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oxxo
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True Report?
This report was posted today on Trip Advisors Baja Forum. It was posted by "longhornjohn" who has been a member of that Forum for about one year and
lists his location as Lompoc, CA. I don't know if it is true or not. I am posting just for informational purposes.
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Hello to all, I am writing this as a heads up for ANYONE thinking of (driving) along the central area of Baja enroute to Santa Rosalia, La Paz or Cabo
San Lucas, two words, USE CAUTION. The following happened to me this past Saturday.
On Thursday April 17th I left my home for a 10 day get away to Laz paz and Cabo San Lucas just to explore and relax. All went fine until my return
trip home. I was driving a truck car but nothing flashy. A '94 toyota 2wd p/u with some bumps and bruises and in need of a paint job and a good
washing. As I passed through San ignacio, saw a young guy in his mid 20's Kind of trying to hide behind a small tree talking on what appeared to be a
walkie talkie or nextel.
I did not think nothing of this but thought his actions were strange as he tried to conceal himself from my view. about 10 miles down the road headed
north, I saw a abeat old pick up truck fast coming up on me with it's head lights flashing off and on.
I slowed down and moved to the right as much as I could. (by the way, it is Saturday, we are the only two vehicles on the road and it is Approx:
10 o a.m.) the truck pulled along side and I saw that there were 3 men in the
cab of the truck and 5 others in the back of it. the passenger had a large machete and was swing it out the window at me. The guy in the middle looked
familar, it was the guy on the walkie talkie. he was waving a large knife at me. the guys in the back had baseball bats and pry bars.
Needless to say, I hit the gas and tried to get away. This was going to be a robbery and I was not going down without a fight. I looked in my car for
something to use as a weapon but all I had was my suit case and my cooler with cokes. I took out 2 20 something oz glass bottles of coke out of the
cooler and shook them up. I was a good 300 -500 feet in front of them doing approx: 85 mph. I began to launch the cokes of the drivers side window
with my left hand into the air, backwards.
The first one missed but the second one was a direct hit on and through the trucks windshield. The Winshield was toast and I am guessing that this
shocked and scared the people in the truck as is quickly locked em up and turned left into a ditch.
I continued down the road at about 80 mph until for 35 miles until I got to Guerro Negro Check point just south of town.
They took all of my information and sent a Highway patrolman down the road to check it out. I was contacted by the highway patrol later that night at
my hotel in Guerro Negro and told that they saw the spot where the truck wound up but it was gone. There was a lot of broken glass and some blood on
the ground.
The highway patrol took a detailed incident report and told me that they would check local doctor's and hospitals for injured people and local repair
shops for the truck. They apologized on behalf of the People and sent me on my way. Basically , without a truck or the bad guys guys, there was
nothing they could do.
As I crossed the border yesterday I was relieved that my like was not taken on the side of the road by som punks who wanted to rob a gringo.
The Mexico I used to know and love is for the most part a memory. Baja is slowly becoming as over priced and dangerous as Los Angeles, only on a
smaller scale not mention the T.J. shootouts
Unless I am in a caravan, will never drive Baja again. Maybe you should not either.
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fishbuck
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Sounds real enough.
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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sd
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It looks legit,
Very unfortunate. I have made many trips and met great people. It is too bad for the honest people of Baja that these thugs are making many tourists
afraid to travel, and hurting the economy.
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Hook
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Did you read this reply further down in the report of the attack?
After 20 years we just returned to Cabo, and I must say that we really didn’t feel as safe as we do in other resort areas of Mexico. Other than
the newer hotels and the Mall area at the Marina not much has changed, other than an increase in poverty that attributes to robbery and crime.
We heard horror stories from some spring-breakers at our hotel. Jewelry & other vendors working with corrupt police, with the main intent of
selling drugs; police not far away to witness the sale, youre arrested, you and your friends give all of your money to the (corrupt) police, or go to
jail! Plain and simple... dont talk to vendors on the street, dont buy anything (drugs), and dont get overly intoxicated to get yourself arrested! Be
'smart'… be 'safe'… dont be 'stupid' & keep your eye open!
‘IF’ and when we return I don’t think we would be venturing outside the hotel!
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DENNIS
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I buy it as a true story. Why not? The guy wasn't driving through Vatican City. he was traveling through the wild west where there is little to no
law and order.
Attempted robbery and what else and all they got out of it was a broken windshield. They'll be back.
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Cypress
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Why would anyone go to the trouble of reporting a false account?
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DENNIS
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Quote: | Originally posted by Cypress
Why would anyone go to the trouble of reporting a false account?
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You mean..Here, or to the police?
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jack
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In my opinion the Baja is changing way too quickly and all for the worst. I never used to give crime a second thought. Now it is an important
consideration, you have to think twice about what hours of the day your going to drive, where you are going to spend the night, etc. I know there are
arguments that there is as much or more crime in Canada or the USA. Overall that may be true, but it seems to me that tourists are the major target on
the Baja. I am not worried in the least while traveling through Canada or the US, but lately I have been increasingly uneasy while traveling in
Mexico. I'd feel a lot better if I could pack my 9mm.
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Hook
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I'm not sure I'd report a REAL account to the police down there.
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Hook
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Quote: | Originally posted by jack
I'd feel a lot better if I could pack my 9mm. |
Oh, brother, AMEN!
