I assume the person who would know was out of the office. I have not heard back yet buy it's been less than 24 hours.

The phone number of the consulate is 664-622-7400. Use the prefix 011-52 if calling from the US.

If you think about it, it's unusal that crimes of this magnitude haven't been picked up by news organizations. It is juicy stuff. My wife is a news junkie and watches local TJ news morning and night, nothing there either.

Hook - 9-12-2007 at 12:01 PM

Maybe the lack of news coverage speaks louder than if it had been covered.

Did the victims contact the American Consulate? If not, it might not be that easy for them to find out about it.

The Mexican legal system seems just a little bit less, shall we say transparent, than here in the states.

Barry A. - 9-12-2007 at 12:17 PM

Exactly, Hook.

It certainly is not in Mexico's best interest to be publicising stories like this---------who knows how deep the "cover-up" might go--------it is all very interesting, and possibly revealing? and altogether disturbing!!!! and sad!!!!

Hook - 9-12-2007 at 12:27 PM

With all these incidents, Barry, when the question of real vs manufactured comes up, I ask myself "Who has a greater motivation in making up a story or covering up a story?"

The answer is almost never the person who is accused of making it up.

But the authorities in BCN???????

Taco de Baja - 9-12-2007 at 12:38 PM

Until I read about this in the San Diego Union Tribune, the LA Times, the OC Register, an AP story, or see it shown on something like Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS News, I am going to have my doubts it really happened and is not simply a little creative writing exercise during a lull in the swell.

If it happened to me I would not just go to the surfer rags, to warn people. :rolleyes:

A "friend of a friend knowing this really truly happened", is not a confirmation.

"Roger" may be in this deep, and is scared to admit it's all a fabrication...It'll all come out at some point, and I hope it turns out he is lying.

oldhippie - 9-12-2007 at 01:02 PM

The alleged victims should report these alleged crimes to the American Consulate, the San Diego Union, the Tijuana television stations, and the Tijuana newspapers if they want to warn people.

These could just be surfers getting tired of crowded waves.

If you believe the stories, then of course you should try to stay out of Mexico and think about the old saying "Don't believe everything you read".

[Edited on 9-12-2007 by oldhippie]

Barry A. - 9-12-2007 at 01:03 PM

Other than a "blip" in the local news, is this story really so serious to the general public in the eyes of the editors that they WOULD publish it???? I don't know the answer------but I am thinking "no"-----just another Tiajuana horror story, but nobody killed so "what else is new" type attitude???

I am just speculating, of course.

In reality (mine, at least) the story IS VERY IMPORTANT, but I have lost faith in the editors of USA Newspapers to recognize that----afterall it happened "over there" in that "other" Country, and USA papers and broadcasts are not known for their coverage of "foreign" events unless they make the USA look bad----then they are all over it.

Until I learn otherwise, I am assuming that this story (and several others) is essentially correct.

DENNIS - 9-12-2007 at 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hook
Did the victims contact the American Consulate?

What would they do about it?

Taco de Baja - 9-12-2007 at 01:15 PM

Here's another. Again. only in a surfer mag......Why noplace else?

Quote:

BAJA ROBBERY DOS
Californians Held at Gunpoint and Robbed While Camping
by
Alex Wilson
Associate Editor SURFER Magazine

On the Friday morning preceding Labor Day, three North County San Diego surfers were carjacked at gunpoint in Tijuana by a group of “very professional” stickup men, an indication that wave riders in Baja have again become the target of criminals. Early on Sunday morning, September 9, that fear was hammered home by yet another gunpoint robbery.

After crossing the boarder on Saturday afternoon, San Diego surfers Anthony Lombardo, Brian Evans, and Greg Bishop pitched camp in the Quatro Casas area. They had settled in for the night when they were set upon by two men brandishing firearms.

"It was about midnight,” said Lombardo. “I was sleeping in my tent when I thought I heard a gun shot. I unzipped my tent and that’s when a guy wearing a ski mask dragged me out and forced me face-down into the sand with a gun to my head.”

They came and got Greg and I next,” says Evans. “Then they forced all of us into Anthony’s tent, made us lay down and started rummaging through everything.”

After being relieved of their cash, wallets, driver’s licenses, passports, boards, electronics, and “basically anything else that wasn’t nailed down,” the three surfers were left with only their vehicle, the clothing on their backs, and thirty-five dollars, which they scrounged from another group of gringos encamped closer to the hotel. “We didn’t here them come or go,” said Lombardo. “They were ridiculously quiet.”

