Sur2baja
Junior Nomad
Posts: 54
Registered: 10-8-2006
Location: Fallbrook, CA/Nuevo Mazatlan
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San Felipe Auto Burglary
Race fans lost nearly everything in alleged break-in
Charles Agar
The Aspen Times
Aspen, CO Colorado
March 25, 2008
CARBONDALE — Three Carbondale residents found themselves robbed and stranded over the border on a recent trip to a Baja off-road race.
A.J. Argento, 20; Rachel Villalobos, 19; and Albert Ingram, 23, all of Carbondale, as well as Ingram’s sister Rushelle, 18, of Los Angeles, recently
drove from California to Baja, Mexico to watch the Baja 250 off-road race, a short version of the Baja 1,000.
On the afternoon of Friday, March 14, in San Felipe, Mexico, the group left their Ford F250 they’d used to transport a race vehicle to the event.
When they returned a few hours later, at about 9 p.m., they found the truck had been broken into; the group estimated their losses, of everything from
clothes and shoes to an iPod and a video camera, at about $5,000.
“All we had was our sandals,” Ingram said.
Bent molding on the window area indicated someone had used a “slim jim” to break into the truck and unlock the door, Ingram said.
The group still had cash, however, because luckily the bandits did not find some $600 tucked in a tissue box in the glove compartment. (Although the
thieves took a pair of glasses sitting on top of the money stash.)
“They just ran in and grabbed a couple of things and left,” Ingram said.
Ingram and Villalobos both lost their passports, but Villalobos was the only one in the group without identification when the travelers returned to
the U.S. border.
Border guards simply asked where each in the group was born, then ushered them across the border to the U.S. without any major delay.
The group didn’t file a complaint with the police in Mexico.
Usually, foreign visitors to Mexico make criminal complaints to their respective embassy, but that would have required a trip to a major city in
Mexico or driving through Tijuana — an area the travelers wanted to avoid.
Instead, the group beelined for home and border officials recommended they file a report where they live — in this case, Pitkin County.
Ingram suspects the passports could sell for as much as $1,000, and believes the documents will be used by illegal aliens crossing the border to the
United States.
“It’s getting worse every year,” Ingram said, adding he even heard reports of armed banditry and carjacking at Baja race events.
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Sur2baja
Race fans lost nearly everything in alleged break-in
Charles Agar
The Aspen Times
Aspen, CO Colorado
March 25, 2008
CARBONDALE — Three Carbondale residents found themselves robbed and stranded over the border on a recent trip to a Baja off-road race.
A.J. Argento, 20; Rachel Villalobos, 19; and Albert Ingram, 23, all of Carbondale, as well as Ingram’s sister Rushelle, 18, of Los Angeles, recently
drove from California to Baja, Mexico to watch the Baja 250 off-road race, a short version of the Baja 1,000.
On the afternoon of Friday, March 14, in San Felipe, Mexico, the group left their Ford F250 they’d used to transport a race vehicle to the event.
When they returned a few hours later, at about 9 p.m., they found the truck had been broken into; the group estimated their losses, of everything from
clothes and shoes to an iPod and a video camera, at about $5,000.
“All we had was our sandals,” Ingram said.
Bent molding on the window area indicated someone had used a “slim jim” to break into the truck and unlock the door, Ingram said.
The group still had cash, however, because luckily the bandits did not find some $600 tucked in a tissue box in the glove compartment. (Although the
thieves took a pair of glasses sitting on top of the money stash.)
“They just ran in and grabbed a couple of things and left,” Ingram said.
Ingram and Villalobos both lost their passports, but Villalobos was the only one in the group without identification when the travelers returned to
the U.S. border.
Border guards simply asked where each in the group was born, then ushered them across the border to the U.S. without any major delay.
The group didn’t file a complaint with the police in Mexico.
Usually, foreign visitors to Mexico make criminal complaints to their respective embassy, but that would have required a trip to a major city in
Mexico or driving through Tijuana — an area the travelers wanted to avoid.
Instead, the group beelined for home and border officials recommended they file a report where they live — in this case, Pitkin County.
Ingram suspects the passports could sell for as much as $1,000, and believes the documents will be used by illegal aliens crossing the border to the
United States.
“It’s getting worse every year,” Ingram said, adding he even heard reports of armed banditry and carjacking at Baja race events.
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You don't have to go to Mexicali or TJ to make a police report. Go to the San Felipe police station. Frankly I never saw so many cops in San Felipe
before.
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Price
Nomad
Posts: 168
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: Las Vegas/San Felipe
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The police were all over the place - even places they usually don't go - where were these people parked ? could be the problem
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Yellow Journalism
......."robbed and stranded"................
