BajaNomad - robbed in ensenada

robbed in ensenada

markshark - 9-21-2007 at 06:21 PM

ive been reluctant to post this primarily because its embarrassing to make this many poor judgement calls and I know im gonna get flamed for it but in the interest of information sharing here goes.
in a nut shell.
last thursday night I made the mistake of getting seperated from my buddy and while walking back to my room a car roars up behind me,legs spread,hands on the trunk throughly searched and seperated from the eight one hundred dollar bills that I thought were pretty well hidden on me.(these were destined to be spent on doors and windows the next morning for our gonzaga place).
heres the important part.
the perpetrators wore pressed brown uniforms,carried sidearms and their getaway car was black and white.yup,ensenada's finest.
aside from the obvious blunders (carrying that kind of money and being on the street alone) the real crime was one of being complacent.ensenada has become a wonderful city and a fun town to visit but don't forget where you are.

rhintransit - 9-21-2007 at 06:34 PM

am very sorry for your experience and loss. don't be so hard on yourself. it's no crime to be alone or to carry well hidden money. the true criminals got away, but you identified them to the benefit of all of us. thanks for having the courage to share.

comitan - 9-21-2007 at 06:44 PM

I wonder if Hose could shed some light on this since he is connected? Or am I out of bounds.

nobaddays - 9-21-2007 at 06:46 PM

its to difficult to recognize the enemy noadays in Baja !

comitan - 9-21-2007 at 06:54 PM

Hose just wondering is he happy, or disenchanted?

DENNIS - 9-21-2007 at 07:16 PM

Where did this happen?

markshark - 9-21-2007 at 07:41 PM

ave lopez mateos down by the isabel. you know, on the way to the police station!

Bruce R Leech - 9-21-2007 at 08:35 PM

the police were just looking for lunch money and got a bones of 800 US bucks

capn.sharky - 9-21-2007 at 08:42 PM

got a bones of 800 US bucks----bonus. Or they might have an $800 bone. :lol:

where does it end?

woody with a view - 9-21-2007 at 08:51 PM

are the mexicans so hungry that the only hope for their children to suckle on the teet of progress is to stick a shank into the very heart of the folk that provide their (mexicans) best chance to step forward? i mean, i don't wanna seem like they don't have any other possible way to rocket into the twenty-first century on their own......but really!!! can you say, "cultural-BRUTO?" :?:

wakemall - 9-21-2007 at 09:39 PM

This is crazy...........

BajaWarrior - 9-21-2007 at 10:19 PM

I'm getting tired of this crap...

Hook - 9-21-2007 at 11:47 PM

You are flocking kidding me.........on lopez mateos????

Ladies and Gentlemen, it's time we take a concerted stand against this bullchit.

We need a high profile boycott from spending a single peso in Baja Norte for a prescribed period.

I suggest Thanksgiving, 2007. Dont go..........dont spend.............dont even think about it.

And if there is no significant reaction by the authorities, we organize another one.

I am tired of rolling over and saying "...well, that's Baja" without a fight.

Minnow - 9-22-2007 at 12:07 AM

You want an eye opener. Go to the Race-Dezert forum and read what gets stolen before during and after EVERY race. The police have to be in on all the crime.

Frank - 9-22-2007 at 12:11 AM

I havent seen this on the news anywhere, so it couldnt of happened... :mad:

Its to the point that visiting N. Baja is not worth the risk.

Iflyfish - 9-22-2007 at 12:34 AM

After something like this happens there often a period of shock and self recrimination, what could I have done, why did I do this or that, the fact of the matter is that you got robbed.....you did not cause that. Thanks for letting us know about this.

Iflyfish

Sunman - 9-22-2007 at 02:52 AM

Only substantiates that uneasy feeling I've always felt betwixt TJ and San Quentin (going back 20yrs), its a shame. Other than BRIEF stops for beer or food, I've never seen a reason to stop anywhere in those areas, unfortunately my paranoia is now magnified even more.

Stickers - 9-22-2007 at 05:08 AM

Well if Mexico is wherever there is a Mexican then maybe the United States should take a hand in creating parody between the two nations and extradite the s**t heads that continue to blatantly assault and robe it's citizens.

