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ciaomary
Newbie
Posts: 7
Registered: 12-22-2012
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Will our house be safe while we're away?
Is there any source for obtaining crime statistics in southern Baja?
We want to buy land and build a modest house near La Ventana. The area we want to build is mostly undeveloped still (only a dozen neighbors or so
within a 1/2 mile radius.) We only want to live in the house in the winter.
It seems like our house would be very vulnerable to break-ins and thefts... and yet, so many people here do leave their homs unattended so it must be
reasonably safe... right?
We do plan to take the following precautions:
- Install security/hurricane shutters (despite their high cost)
- Build our 1 bedroom, 2 floor house with security in mind (no sliding glass doors for example.)
- Install a basic battery alarm system.
- Employ a property manager to potentially rent and look after our home when we are away.
- Get a dog for when we do live here.
- Build a simple fence and gate (we do not want a fortress, just a fence.)
- Leave nothing valuable in the home while we're away aside from furnishings.
We're spending this winter here in the area to ensure we love it here (so far we do), but we so far haven't found any good source of crime
information. Leaving a home unattended anywhere in this world for months on end is a big risk it seems, but we want to make this happen if the risk is
reasonable.
Any advice/insight for us? We'd be very interested in the opinions of those who have done the same...
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monoloco
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6667
Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
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If you leave your house unattended and there are no neighbors in close proximity to watch it, you pretty much have about a 100% chance of being
robbed.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by ciaomary
We want to buy land and build a modest house near La Ventana. The area we want to build is mostly undeveloped still (only a dozen neighbors or so
within a 1/2 mile radius.)
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Just don't bother locking your door and put everything of value in a pile on the bed. That way they won't have to toss your house looking for loot.
You should spend more time talking to your distant neighbors because you don't seem to have a clue as to the realities of the area.
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desertcpl
Super Nomad
Posts: 2400
Registered: 10-26-2008
Location: yuma,az
Member Is Offline
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you need a live on premises care taker
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wessongroup
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21152
Registered: 8-9-2009
Location: Mission Viejo
Member Is Offline
Mood: Suicide Hot line ... please hold
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Might check this out, not sure if it fits into your life style
World’s Most Secure House: A Zombie Bunker
http://www.bitrebels.com/lifestyle/worlds-most-secure-house-...
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ciaomary
Newbie
Posts: 7
Registered: 12-22-2012
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We will have some neighbors, possibly a neighbor right next door if we get the property we're after and, another right across the street that live
here mostly year-round. However, the area behind is so far undeveloped and the next houses over are a couple lots away and only part-time new
residents (like we'll maybe soon be.)
We may very well be clueless... that's why we're living here first and trying to talk to everyone we can, forums included, to seek out as much
information as we can BEFORE we buy.
We don't find much value in subjective opinion comments that don't provide any first hand experience or background info btw.
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EnsenadaDr
Banned
Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
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Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page
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sounds like the guy wanting a safe apartment in Tijuana...
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wessongroup
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21152
Registered: 8-9-2009
Location: Mission Viejo
Member Is Offline
Mood: Suicide Hot line ... please hold
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Been going down since 1952 ... last time down Oct 2009 to Jan 2011, take it for what it's worth
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bajadreamer
Newbie
Posts: 15
Registered: 11-11-2005
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Ciaomary,
Check your U2U.
bajadreamer
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monoloco
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6667
Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by ciaomary
We will have some neighbors, possibly a neighbor right next door if we get the property we're after and, another right across the street that live
here mostly year-round. However, the area behind is so far undeveloped and the next houses over are a couple lots away and only part-time new
residents (like we'll maybe soon be.)
We may very well be clueless... that's why we're living here first and trying to talk to everyone we can, forums included, to seek out as much
information as we can BEFORE we buy.
We don't find much value in subjective opinion comments that don't provide any first hand experience or background info btw. |
Maybe you should come down and see what La Ventana looks like in August. It's pretty much a ghost town compared with this time of
year, I wouldn't rely on neighbors being around 24/7. I know many people in La Ventana who were cleaned out in the summer, one couple had thieves
chisel through their bodega, load their wheel barrow with their stuff, and go door to door in the neighborhood selling it. The realtors probably won't
tell you that story though.
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mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
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Two ways to deal with this issue.
We have a home in San Felipe that we spend less than a month a year there. The home is furnished with basic needs. No electronics. Nothing new. NEVER
had a issue for ten years now :-)
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=55461
or......
