drifty1000 - 8-19-2008 at 09:10 AM
Just woundering how the east cape is doing with kidnaping ec... I was down there this spring finishing my house and am about to furnish it ect and
while down there. a crime wave was on going with 9 or so house breakins. also a son of a rancher was kidnaped and there were the cops with the black
masks driving through town. kind of sucked. The real problem is i have a 9 mo old son and we were building this house as the dream kite spot now i am
woundering if i can bring him down there. funny how i used to travel without a care all over the world now the little guy takes priority. thats a
tough line for an addicted kite surfer. whats the insde word the land i love..
fishbuck - 8-19-2008 at 09:20 AM
I was there earlier this year and man I love that place. My kind of beach for sure.
I made friends with Baja Joe. He has a nice little beach resort. If you don't already know him you can try emailing him and ask him what's up. He
would know for sure. Nice guy who's been there a while.
I never felt a bad vibe from the locals. But not super friendly either.
I wish I could afford a place there too. Let me know if you are going to bail. But I think you're okay there.
Diver - 8-19-2008 at 10:26 AM
You've got to be kidding, right ??
We have been going to La Ventana with our kids since they were 1 or 2.
That place is the largest and safest gringo enclave in Baja !!
What we really enjoyed there when the kids were small was the fact that everyone is very supportive and helpful.
I saw a man have a heart attach on the beach and 3 doctors were there with meds and skills to help get him to La Paz !
If my kids get hurt and cry; half the time, someone else gets to them just as fast as I do.
Do you know how many lonely grandparents are in that town ? They love kids !
And the Mexican folks also LOVE kids !
Have you met Leana at Casa Verde ?
She is the owner's american daughter.
14 or 15 and a very capable babysitter - right on the beach !
BUT, if you decide to sell your house cheap, Fishbuck and I might be able to work somethiing out ! 
i am not kidding
drifty1000 - 8-19-2008 at 11:35 AM
the trucks of masked cops and other police were all over the place in april. it was definatly an eye opener for me.
Diver - 8-19-2008 at 01:46 PM
There are trucks of army-looking kids all over Baja; in many towns.
Some wear masks for anonimity, to look cool or to protect their faces when they ride outside.
Although they may look intimidating, catch them at a mini-super and chat them up. They are generally friendly and will google over your baby. I
consider them to be part of the "good guys", for the most part.
I have seen them at beaches and other places and when asked, they said they were looking for someone or some boat. They look and leave.
Last year coming out of Asuncion, I was waved over by truck with about 10 machine-gun toting guys in back, some with masks. They had passed a friend
who was concerned about my progress and stopped to relay his message; very intimidating - just for a half-second.
I guess it's partly experience level and partly personal judgement and comfort.
I would never fault a parent for trying to ensure their child's safety; it's what we're here for.
Personally, we are more careful when situations demand but have enjoyed Baja with our kids for many years and have not seen reason to stop.
Diver - 8-19-2008 at 01:51 PM
BTW, where is your new place ?
And where have you been staying ?
We are normally in the BIG campground for a month or 2 each year.
We have many friends with homes there.
gnukid - 8-19-2008 at 02:51 PM
La Ventana is considered safe however most people who visit in winter never leave the campground or their own street, nor do they speak spanish so
they have no sense of what is happening with the crime network under their nose. Many petty crimes occur.
As you know I reported various crimes there and solved them only to be ridiculed here. Those minor crimes were resolved through direct casual
confrontation-no police. Yay. Joe has a sanctuary with full time 24 staff so he is an league of his own.
As a long time visitor I have personally reported crimes there that I witnessed by observing the actions from my vehicle where I was sleeping. I have
tinted windows, Even though I confronted the bad guys and called police and had witnesses they all lied and no police action took place, but they got
the message and now every single time we see each other we have to smile that I know and he knows he is a crook. I confronted the wife and said look
I do not come to your house and rob you so do not do it to others because you are teaching your children to rob so you have a responsibility for this
crime too. That didn't go over wll but it made a good point. There is no police force to pursue any crime, okay there is a guy but he will not do
anything to mexicans who rob gringos and they will not prosecute even if you have main eye witnesses and evidence and photos so we took it upon
ourselves to build a network of people who care and who are willing to make a stand and cruise the streets. Make your own team of people and you
should consider paying for real security that will support you when things happen.
La Ventana is located on a one way road so there is no chance that outsider people pass through or things happen without almost everyone seeing them.
It's quite obvious, in fact an attentive person can hear the unique exhaust of a new vehicle at night and be alerted.
Los Plannes is a nearby city as is La Paz. The people of La Ventana and EL sargento will always claim that those cities send in criminals to La
Ventana so they play each other off and blame the other along with El Sargento. The main police station is in Los Plannes and they will not pursue or
give back your stuff unless you pay. That's the racket.
The truth is practically everyone knows exactly who does the crimes, where the stuff is and how to get it back.
No one likes the problems, so stand up, get involved, keep security, make fake security, tell people you have chinese traps and robot guards, video
grabando 24 horas, when you see something write it down, identify the car, plates and people and take photos and make the info available in town by
posting it on the wall, again and again. You don't have to be the one who stands up and says I saw as much as put pressure that it was observed that
this person did x and it must stop or they will be taken care of in a manner appropriate.
Last year in April it was publicly reported in news papers and on tv and of course we all heard it and saw it too that one of the really bad guys was
friends with the "security guy" and he was putting pressure together to rob a bunch of people. Then they turned on each other in a gun fight where
neither was hurt. Ha ha. Finally the La Paz police came in to straighten it out... whatever that means. But they got him. When things escalate the
police will come so escalate sooner than later.
There is no reason to think people are bad there but you must have a plan and be attentive, the more that people think you care enough to protect
yourself and have hightech surveillance and that will react and not back down the more likely they will pass by.
The real issue is that unemployed chucacheros, people who smoke meth etc... go crazy in the night and go rob anything. If you stand up they will stay
away cause they are cowards.
You need to organize your neighborhood, hire an outside security, pay them and supply them with resources to take out the bad guy. All it takes is a
guy driving up and down the street with a light on his car who cruises by at night for starters.
Second do not bring anything to your home that would attract robbers, forget the flat screen etc...
[Edited on 8-19-2008 by gnukid]
gnukid - 8-19-2008 at 03:18 PM
I should also add the the familes of el sargento and la ventana are excellent and the time you take to integrate will be well worth it to you. I hope
that you become an integrated member of the community and contribute to the resources as well as use them.
A place to start would be visiting each school, store, police station, churches and every where you go get to know the neighbors and be a part of the
solution to making your home comfortable.
motoged - 8-19-2008 at 03:32 PM
Gnukid,
Sounds like solid advice....if you aren't part of the solution, you may be part of the problem.
palmeto99 - 8-19-2008 at 03:41 PM
Gnukid,
Good post.