We donate a U.S. navy ship to the Mexican government and then the Mexican Navy uses it as a pirate vessel to commandeer and sink boats and rob our citizens. This offense is punishable under international law. If Mexico wont or cant deal with these issues then we must.

flyfishinPam - 9-22-2007 at 05:58 AM

I am sorry for your loss and invasion in Ensenada. I almost had my truck stolen there, we were lucky though. It was parked in the hotel San Nicholas "secure" parking lot in the early evening in spring 1997. A bunch of us were at the bar and then we decided to go to el Rey sol. So several of us went to the truck, got in, then discovered the steering column pretty much in pieces. It would have only taken a screwdriver or something blunt to start the vehicle. there was also an old white t-shirt and large rock on the floor passenger side. the person who was trying to steal our truck obviously got scared off by something so left our truck. The security guard was sleeping but he wouldn´t have been able to see anything anyway with all the stickers all over the windows of the little office where he sat. He said that didn´t see or hear anything. We called Ensenada police and they wouldn´t come. We had to go to the station and beg for a report so that we could give it to our insurance company. Cost us $100 for the report and hours of frustration. Our Mexican insurance was called and they said they wouldn´t come as the damages were too low cost so we drove back to the US where we repaired everything. That was the last time I stayed in Ensenada, I only drive through now and don´t feel comfortable stopping until we get to El Rosario.

I agree with the idea of a boycott. Remember May 1 (Mexican labour day) where Mexicans went on strike for a day inside the US. They can sure organize but us gringos, I just don´t see it happening. Yes it would garner attention and they may change their ways but I doubt we´d have the huevos to do it. Too bad as something does need to be done.

DENNIS - 9-22-2007 at 06:31 AM

Not to be argumemtative and believe me, I'm not, the police station is nine blocks from the Santa isabel. Thats fine.
What bothers me is that the perps have taken to dressing like Mussolini's Brown Shirts and doing this bullcrap in the heart of the tourist district.
I'm gonna have to run this through Smell Check.

DENNIS - 9-22-2007 at 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Stickers

We donate a U.S. navy ship to the Mexican government and then the Mexican Navy uses it as a pirate vessel to commandeer and sink boats and rob our citizens. This offense is punishable under international law. If Mexico wont or cant deal with these issues then we must.

They've been puttin' around the Ensenada area in those two DEs for a long time. From what I've seen of floating US Navy surplus, we should give them a few more.
Like with other issues, Mexico probably makes up their own international law.

oxxo - 9-22-2007 at 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by markshark
last thursday night

What time at night did this happen?

Quote:

I made the mistake of getting seperated from my buddy

How did you get separated?

Quote:

and while walking back to my room

Where were you coming from?

Quote:

a car roars up behind me,legs spread,hands on the trunk throughly searched

What was the conversation between you and them?

Quote:

yup,ensenada's finest.

Are you saying it was the police? Were they wearing badges? Was their car marked as police?

Quote:

being on the street alone)

There were absolutely no other pedestrians on that busy street? What time of night was this?

I'm sorry for your bad experience. I hope to learn more specific details about your experience so I can avoid making the same mistakes.

Info???

bajaguy - 9-22-2007 at 09:06 AM

It has been reported that the crooks were dressed in BROWN uniforms.....which a creditible Ensenada source states IS NOT Ensenada Police.

Did the victim report this to the (real) Ensenada Police, The State Police or the newspaper???

I personally believe that this activity won't stop until:

reports are made with several jurisdictions including the mayors office, the governors office, the tourism office and the local newspspers.......be a pest and keep the pressure up.

this continuing criminal activity creates a financial backlash to local businesses from tourists and visitors. Money talks, and it talks loud. If local businesses are being affected, the government will listen. Maybe make up some flyers and distribute to local businesses outlining the problems and the proposed boycott.

if the police get a handle on these things, nothing works better as a deterrent than a few photos in the local newspapers of dead crooks.

DENNIS - 9-22-2007 at 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaguy
It has been reported that the crooks were dressed in BROWN uniforms.....which a creditible Ensenada source states IS NOT Ensenada Police.

The state Transito police wear brown. Used to anyway. I don't know if that's changed. One thing for sure is that they don't drive around in black and whites.

If any kind of a boycot is more than suggested, I hope it is well planned and organized. A boycot can have a lot of clout but, a half-assed effort will only fall on deaf ears and weaken future attempts.

wakemall - 9-22-2007 at 08:23 PM

Seems like these attacks and robberies have increased greatly around TJ and Ensenada. Is the corruption out of control? Who knows? How many of these acts go un-reported???? How many tourists going into these areas are members of this site and report these issues?????? This is all something to consider. I live in Fresno and there are areas you do not visit after dark. The big cities like LA and Oakland have even more areas like this.