Bolting for the border, the three were readmitted to the U.S. without identification mid-morning on Sunday, after recounting their tale to officials [ SO WHERE IS THE OFFICIAL RECORD? ]. Like the three victims of the Tijuana robbery, Lombardo’s not sure when he’ll head back. “I’m not going to go for awhile,” he said. “But this sort of thing happens down there all the time. I almost feel like it’s a right of passage for California surfers.” [ SAY WHAT???? ]

Based on the details of the two incidents, it’s unlikely the perpetrators of this robbery were the same individuals responsible for the one in Tijuana. Unlike the first robbery, the perpetrators in this event were only interested in money and easily-dispensable goods—not the car. And, according to Lombardo, they were not fluent in English, as the Tijuana suspects reportedly were.

Still, the idea of two separate gunpoint robberies in Baja in less than 10-days is hardly comforting news, even if they seem to be unrelated. Surfers intent on heading south should take note, and care, in the wake of these events.

Link

oldhippie - 9-12-2007 at 01:18 PM

The San Diego Union has several reporters who report on Baja issues. Especially border issues because the two cities of San Diego and Tijuana form a megalopolis.

There is a report today in the newspaper of one of these incidents; however, the truthfulness has not been verified. But it does make the story more credible.

At the bottom is:

To start an investigation in Mexico, crime victims can file a courtesy report with the San Diego Police Department, which forwards the information to the U.S. Consulate in Tijuana. They also can contact the U.S. Consulate directly via e-mail at consulartijuana@state.gov.

Confirmation, if true, should be soon.

Too bad, of course I'm hoping like everybody else that this is untrue.

Wishful thinking?

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/tijuana/20070912-9...

Watch this page:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/tijuana/index.html

Hook - 9-12-2007 at 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Originally posted by Hook
Did the victims contact the American Consulate?

What would they do about it?

Probably nothing..........but it would lend much credibility to the story which seems to be the issue here. It's not about a solution; most everyone on this site isn't so naive to think that will happen.

rayfornario - 9-12-2007 at 02:01 PM

I didn't quite believe this story when I 1st heard it because of lack of infro in the newspaper. Well it was in the UT this morning and I spoke to my friends in SDPD and they say they give the story a high degree of credibilty.
Makes one nervous! i am headed to Rosarito this weekend for a wedding and have changed the time I am leaving to mid-morning. No sense taking chances!!! There is a large contigent of us heading down south.

windsurfeddy - 9-12-2007 at 02:14 PM

I will attempt to have Roger, one of the victims respond directly. I have not doubt that it happened. Rob Cullen works in Encinitas for Liquid Force as the Sales & Marketing manager, and having known him for 14 years, I would not doubt his veracity.
I agree that if it was me, I would have proceeded both in the political and legal avenues to get at the perpetrators, to include the media.
I am sure more will come out of this.
But, from someone who use to cross the border at 3-4 a.m. to avoid hazzles, well, time to modify my approach.

leadmoto - 9-12-2007 at 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Taco de Baja
Until I read about this in the San Diego Union Tribune, the LA Times, the OC Register, an AP story, or see it shown on something like Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS News, I am going to have my doubts it really happened and is not simply a little creative writing exercise during a lull in the swell.

If it happened to me I would not just go to the surfer rags, to warn people. :rolleyes:

Taco de Baja ... Are you really that suprise that somthing like this happens in Baja? It's been going on for years. It's happened to me personally, It's happened to friends, and nieghbors. Nothing new here. I would bet most of the incidents go unreported.

just a thought

woody with a view - 9-12-2007 at 04:15 PM

why would you not run to the hotel yelling and screaming for help? instead, pack up all your stuff and, "borrow" $35 from your neighboring campers and hit the road in the middle of the night (my take on their story)???????

BajaWarrior - 9-12-2007 at 04:34 PM

And what would the surfers in the hotel do about it, or Richard, if his was there?

I think those dudes were outa there after borrowing some $$ from some fellow campers, and headed for the border.

leadmoto - 9-12-2007 at 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by woody in ob
why would you not run to the hotel yelling and screaming for help? instead, pack up all your stuff and, "borrow" $35 from your neighboring campers and hit the road in the middle of the night (my take on their story)???????

It's Mexico Woody. Not a lot of confidents in the athorities down there.

woody with a view - 9-12-2007 at 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by leadmoto

Quote:

It's Mexico Woody. Not a lot of confidents in the athorities down there.

you're right, but the hotel is run by an american and his wife is a local. i'm sure they could "call" the locals near the hiway to watch for the punks since there is only two ways in and out.......not to mention there must've been 100 people at cuatro casas on labor day weekend......need more info, i guess!

