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JaraHurd
Nomad

Posts: 203
Registered: 3-21-2007
Location: Los Angeles County
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Mood: probably annoyed
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Sally..I see you reside in someplace called Capo. How does law enforcement there handle criminal invesigations? Do you feel sufficiently protected
there? Is Capo someplace in Baja? I have never been there but maybe next time I drive to Baja or Baja Sur I can drive through and see how I like it...
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JaraHurd
Nomad

Posts: 203
Registered: 3-21-2007
Location: Los Angeles County
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Mood: probably annoyed
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Light, bell or whistle?
I just reread your post Sally and I had to ask you another question...have you ever used pepper spray? How do you think it affects people? Do you
think it works good? How do you deploy it? do you threaten first, then squirt? Do you have any idea at all? If you don't, send me a u2u and I will
tell you. ...What is a light or a bell or a whistle going to do during a home invasion? U were kidding, right?
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
   
Posts: 4411
Registered: 7-2-2006
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No dejas flojo en tu casa
Many people use bolts into concrete with threaded inserts to put hurricane plywood or metal shutters up over windows.
Put huge bolted slider bolts to lock doors, allow up to three slider bolts on the inside. It's common to put one bolt in the floor and ceiling, one
for each side, it looks nice like ranch style and you can make the door secure so its not possible to break in.--The door can't warp and the doors and
windows don't rattle or make noise even in high wind.
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vivaloha
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Posts: 140
Registered: 11-12-2007
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Mood: mellow
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Tips continued...
Just check out the way the natives use bars / bolts / wood / steel
and locks to keep the honest people honest...
Dogs are a big deterrent if you on site...
Baja California can be a heaven or hell experience - often the determining factor is your AWARENESS in the moment.
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Baja-Brit
Nomad

Posts: 138
Registered: 8-28-2008
Location: London, England & La Paz
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Mood: Happy in Baja!
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Quote: | Originally posted by thebajarunner
Better yet, how about the Muslim solution...
Cut off the hand that steals...
not a bad |
Yep, "finger guillotines" are the answer! 
Remove a finger for each new offence.
By the time they can no longer wipe their bum, they may perhaps have got the message! 
As you were.
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meme
Senior Nomad
 
Posts: 756
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: San Felipe,BC
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Many Many people out of work now in San Felipe. & it's gonna get worse.
Eldorado Ranch has laid off about 100 people now & will soon be laying off another 30 to 50 people we were told at HOA meeting last Tuesday.
The economy is really suffering badly here so many people are hungry so it's not just the druggies.
We had a friends house broken into a couple weeks ago & they were at HOME even. The burgler was I think as surprised to see her as she was him!
Unfortunately they have not caught him as yet, but are at least being more vigilant.
We think we are going to see more & more of this as time goes by & until things get better here in San Felipe as to economy.
Our SAFE program here is on Alert & doing a good job of monitiring homes in Eldorado so we hope that helps our situation here as many of our homes
are in areas where they are REAL acessable.
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lingililingili
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Posts: 449
Registered: 2-24-2008
Location: La Paz, Bahia Asuncion
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doradodan: Just curious. How did they get in? Were bars and locks not enough? We don't even have a television or stereo so not sure what robbers
would take, but we (I) still can't help but worry.
•Life is just one damned thing after another
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CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
   
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Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
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Mood: Peacefull
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Even if they take nothing:
It is the feeling of haveing been violated ...
Not a good feeling, and one that lingers on ...
CaboRon
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Baja&Back
Senior Nomad
 
Posts: 549
Registered: 9-10-2004
Location: Vancouver, Canada / todo de Baja
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Mood: Rarin' to go South!
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finger guillotines
WHAT A GREAT IDEA!
The pain and anger of being invaded and violated is strong enough that thieves and burgulars deserve a little mangling from time to time!!!
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
   
