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bajabound2005
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Surfers warn of armed robberies while camping on Mexican coast
From today's San Diego Trib:
Troubling sign in Baja
Surfers warn of armed robberies while camping on Mexican coast
By Terry Rodgers and Anna Cearley
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERS
November 14, 2007
The fear is growing.
Southern California surfers have reason to be especially wary about venturing to Baja California after a spate of armed robberies by
paramilitary-style criminals.
About a half-dozen robberies and carjackings that targeted U.S.surfers en route to camping spots along the 780-mile Baja California peninsula have
occurred since June, accordingng to unconfirmed tallies reported via the Internet.
Mexican authorities said they've heard of few such crimes since August, but concede that American tourists may not be stopping to report the incidents
before returning to the United States.
In addition to the buzz created by online postings, members of the Swamis Surfing Association heard from one of their own last night about the
heightened crime risk.
Pat Weber of Encinitas talked during the club's meeting about his traumatic experience last month at Cuatro Casas, a popular but remote surfing spot
about 200 miles south of the border.
Weber said he and his girlfriend had gone to Baja to escape the foul air caused by the wildfires in San Diego County. Just after sundown Oct. 23, two
men wearing military clothing and ski masks confronted the couple. Weber said he initially refused to come out of his motor home, but surrendered
after the robbers fired a shot into the vehicle.
“They made us get down on all fours – execution position – and put guns to our heads,” said Weber, who owns the San Diego Surfing Academy in Carlsbad.
The gunmen sexually assaulted his girlfriend before stealing $10,000 worth of computers, video cameras and other gear, he said.
Weber had logged more than 500 days in Baja and taken dozens of students there over the past 10 years. He now considers it hazardous territory.
“My career guiding surfing tours into Mexico is over,” he said. “I'm cutting it off. I'm urging everyone else for their safety to do the same.”
Unlike many other victims, Weber stopped in Ensenada to report the robbery and assault to police. He wasn't the only recent victim at Cuatro Casas.
On Sept. 16, three San Diego-area surfers camping there were robbed at gunpoint by two men fitting the same description as those who attacked Weber
and his girlfriend.
The three surfers, each in their 20s, were rousted from their tents at midnight and robbed by the masked men. The victims lost everything but their
vehicle and keys. Terrified, they did not report the crime until they had returned home.
Some visitors don't trust Mexican law-enforcement officers, who have been linked to corruption and criminal groups over the years. Other travelers
just want to put the trauma behind them as quickly as possible.
Mexican authorities said they have increased patrols along the U.S.-Mexico border highway, Calle Internacional, and along Mexico Highway 1 leading to
the Ensenada toll road.
Investigators need help from victims to solve the recent cases, said Antonio Martínez Luna, the attorney general for Baja California. Mexican tourism
officials have assigned a liaison to document the robberies and encourage people to provide more information.
“There are lots of things we need to go over,” Luna said. “As more time passes, the trail is lost and the memory is lost.”
Several recent crimes against surfers – and one against fishermen – were roadside robberies.In each of those cases, the perpetrators fooled tourists
into pulling off the road by using flashing lights similar to those mounted on police cars. These thieves forced their victims to kneel and put
firearms to their heads.
On Aug. 26, a group of anglers traveling along the border highway were carjacked and robbed. They later reported it on a sportfishing Web site.
Five days later, a similar crime occurred about 4:30 a.m. along the same stretch of the highway.
In that incident, three surfers from North County were traveling in two trucks. A group of armed men pulled them over just north of the Ensenada toll
road. The surfers were forced out of their vehicles at gunpoint, and one was ordered to kneel and crawl down the face of a cliff as if he were about
to be executed.
The gunmen took the trucks and other equipment – worth $60,000 – and left the surfers dazed on the roadside.
Eric “Bird” Huffman, owner of SouthCoast Surf Shop in Pacific Beach, has traveled to Baja for more than 30 years. He now considers it too risky to
travel anywhere within 100 miles of the border.
Huffman said his apprehension is based on a proliferation of harrowing stories from his customers. “The bad guys are obviously getting more
aggressive,” he said. “It's like the frickin' Wild West down there.”
Some people posting comments on various surfing and sportfishing Web sites have speculated whether members of the Zetas, a gang tied to drug
traffickers, committed some of the crimes. But U.S. law enforcement agents who track violent trends in Mexico could not confirm any connection with
the Zetas.
At the Hotel La Fonda, a popular oasis for travelers along the Baja coast, general manager Alejandro Martinez said he hasn't noticed a drop in the
number of American surfers.
But Joe Segal of Hawaii, who operates a Web site that offers Mexican car insurance and guide books on Baja surfing, said his sales dipped sharply
after articles about the robberies spread on the Internet.
“Southern California surfers are affected by this the most because they are the ones who regularly drive down there to escape the California scene,”
Segal said.
Carol Kramer, co-owner of the Baja Discover Travel Club in San Diego, said she has urged Baja tourism officials to address the latest crime fears
swiftly and decisively.
“You always hear about the 'mordidas' – the bribes. But these recent incidents were far more severe,” said Kramer, referring to the longtime practice
of Mexican police officers taking bribes for trumped-up traffic citations.
“(Mexican officials) have to realize that if this keeps happening, they will cut off their foot, and tourism will dwindle,” she added.
________________________________________
Terry Rodgers: (619) 542-4566; terry.rodgers@uniontrib.com
Friends don't let friends drink white zinfandel.
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Al G
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Hope you don't mind...posted this on EcoBaja to spread the word.