Smuggling one down would be very easy but I cant figure any way around the repercussions of ever having to use it.
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ELINVESTIG8R
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Quote: | Originally posted by Hook
Quote: | Originally posted by jack
I'd feel a lot better if I could pack my 9mm. |
Oh, brother, AMEN!
Smuggling one down would be very easy but I cant figure any way around the repercussions of ever having to use it. |
Just tell the police you took it from the bad guy just before you used it on him. Make sure it's not registered in your name in the USA in case the
police do a USA registration check. Also, please make sure the bad guy is dead so he cannot testify against you. A dead bad guy is no big deal.
Just stick to your story when questioned. Well, that is unless the police decide to torture you by shooting Coca Cola fizz up your nose to get the
truth out of you. Believe me that one works.
Disclaimer: This post is a work of fiction. Any similarity to any person living or dead is merely coincidental.
[Edited on 4-29-2008 by ELINVESTI8]
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Skipjack Joe
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Very hard to believe this story.
Driving 85mph on baja's roads with one hand on the wheel and the other rummaging for coke cans. Then a direct hit on the windshield from a can of coke
shatters it cutting the passengers and blood is found on the road?
I'm always the one believing people but this one seems like a tall one.
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oldjack
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Maybe.... a rumor/half-truth could be started saying that in light of the continuing problems encountered by tourist... that the Department of
Tourism will allow Baja visitors, with valid visas, to carry firearms... also the rumors should include a report of the tourist who, unfortunately,
had to shoot a would-be robber who did not survive the criminal effort.... showing that there is a direct impact on the criminal activities and a
bright future ahead...
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lizard lips
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Here is my take.
I don't know the guy but I have investigated a lot of crimes and until you hear from someone who was there or from the bad guys, who still cant
believe the direct hit on the wind shield, you have to go with it.
The one thing I don't understand is the blood, glass, and the "EXACT" location of where the bad guys left the road according to the police. That is
the one of the things that troubles me a little!
By the way---------- Im sure the Federal de Caminos or any other police agency would not have called him at his hotel later that evening especially
when he did not receive any property damage and was not injured just to tell him they saw debriS on the road....THAT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE!
[Edited on 01/10/2007 by lizard lips]
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Lee
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Active imagination
Quote: | Originally posted by oxxo
This report was posted today on Trip Advisors Baja Forum. It was posted by "longhornjohn" who has been a member of that Forum for about one year and
lists his location as Lompoc, CA. I don't know if it is true or not. I am posting just for informational purposes.
*******************************
I looked in my car for something to use as a weapon but all I had was my suit case and my cooler with cokes. I took out 2 20 something oz glass
bottles of coke out of the cooler and shook them up. I was a good 300 -500 feet in front of them doing approx: 85 mph. I began to launch the cokes of
the drivers side window with my left hand into the air, backwards. |
This COULD happen but it isn't ringing true for me either. This guy is CRUIZIN' at 85 mph, fumbling in his cooler for ''Cokes'' to use as a
weapon. 85 mph? Not just Coke ''cans'' but 20 oz bottles out the window at a car in back 300'-500'? He scores a direct hit with 1 of 2
bottles?
Don't think so.
Maybe the car chasing him was 50' back -- and he was doing 50 mph and had a six-pack.
Just doesn't sound right.
Anyway, this got me thinking about how to prepare for a scenario like this if it were to really happen. What's a good weapon to have on the
passenger seat or close proximity?
Flare gun? (Think something to throw or fire since you're being chased.)
US Marines: providing enemies of America an opportunity to die for their country since 1775.
What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
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Hook
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When a question of believability comes up, you all have always heard me pose the question.............what would be his motive for making the story
up?
Loves to write fiction on boards for jollies?
Wants to limit tourism down there?
Of all the travel sites to foist this upon, tripadvisor would be one of the last I would suspect someone doing this. Honesty is what it is all about.
I think the likelihood of it happening outweighs the motivation for fabrication.
Hey, I've driven 85 on Hwy 1 with one hand.......
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vandenberg
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Time to trade my 250 for something tougher. 
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Hook
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Quote: | Originally posted by vandenberg
Time to trade my 250 for something tougher. |
I've got an Uncle who will put you behind the wheel of a vehicle like that.............even pay you to drive it.
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Natalie Ann
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I thought the only glass bottles of coca cola were the 8 oz ones, even in Mexico... though sometimes I am wrong. Does anyone remember seeing
20-something oz glass ones, the size reported thrown?
Nena
Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.
.....Oscar Wilde
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mtgoat666
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Quote: | Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
Very hard to believe this story.
Driving 85mph on baja's roads with one hand on the wheel and the other rummaging for coke cans. Then a direct hit on the windshield from a can of coke
shatters it cutting the passengers and blood is found on the road?
I'm always the one believing people but this one seems like a tall one. |
lots of straight stretches north of san ignacio, easy to believe he was driving 85+ with one finger on wheel.
very easy to hit a car directly behind you with little effort of throwing or aiming. soft lob upward from a car moving 85 mph, and force of apparent
wind will rapidly slow it down from launch velocity, and next fast car behind you will take a 60+ mph fast ball in the face.
surprised that someone would do it on 2nd try, but bet anyone could do it w/in 5 tries.
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