Just because tourism, economic gain, increased business, and all the resulting financial benefits are realized by local business does not mean crime is not there. These bad guys could give a crap if tourists and tourism monies are lost due to their robberies and attacks. It does not affect them. By boycotting this area we are reducing their take and forcing an increased theft problem?

The local governmental administrations need to receive enough complaints from not only tourists but local businesses to force a change. The govt and police dept folks are already corrupt, we already know this. This is such a huge issue a fix is going to be hard and a long time away. I am bummed and sad that this has gotten to this point. I cannot feel safe crossing the border in the early AM anymore.

DENNIS - 9-22-2007 at 08:31 PM

Wakemall......

You're a fast study.

wakemall - 9-22-2007 at 09:09 PM

Previous response was not posted.... Hey Dennis, was this a negative or positive comment???? Hard to determine what "You're a fast study. " means?????

wakemall - 9-22-2007 at 09:37 PM

Thanks soul...

Bajafun777 - 9-22-2007 at 09:53 PM

Look, they are killing cops in T.J., Rosarito, and Ensenda during the day and night openly, as they are looking for them to do these ambushes. So, if the crooks are so bold as to do this why is it hard for some to doubt why this crime wave is out of control. You get the luck of the draw when you are victimized. It's just your day-----now I know that many will not like this being said but it is true. Some of us have been going to Mexico mainland and baja for years with no problem, we were and are just plain lucky. Nothing but luck and I am super careful what I do and how I do it in not only Mexico but certain areas of the U.S. also. However in the U.S. I have the ability to be armed in some fashion so the crook is taking their chances too. When in Mexico the more of a group you are in the better your luck and chances of not having anything bad happen, in most cases. Remember they also rob tourist buses and even the trains before they stopped them from carrying passengers. It's like winning the lottery some are lucky and some just have no luck at all. Not trying to be funny but it is something that just is what it is. May Luck be with all of you and continue with me too!!!! Maybe we should get a large group together and shut the border down going in and flip the coin the other way around, message given and received. Later--------------- bajafun777

wakemall - 9-22-2007 at 10:19 PM

good reply.............

beachbum1A - 9-23-2007 at 08:09 AM

Quote:

More than you know.
Last night a 28 year old member to the P.E.P. unit that was formed 11 months and 2 weeks ago was killed in his home..It is estimated that there were 20 men firing at him at the same time.
That brings it to 7 of the 24 man unit to be killed in less than a year.

Hose A; What town did this attack/killing take place in?

pappy - 9-23-2007 at 08:57 AM

in this morning's local paper there was an article about all this killing, abductions,etc. in mexico, how it has increased dramatically and is now considered the most unsafe country in the world to travel with the exception of a place in africa....the article more or less puts the blame on drug cartels, in that they are fighting back against calderon who has supposedly really cracked down on the drug business...

DENNIS - 9-23-2007 at 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wakemall
Previous response was not posted.... Hey Dennis, was this a negative or positive comment???? Hard to determine what "You're a fast study. " means?????

It means you're a good learner. All good. You have to catch me on a bad day for the other stuff.

Hook - 9-23-2007 at 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pappy
in this morning's local paper there was an article about all this killing, abductions,etc. in mexico, how it has increased dramatically and is now considered the most unsafe country in the world to travel with the exception of a place in africa....the article more or less puts the blame on drug cartels, in that they are fighting back against calderon who has supposedly really cracked down on the drug business...

And the study commissioned by the Mexican government to determine whether using the military to counter the drug cartels has concluded that it is NOT a good idea to use the military for this.

Go figure.

DENNIS - 9-23-2007 at 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hook

And the study commissioned by the Mexican government to determine whether using the military to counter the drug cartels has concluded that it is NOT a good idea to use the military for this.

Go figure.

Who else is there for the job? Maybe they should hire the Blackwater mercenaries. They soon may find some free time on their hands.

bajabound2005 - 9-23-2007 at 12:22 PM

Anyone seen the film, "Entre Llamas"? Pretty much sums up police corruption in Mexico. Rent it off Netflix. Excellent film that will leave you speechless.