[Edited on 9-12-2007 by woody in ob]

mtgoat666 - 9-12-2007 at 05:48 PM

why do you expect this type of news to be in papers? kidnappings and robberies happen all the time in BCN, and the Mex papers can't cover them all, and probably prefer to report on local victim stories rather than the infrequent foreingy victim stories. And most US papers only have skeleton staffs to cover news, and mostly rely on wire stories to fill the pages, plus the antii-immigrant crowd and xenophobics complain when the san diego UT runs stories on local Mexico happenings, so the UT probably... well, the UT is good for movie and TV schedules, and stories on Padres and Chargers, and not much else (doesn't even carry good comics or business wire stories). BTW, you want good paper in so cal, get the LA Times. Corporate consolidation has turned TV and print news into minimized collection of wire stories.

DENNIS - 9-12-2007 at 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666
BTW, you want good paper in so cal, get the LA Times.

Or, The Daily Worker.

woody with a view - 9-12-2007 at 06:06 PM

just got off the phone with a friend who was there sat, sun, mon until 7pm and my call was the first he'd heard of it. tell those three guys, "thanks" for alerting EVERYONE there was a dangerous situation nearby!!!!

TMW - 9-12-2007 at 06:29 PM

XETV Fox 6 in San Diego ran a story on the robbery with interviews, I'll post it in the morning for those who want to see it or you may be able to access it from their web site.

WTF?????

Dave - 9-12-2007 at 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Taco de Baja

Folks, this is an image of San Quintin. A long, long, way south of TJ.

BajaWarrior - 9-12-2007 at 09:57 PM

True, not a map of TJ, but the story is about surfers being robbed in the middle of the night on Quatros Casas.

gnukid - 9-12-2007 at 10:09 PM

Reminds me of my first date in junior high, she took me for all I was worth=nothing. This is a great story.

Bajafun777 - 9-12-2007 at 10:39 PM

Sad thing is that the killings are going on in Mexicali just had a federal officer and his assistant killed there just over a week or so ago. I go to Mexicali all the time and have not any real bad issues in 40 years but I have friends that have. Too many gang bangers that were commiting crimes in U.S. and then deported back into Mexico that hang around border cities or places Americans visit to do just the kinds of things being reported. These guys were schooled real good on the streets and finished up training in prison. Add to this the MS13 gang in and around T.J. and Mexicali and you have some very very dangerous gang bangers. Their tatoos give them away if you know what to look for and if you don't a hint is the real bad ones have tattoos all over their faces, necks, and arms and freely show them to intimidate people. In El Salvador they just shoot them when they get deported back into their Country on hunt them down inside their Country and this is where they originally came from. No not a good thing at all and before some people just assume it is the cops just consider the possibility of this information as being real. Later============bajafun777

Barry A. - 9-13-2007 at 08:15 AM

I am "assuming" it is the cops because they have done nothing to stop it on the "hill" in west TJ-------as previously stated, it would be easy to catch these guys if they really wanted too-------their MO is that obvious and consistant.

Taco de Baja - 9-13-2007 at 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Barry A.
I am "assuming" it is the cops because they have done nothing to stop it on the "hill" in west TJ-------as previously stated, it would be easy to catch these guys if they really wanted too-------their MO is that obvious and consistant.

Easy Barry???...

Not really. If true, the bad guys have guns, I think the TJ cops only have sling shots now.....Not good odds.

I did not notice if the cop that pulled me over there had a gun or not

tripledigitken - 9-13-2007 at 09:03 AM

Ready to take on the bad guys. All the latest technology also. Wait a minute where are your guns?

NOTE: PICTURE TAKEN CHRISTMAS OF 2006. SHORTLY AFTER THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN THEY WERE ARMED WITH SLINGSHOTS. THIS WENT ON FOR ABOUT A MONTH. THEY ARE NOW ARMED!

[Edited on 9-13-2007 by tripledigitken]

Barry A. - 9-13-2007 at 09:34 AM

Taco------

I was not aware that the TJ cops were not armed---------cops without arms are, in my opinion, nearly useless!!! No wonder this is happening.

Another example of "outlaw guns and only the bad guys have guns"??? What foolishness!!!!! and this is what it leads too-------------chaos!!! and anarchy!!! and ineffective cops put in harms way with no way to protect themselves.

Sigh

bajajudy - 9-13-2007 at 09:40 AM

Barry
Bad cops with guns are pretty scary too. There is a reason that they took their guns away but I was not aware that they still had no guns.