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Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
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Catch the bad guys
Knukid has the best advice.
If the squatters did it, and they see comings and goings, two things will be happeing.
Every time you see them, you'll have negative thoughts and it'll fester.
IF it was them, you NEED to ''confront'' them and ''put them on notice."
Confront in a MX way, though. Unless you have proof they are the perps, accusing them ''falsely'' -- until you have proof -- means not letting
them lose face.
If they did do it and you can prove it (they're playing your radio), it's more ''nothing personal'' but you stole my stuff and that's not OK. If
they have it, they need to give it back.
If it's not them, you'll be asking them for help -- to keep a look out for you and help keep your place from being broken into again. Offer them a
regalo if they help you catch the guys.
The ''squatting'' issue is another subject. I'll let others address that.
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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Woooosh
Banned
Posts: 5240
Registered: 1-28-2007
Location: Rosarito Beach
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Mood: Luminescent Waves at Rosarito Beach
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We never leave our place empty- but know that isn't an option for everyone. Cameras do work. We have seen the police point up at our camera and then
take people out-of-sight around the corner to take their mordidas. Dogs work- but they might poison them first whcih for us would be worse than a
robbery. My best defense is having good watchful neighbors.
These property crimes will continue everywhere as the economy sours. Just be thankful they only took your property and didn't wait for you to come
back and hold you against your will for hard cash. When that is happening in your area it's time to get out of dodge.
I don't know if pepper spray is effective, but we keep a can hanging on a nail at the front door. If someone should manage to enter our property
while we are home our trained response (have a plan) is to taser them and use their own weapon against them- whatever they brought. If it's a group
of people invading our response is to open fire on the vehicle to disable it first (not with a taser), and then take out as many as we can and go out
shooting. No authorities in Mexico can legally knock down your down and enter without a warrant- so if that is what's happening it's a kidnapping in
progress and you can fight them on your turf or be a victim on theirs. The fact that peolpe around us know we are willing and able to defend
ourselves is the best deterent- a mexican stand-off.
For those who say why live in a place like this- I say we were already here when baja norte went from bliss to b-tch and we'll wait it out. It's not
in my nature to turn tail. If we had children it would be different though.
I was visiting my sister in Connecticut a few months back and someone had broken into her weekend beach house. The perps just smoked cigarettes and
watched cable TV for a few days. Nothing was broken, damaged or stolen. We were blown away and told them the house would be an empty shell if this
had happened in Mexico.
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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Sallysouth
Super Nomad
  
Posts: 1835
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Capo Beach
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Mood: missing Baja...
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Gee Jarahurd! I did not mean to offend you at all or discredit you.I am sorry if you took my reply as such. Yes I have used pepper spray, and it
worked.It was many years ago and I was traveling solo.It was an attempt to either mug or rape me as I was getting out of my car at night. As far as
lights, bells and whistles go,I was referring to security lights,alarms, and loud noises, to deter or frighten off the intruder.Dogs are another
plus.Mija always keeps radio and or TV on if she has to leave the house empty for any amount of time. And yes, I have lived in places where the
security (cops) left a LOT to be desired.There are places all over the world like that.
Happiness is just a Baja memory away...
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
   
Posts: 4411
Registered: 7-2-2006
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There seems to be a common theme in response to robbery, there's nothing you can do, but this is totally false. You should do everything you can to
discourage robbery. Here are a few examples:
Signage: Add signs that say video grabando 24 horas, alta velocidad electrico, perro peligroso etc.
Theater: Create theatrical scenes which suggest danger to robbers... spread stories about the demise of robbers, create theater which communicates
demise of robbers.
Protection: Add hurricane shutters over doors and windows, bolts, locks.
Security: Add electrical shock wiring to various access points. Add lights and alarms which discourage robbers.
Traps: Add traps which catch robbers.
Defense: Have defensive tools, hand-held zappers, mace pepper spray, a long bar and weapons.
You can say that you don't want to have to protect yourself, or you can accept that its part of the changing game in many regions of the world. The
more you let it be known that you make an effort to protect yourself the less likely that anyone will rob you. If you let it be known that you wont
respond than you are making yourself a target.
You can be effective, polite, correct, theatrical, and you can defend your property. I think devices and methods that cause people who break in to be
affected by their own actions are excellent and make sense to everyone in Baja California.
Of course the best defense is to have nothing to steal but that is difficult.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
     