[Edited on 9-23-2007 by bajabound2005]

pappy - 9-23-2007 at 12:29 PM

not a bad idea dennis...but then they may be too easily influenced by the big bucks of drug money and end up working for the cartels instead of government....

Al G - 9-23-2007 at 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hook

Quote:

Hook...if you are referring to this report...it says nothing of being commissioned by gov...only "Gov run" human RIGHTS panel...and may be infiltrated by drug money and surely opposing party...it is a story of misconduct...not if their drug efforts are working or not.
Our own military has problems of misconduct too.
One must always read between the lines of all media as they have their agendas too.

Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:18 pm (PST)

Human rights panel recommends Mexico's army be pulled from war on drugs
Chairman of government-run panel says staff documented four cases of abuse
Soldiers accused of raping 14 women in small town in 2006 case
President Felipe Calderon ordered army to retake areas held by drug cartels

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AP) -- A government-run human rights commission accused
soldiers of rape and torture on Friday and recommended the army be pulled out of
Mexico's nationwide drug war.

Jose Luis Soberanes of the National Human Rights Commission said four cases of abuse
were documented.

The report by the National Human Rights Commission is the first official document to back
up long-standing allegations of human rights abuses by soldiers ordered by President
Felipe Calderon to retake large swaths of territory controlled by powerful drug cartels.

Military officials declined to comment on the report, saying any response to the allegations
would come in a press statement.

Calderon ordered the nationwide crackdown shortly after taking office on December 1, and
he has said the war against drug trafficking is his top priority. Calderon's office said they
were reviewing the report.

Jose Luis Soberanes, the commission's president, said his staff was able to document four
cases of abuse.

The first case in Mexico was from 2006, before Calderon took office. The commission said
soldiers allegedly raped 14 women in a small town in the state of Coahuila.

The second, in early May of this year, soldiers responding to an ambush in the western
state of Michoacan allegedly entered homes without warrants, stole money and property,
tied residents up and threatened them with death if they didn't provide information.

The soldiers allegedly submerged at least one person in a well, sexually abused two
children and raped two teenage girls.

In the third case, also in May in Michoacan, Soberanes said soldiers rounded up and
tortured at least seven adults and one child in a small town that was the site of a shootout
with suspected drug traffickers. Many of the victims reported having bags placed over
their heads while they were beaten.

The fourth case already has been widely reported. On June 1, soldiers opened fire on a
pickup packed with people, killing two women and three children.

Soldiers said the truck failed to slow for a highway checkpoint, but the commission said
investigators found no evidence of a checkpoint. In fact, Soberanes said, the soldiers
appeared to be simply camping alongside a dark road when they opened fire on the
vehicle.

He added that seven of the 19 soldiers at the campsite showed signs of having consumed
alcohol or drugs.

woody with a view - 9-23-2007 at 03:46 PM

just don't stop.....

Hook - 9-23-2007 at 03:46 PM

Yer splitting hairs, Al. Government commissioned, government run. I didnt say it was Calderon commissioned.

So that's it????? All police agencies that have attempted interdiction on the cartels have failed and that's why Calderon turned to the military.

Game over in favor of the cartels ??????

SDRonni - 9-23-2007 at 03:50 PM

Very, very sad......

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070923/news_1n23me...

Hook - 9-23-2007 at 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SDRonni
Very, very sad......

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070923/news_1n23me...

I dont see this as a setback for the Calderon administration at all, as the article states.

Once Calderon decided to go bare knuckles against the cartel, it's only natural that more blood was going to be spilled and more arms were going to be discovered.

It's like declaring war and calling the expected increased casualties a setback. WHAT THE HELL DID EVERYONE EXPECT ????

toneart - 9-23-2007 at 04:24 PM

It doesn't make sense to pull the military off of the drug war. They are still manning all the checkpoints and roam the towns. Does it follow that they should also be pulled off the checkpoints and confined to their base? They were certainly effective in Calderon's early days, in Michoacan and in Tijuana. They disarmed the police. I would trust the military before I would trust the police. Oh, sure, there are incidences of rogue soldiers, but there are far greater incidences of rogue police, documented and still going on every day. Besides corruption, the police are afraid of the cartels, so there some of the mis-deads by police are understandable. A military presence could help to protect the police too....sometimes from themselves. :spingrin:

Mango - 9-23-2007 at 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by toneart
It doesn't make sense to pull the military off of the drug war. They are still manning all the checkpoints and roam the towns. Does it follow that they should also be pulled off the checkpoints and confined to their base? They were certainly effective in Calderon's early days, in Michoacan and in Tijuana. They disarmed the police. I would trust the military before I would trust the police. Oh, sure, there are incidences of rogue soldiers, but there are far greater incidences of rogue police, documented and still going on every day. Besides corruption, the police are afraid of the cartels, so there some of the mis-deads by police are understandable. A military presence could help to protect the police too....sometimes from themselves. :spingrin:

tonart, I agree with you that the military is more trustworthy. I'd rather have to stop/talk/deal with the military over the police in Mexico any day. I am not sure why they were pulled off the job, it may have had something to do with the law in Mexico, I'm not sure.

I can tell you one thing though.. I'd rather have a corrupt cop with a .36 than a corrupt soldier with a .50 cal and a Hummer.

Hook - 9-23-2007 at 07:10 PM

"I can tell you one thing though.. I'd rather have a corrupt cop with a .36 than a corrupt soldier with a .50 cal and a Hummer."

So would the cartels.

BTW, what is a .36? A muzzle loader?

[Edited on 9-24-2007 by Hook]

DENNIS - 9-23-2007 at 07:34 PM

That has to be a 36+2.

Mango - 9-23-2007 at 08:46 PM

I'm not much of a gun freak. So maybe I got it a little wrong. Isn't a "Saturday Night Special" a .36 cal?

I could still take an eye (and half a head) out with my David and Goliath sling that I made when I was 12. BTW. I know how to use it pretty well; but, could never out shoot anyone with a gun.

A little piece of leather and two hemp stings fits in my pocket and there is plenty of ammo just laying around. It will never set off a metal detector and it's looks don't scare a soul. I take it with me into the wild often.

Might not save me from a bear or drug smuggler; but, I can rocket a 2" diameter rock at several hundred FPS to a 3 foot radius at a 100 yard range any day. It's a lot of mass.. moving fast. Pretty ugly for whatever it hits.

toneart - 9-24-2007 at 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mango
I'm not much of a gun freak. So maybe I got it a little wrong. Isn't a "Saturday Night Special" a .36 cal?

I could still take an eye (and half a head) out with my David and Goliath sling that I made when I was 12. BTW. I know how to use it pretty well; but, could never out shoot anyone with a gun.

A little piece of leather and two hemp stings fits in my pocket and there is plenty of ammo just laying around. It will never set off a metal detector and it's looks don't scare a soul. I take it with me into the wild often.

Your slingshot won't set off metal detectors, but the "hemp strings" will alert the drug dogs.

Saturday Night Specials

MrBillM - 9-24-2007 at 09:49 AM

For me, Saturday Night Specials usually involved a girl. Come to think of it, a lot of those were in Baja (mostly Tijuana and Ensenada).

The .36 caliber load was popular back in the Black Powder-Percussion days. In fact, I think one of the more popular pistols was the Colt .36 Navy. I'm not aware of any current .36 loadings.

The "Saturday Night Specials" (so-called by the Anti-Gun Groups) were really any of the lower-cost and lower-caliber revolvers or semi-autos produced primarily in So Cal. Mostly in .22 or .380.

Hook - 9-24-2007 at 10:10 AM

There were, at least in the last couple decades, Sat Nite Spec. in the .25 and .32 caliber rounds.

I owned a six-shot, .25 cal, semi-auto made by Bauer once. Tiny little purse-type gun, it was extremely unreliable and jammed often. I sold it on a street corner in Compton one night.

JUST KIDDING !!!!! ABOUT THE SALE !!!!

Cheap Pocket Pistols

MrBillM - 9-24-2007 at 10:27 AM

I'm not aware of the full-range of the derided "Sat Night Specs", of course. I have a few in .22LR and .380ACP. The .25ACP is a good round when compared to the .22LR but there were a few cheapos chambered for the .22WMR which was superior to the .25. I don't remember having seen any Cheap .25s. I once had a Beretta Bantam that I DID sell on the streets of South L.A. I know that the .32ACP Seacamp is considered the Cadillac of Pocket Pistols, but it comes with a high price.

oldhippie - 9-24-2007 at 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MrBillM
I once had a Beretta Bantam that I DID sell on the streets of South L.A.

Ohh, Noooo, Mr. Bill

http://tinyurl.com/2gk5lu