They were victims of an auto BURGLARY who apparently didn't take the proper safety precautions with their (former) property.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65300
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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They transported a race vehicle, it said... but were only there to watch the race... why did they watch without the truck with them? Where was the
truck parked???
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bajamigo
Super Nomad
Posts: 1218
Registered: 6-17-2006
Location: Punta Banda, BC
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Mood: hubimos llegado
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaguy
......."robbed and stranded"................
They were victims of an auto BURGLARY who apparently didn't take the proper safety precautions with their (former) property. |
You don't consider the loss of an iPod in a foreign country "robbed and stranded?" What could be worse?
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7393
Registered: 11-22-2007
Location: Punta Banda BC
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Mood: thriving in Baja
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| Quote: | [ In that timeframe someone had emptied her wallet of the $200 cash that was sitting in it. In broad ******* daylight!
Balsy, I say.
Better not venture into Point Loma |
Someone that was watching our house knew that I left for coffee @ 6AM every morning and was probable checking the door every day. One morning I forgot
to lock it and he entered the house and took my wifes purse from kitchen while she slept. Very ballsy .Lost everything in it including $500, cell phone, check book, drivers liscense and 6 credit cards. Had to
cancel everything and start over. Five weeks later kids playing in field found it on back seat of stored VW thing and only the $ were missing but the
other stuff was no longer good since everything was canceled & replaced.
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pascuale
Nomad
Posts: 224
Registered: 2-20-2005
Location: Somewhere South
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Mood: Lets fish!
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My cars been broken into 3 times in la jolla while surfing. one time the ******** stole my clothes, camera, change, wallet, and every single thing in
the car including my cigarettes but were so kind to leave me one on the seat and a matchbook. Who the hell would leave their 250 with $600 cash,
passports, cameras, etc for a few hours in San Felipe, DUH
[Edited on 3-25-2008 by Hose A]
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajamigo
| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaguy
......."robbed and stranded"................
They were victims of an auto BURGLARY who apparently didn't take the proper safety precautions with their (former) property. |
You don't consider the loss of an iPod in a foreign country "robbed and stranded?" What could be worse? |
If they stole all of the Pacifico!!!!!
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sanfelipebob
Nomad
Posts: 130
Registered: 9-1-2003
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Car thefts and for that matter home inventory thefts are a way of life here in San Felipe. We live with it, watch each others homes and keep our
insurance paid up ! I don't understand why everyone is goofing on these peoples bad luck. My guess is they are young and were probably terrified to
have all of there belongings stolen. The ostrich see's no danger because his head is in his .................... !!!!!!
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mulegemichael
Super Nomad
Posts: 2310
Registered: 12-24-2007
Location: sequim,wa. and mulege
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Mood: up on step
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one afternoon this past winter i was down at jungle jims having a c-cktail and my bride decided to walk down and join me. I had taken some money out
of my wallet and threw it on the dining table. She closed the door and headed my way. I was already getting ready to come home so we were gone less
than 30 minutes. By the time we got home, the wallet was already gone. Our bad, we didn't lock the place up. That was the last time that will ever
happen...again, pretty balsy!
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8964
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
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Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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Here in Northern Colombia, it is just as bad as Tijuana if not worse. Lots of everything...in plain sight. No police to speak of, and the thieves
are packing heat (of course). So, if you want a safe, family vacation, GO TO TIJUANA! 
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venus
Newbie
Posts: 13
Registered: 3-18-2008
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I've been broken into, stolen, and defaced more than once. And when I say I, I mean my truck. 
If I've learned anything by now, its not to leave anything I wouldn't want stolen in my vehicle..EVER, no matter WHERE and for HOW LONG!
It really doesn't matter where you are, how long your away...kind similar to that phrase "accidents happen closest to home," - b/c u let your guard
down. I believe the same things happen with car robberies.
@:
| Quote: | Originally posted by pascuale
My cars been broken into 3 times in la jolla while surfing. one time the ******** stole my clothes, camera, change, wallet, and every single thing in
the car including my cigarettes but were so kind to leave me one on the seat and a matchbook. Who the hell would leave their 250 with $600 cash,
passports, cameras, etc for a few hours in San Felipe, DUH
[Edited on 3-25-2008 by Hose A] |
I'm sorry to hear about your loss, but I must admit, leaving 1 cigarette & a book of matches...what a sense of humor
the thieves had. My question to you was- did u smoke it, or take it as a further assault..thinking maybe it was dipped in kerosene or something of the
sort?
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