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
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bajaandy
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Sounds like there will be more room in the lineup!
subvert the dominant paradigm
"If you travel with a man, you must either fall out with him or make him your good friend."
JBL Noel
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Mexitron
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Interesting because Quatros Casas isn't some remote spot--there's a gringo encampment there as well as the camp's on-site owners and their dogs(at
least they used to have dogs there...).
I was robbed just down the coast at Shipwrecks ages ago--just my camera and one of the ice chests fortunately--the locals said it was the guys from
Camalu but it might well have been the locals themselves. Anyway, I've generally steered clear of that stretch of coastline for a long time
now--there's so much development going on between Colonet and San Quintin that its bound to bring out the baddies.
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Slowmad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaandy
Sounds like there will be more room in the lineup! |
Gal gets sexually assaulted, and some nozzle's ready with a quip.
Stay classy Escondido.
The only requirement for love or chorizo is confidence.
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Bob H
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What a way to protect surfing spots in Baja, huh?
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bajaandy
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Mexitron... I had the same experience at Shipwrecks in the early 90's. They came through camp while everyone was sleeping and took the cooler,
swimfins and shoes. That was the last time we camped there. I don't even bother to stop until I'm further south. Never found out who it was, but
figured it was locals.
subvert the dominant paradigm
"If you travel with a man, you must either fall out with him or make him your good friend."
JBL Noel
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mikeintj
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaandy
I don't even bother to stop until I'm further south. |
This is what depressed me most reading the Tribune story. I always thought that once you were passed Ensenada it was safe. Now it seems that you have
to go way further.
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Dave
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Surfer tourism
| Quote: | Originally posted by bajabound2005
“(Mexican officials) have to realize that if this keeps happening, they will cut off their foot, and tourism will dwindle,” she added.
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Each year, thousands of surfers spend hundreds of dollars on Bimbo, bologna and beer.
Something needs to be done. 
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Dave
Something needs to be done. |
Maybe something is being done. This is the first time recently I've seen anything like a group of people organizing with a complaint. Nobody will
hear the single voice but, a group, even if they eat too much Bimbo, may get the attention of the traveling public. This is the ONLY way to involve
the officials in Mexico. Hurt them in the wallet.
Now...If the surfers could get the support of an organization such as AARP, AAA or the US State Department, results would be forthcoming.
[Edited on 11-14-2007 by DENNIS]
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Dave
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Will wonders never cease?
| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
This is the first time recently I've seen anything like a group of people organizing with a complaint. DENNIS] |
Surfers?... Organizing?... Dude! 
What's next? That they'll stop smoking dope, learn English, get real jobs?
Scary. 
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DENNIS
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Now Now, Dave. Primo is a gremlin magnet so you don't see them all. The old timers at Wind'nSea or San Onofre would be hurt by your evaluation of
them and I can't imagine why you would think that a travel advisory from Surfer Magazine would be useless. It would be more effective than one from
the State Department.
Actually, an advisory would be ill advised. A total boycot is what it would take. Advisorys are like scoldings. Very inefective.
[Edited on 11-14-2007 by DENNIS]
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dccf
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I hear Donald Trump is planning a tri-tower of condos near Ensenada. Maybe if his organization were to apply some arm twisting (pun intended) changes
would be made by the Mexican government.
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DENNIS
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Donald Trump is more of a problem than the Mexican government. His project is closer to the border, north of Rosarito.
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Dave
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My Bad
| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
Actually, an advisory would be ill advised. A total boycot is what it would take. Advisorys are like scoldings. Very inefective.
[Edited on 11-14-2007 by DENNIS] |
I see your point. A surfer boycott would be just the ticket. They should stay away for as long as it takes.
About thirty years should do it.
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Dave
About thirty years should do it. |
OK...I know you dislike surfers but I don't think that's the point here. My point is that a grassroots, very vocal boycot of surfer tourism could,
with proper press behind it and shareing logical reasoning with other traveling demographics to recruit them to the cause, that of safe protected
tourism, would be the best effort to date to change a situation that we all know is wrong and dangerous and getting worse.
Argue with that and I'll call you the enemy.
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The Sculpin
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The day the banditos hit a caravan of road whales is the day something will get done about this. While I think that Dave's bias and prejudice is
severely limiting his access to his own brain cells, I agree with his point. A surfer advisory or boycott is iffy at best. Keep in mind that surfers
regularly surfed El Salvador during the Reagan years with little difficulty, were in Guatemala during those troubles, and today regularly surf areas
in the Indian Ocean commonly known to belong to pirates. In other words, they're not overly concerned with danger to themselves, and they certainly
are not concerned about what Dave thinks of them!
That said, now that the surfing community knows about this, I would not be surprised to see a group of surfers actually go looking for these guys.
It's happened before, and the policia will then say that, well, somehow the trouble just went away.......
Whoa there, Cowboy - pull back on those reins!
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DENNIS
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You may be wrong about the impact that surfers could bring to the table. After all, who else as a group could or would start this ball rolling? I'm
not pretending that surfers per se will carry on a one man fight but, it's a start. They bring strong, verifiable evidence and if this asset is
left to dry out and blow away with time and disinterest, then we have no grounds to complain about the treatment we recieve from anybody.
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fishbuck
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Dave
| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
This is the first time recently I've seen anything like a group of people organizing with a complaint. DENNIS] |
Surfers?... Organizing?... Dude!
What's next? That they'll stop smoking dope, learn English, get real jobs?
Scary. |
What, you never heard of a surf contest?
"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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fishbuck
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Anybody heard any horror stories from the B1000 people yet? Those stories should start rolling in soon.
"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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