JZ - 9-13-2007 at 09:46 AM

Just so we are clear which story are you guys talking about on this thread. Is there more than one bad incident that happened recently?

Barry A. - 9-13-2007 at 10:06 AM

JZ------I believe that there are at least two recent reported incidences that are very similar, that happened on the same steep "hill" alongside the border west of the port of entry in TJ, but before you enter the toll road to Ensenada. Makes me wonder how many OTHER incidences have happened that we have NOT heard about-------------???

Then there is the surfers being attacked south of Ensenada---------and on, and on, and on----------

Debra - 9-13-2007 at 10:24 AM

In trying to fiqure out what you guys are talking about (must have missed the thread) I went to the UT and did a search, all I could find was a report of some guy recanting a tale of car-jacking on the 30Aug07.

Anyone care to point me in the right directon, or is this the same story? Thanks

bajajudy - 9-13-2007 at 10:27 AM

Debra...what it UT?
Could you post the url to the story about the guy recanting...

[Edited on 9-13-2007 by bajajudy]

Barry A. - 9-13-2007 at 10:42 AM

Debra and Judy---------

See "another TJ vehicle robbery" thread now near the top of the "today's posts" forum.

oldhippie - 9-13-2007 at 11:17 AM

more news

http://www.signonsandiego.com:80/news/mexico/tijuana/2007091...

don't know if this has been posted on similar threads

Debra - 9-13-2007 at 11:41 AM

I'll try Judy, don't really know how to do this fancy stuff

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20070830-0717bn30ca... If that doesn't work, just do a search for Union Tribune San Diego on Google, then in their search type in "Tijuana car jacking"

Debra - 9-13-2007 at 11:42 AM

Judy my URL does get you to the UT, then just put in Tijuana car jacking, it came right up

Debra - 9-13-2007 at 11:59 AM

I just went back to the artical, and below in the reader comments section there is a comment from a guy claiming to be the brother of one of the surfers hijacking story

whatever happened......

woody with a view - 9-13-2007 at 04:22 PM

me's thinks it has something to do with the sacred saints of the fabled siete hermanas........empty lineups this year!!!!

sorry if it seems like i'm speaking in code! :lol:

Taco de Baja - 9-13-2007 at 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by woody in ob
me's thinks it has something to do with the sacred saints of the fabled siete hermanas........empty lineups this year!!!!

sorry if it seems like i'm speaking in code! :lol:

You may be on to something Woody. How many attackers were there? Siete?

Los siete hermanos de los siete hermanas? Mmmmm? :light:

Gadget - 9-13-2007 at 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tripledigitken
Ready to take on the bad guys. All the latest technology also. Wait a minute where are your guns?

NOTE: PICTURE TAKEN CHRISTMAS OF 2006. SHORTLY AFTER THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN THEY WERE ARMED WITH SLINGSHOTS. THIS WENT ON FOR ABOUT A MONTH. THEY ARE NOW ARMED!

[Edited on 9-13-2007 by tripledigitken]

What happened to all those de-commisioned sling shots anyway? That could be a fun toy on a blow out day. :yes:

Gadget - 9-13-2007 at 05:49 PM

Quote:

Amen brother AMEN!!!

I'm going to start on another one just to make sure it gets out to everyone. I think I'll send it in to some hot rod mag just in case there's some gear head surfers like me out there.

Gadget - 9-13-2007 at 05:56 PM

Moral to story ( fiction or non ), don't drive TJ at night coming or going unless you are in a carravan. Don't stop for anyone that's not in a marked cop car untill you get to the first toll booth.
If this doesn't work launch off the bank at that big gully and once you've come to a stop at the bottom run across the border non fence and get arrested and thrown in jail for 5 days for being white and illegally crossing into the US without waiting in line to do so for 3 hours. Thats called cuts.
Sorry...I'm in a mood :saint:

wakemall - 9-13-2007 at 07:13 PM

How many people ignore this and still cross the border in the early AM? I am concidering changing my ways and crossing around sunrise. Seems like it might be safer to run after dark once you are 12 hours in... Other than the drunks and cows...... I do not get that much vacation and really do not want to take two days to get to my place in Loreto????? Looks like this is going to be the norm until a resolution of some kind happens. If it does. I still need to take a freezer and paint down. HEY, this increases the economy in the area because you are now forced to by the items locally... Logistics are changing.........

tj roads

lewm - 9-14-2007 at 02:43 PM

For many years we left Huntington Beach at midnight for LA Bay. One of my friends at work asked me how could I drive through TJ late at night. I told him I just disconected a headlight & they throught we were locals. No problems. I guess you can't do that anymore.