Posts: 15940
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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Quote: |
Of course the best defense is to have nothing to steal but that is difficult.
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of course, but the tweekers don't know that until they break in and trash the place!
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
   
Posts: 4411
Registered: 7-2-2006
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The most powerful tools are cameras or the perception that video and photos are being transmitted. You don't actually have to cameras, just the idea
that you might...
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Woooosh
Banned
Posts: 5240
Registered: 1-28-2007
Location: Rosarito Beach
Member Is Offline
Mood: Luminescent Waves at Rosarito Beach
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Quote: | Originally posted by gnukid
The most powerful tools are cameras or the perception that video and photos are being transmitted. You don't actually have to cameras, just the idea
that you might... |
I've helped several people recover property because of my perimeter cameras. We solved two car break-ins, a boat theft and the grafitti problem. Yes
they work- real or not. We also have two posted signs in spanish that warn that all activites a recorded 24/7. Some ciminals wrongly believed they
were fakes- they looked right up at the cameras as they walked by (thanks for the closeup).
Sadly, it's usually the neighborhood opportunists- not people from far away. The man whose boat was stolen recognized three of his neighbors
stripping it. They weren't the ones who took it- but they sure took advantage once the crime was done. I guess picking over crime scene remains isn't
taboo here and they made no effort to report the crime to the police or tell the owner.
While the security got bad in Rosarito this year we've made a house rule to only interact with neighbors we know and who own their own homes. They
have a vested interest in neighborhood security- renters and transient tourists don't.
I do agree strongly with the previous poster that said the more people think you are tough and willing to defend yourself and property- they more they
will leave you alone here. Acting a little crazy once in a while never hurts either. They are looking for quick cash- not a trip to the hospital.
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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JaraHurd
Nomad

Posts: 203
Registered: 3-21-2007
Location: Los Angeles County
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Mood: probably annoyed
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Sally S. I still can't figure out what me having been to Baja has to do with anything. I was not indicting Baja or Mexico. I simply won't allow
thieves to steal from me and would never live in a place where it was tolerated or where law enforcement was complicit in it all.
I think educating one's self in how to deter or even prevent crime is a good thing. Like when you change locks, change to locks that are "bumping"
proof. Stuff like that.
All comminities have their pros and cons. Once again, I was not specifically making any reference to Baja or Mexico.... Jon
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
   
Posts: 3597
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
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A ''safe room'' for most valuable stuff -- otherwise....
I like the idea of a video cam. Security for $120. Meaningless if you're not willing to pursue the perps.
It is not unusual to never leave a home empty. Neighborhoods between DF and Costa Rica where it's common. Neighbors see you leave, know no
one is home, they WILL break in and help themselves to your appliances. Nothing personal.
http://www.radioshack.com/sm-video-cameras-and-lenses--fi-20...
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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JaraHurd
Nomad

Posts: 203
Registered: 3-21-2007
Location: Los Angeles County
Member Is Offline
Mood: probably annoyed
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Most of these posts are great ideas. Just be careful and ensure that you KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING. A property crime can very easily be converted into a
crime against your person if you do not know what you are doing. Do you know how to use a machete? Do you have the stomach for it? Did your pepper
spray expire? Is it fresh? Do you know how to take advantage of the element of surprise..etc etc etc.
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Sallysouth
Super Nomad
  
Posts: 1835
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Capo Beach
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Mood: missing Baja...
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Ok Jon, all good ideas.I totally agree with you on all points you have made and never said I did not.
Happiness is just a Baja memory away...
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