We have some land out by the hills of San Felipe....no one but a few coyotes around and a few bandits I am sure......We plan to create a small rancho
there........first priority is building a small one room w/ bath, house. This will be for a caretaker......rent free. This is done in many desolated
areas. You'll need someone to water your landscape as well...call in for water when you are coming down....bla bla bla
Many homes along the Sea of Cortez that are vacations homes....the crime is NOT rampid as one reads about. It does happen.....but it's not like world
at it's end. Thousands enjoys this type of setting......think about that!
-Install security/hurricane shutters (despite their high cost)
Bars may help you sense of security....but wont help if your home is out in the boonies.
- Build our 1 bedroom, 2 floor house with security in mind (no sliding glass doors for example.)
Cheaper to stay at the Mexicali jail.
- Install a basic battery alarm system.
And who is going to show up :-) More false sense of security
- Employ a property manager to potentially rent and look after our home when we are away.
Most likely will be your first issue to have...is with these so called property managers that have zero licenses. You really expect then to overlook
your home 24/7? We have a on site property girl.....she does our bills for water and power.
- Get a dog for when we do live here.
Stop believing that all of Baja is evil infected with murderers and rapist! Take a dog for companionship ....in fact.....adopt one from the many
rescues in Baja. Again....there are THOUSANDS of folks living in Baja that dont have issues :-)
- Build a simple fence and gate (we do not want a fortress, just a fence.)
Great idea to keep the neighbors dog from pooping in your yard.......otherwise worthless to keep the bad guy out.
- Leave nothing valuable in the home while we're away aside from furnishings.
This is true!!!!!!
Make sure your rent for a year where ever you end up deciding to build. Ask many questions. Then ask more!
[Edited on 1-11-2013 by mcfez]
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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DavidE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3814
Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
Member Is Offline
Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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A house sitter is the way to go, but make sure they do not plan to go away for days at a time. Nevertheless, bars on the windows, sliding or swinging
bar doors on the entryways. ENCLOSE entryway padlocks with a 3-sided steel box welded onto the bars making bolt cutter access impossible.
Without this AND a vigilant neighbor or two I would offer odds of 00.00% that the home would not be stripped of every single screw leaving only
scarred concrete.
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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MMc
Super Nomad
Posts: 1679
Registered: 6-29-2011
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Mood: Current
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I would ask this to everybody you meet while you are there. We all have our agendas here and there is nothing like the local knowledge. My house in
Baja Norte was broken into twice. After the first time the shades were always pulled back so the neighbors could see in, and the thief could see there
wasn't much to take. The second time a guest didn't lock the door while we at the beach. oops.
If a new thief shows up, all bets are off. Myself and many others in my community got to know the cops and made offering to their Christmas club. It
helped hold their interest when we maid a report them.
Yes there is a high chance that your place will be checked out.
"Never teach a pig to sing it frustrates you and annoys the pig" - W.C.Fields
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 19371
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
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great design, i like the modernist look when it's set down in pretty desert and surrounded by open space. but looks pricy to build those large
sliding concrete panels.
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mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
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Come on Wily......this is really the bunker you had constructed.....to place JoeJustJoe in....... once you capture him. 
[Edited on 1-11-2013 by mcfez]
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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grizzlyfsh95
Nomad
Posts: 226
Registered: 1-8-2010
Location: East Cape
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| Quote: | O
We may very well be clueless... that's why we're living here first and trying to talk to everyone we can, forums included, to seek out as much
information as we can BEFORE we buy.
We don't find much value in subjective opinion comments that don't provide any first hand experience or background info btw. |
You will find plenty of that (subjective opinion) on this site.
The harder I work, the luckier I get
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
Member Is Offline
Mood: Optimistic
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Ciao. Welcome to this forum...and brace yourself!
BajaNomads has many members with great experiences.
Mary, your closest neighbors are the best source for crime statistics in your area. They have a vested interest in maintaining good information. Of
course, you already know this and one would assume you have already been advised.
I've owned 3 different homes in Baja Sur over the last 35 years and had one break-in. The odds are I should have had more...but i'm not knocking
it...except to knock on wood. If and when it does happen....a large reward for the imprisonment of any perp breaking into your home is a good method
of deterring further crimes.
Take heart and give it a try. Anything worthwhile usually has risks. Living in Baja is well worth the risk.
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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Martyman
Super Nomad
Posts: 1904
Registered: 9-10-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by wessongroup
Been going down since 1952 ... last time down Oct 2009 to Jan 2011, take it for what it's worth |
Ain't worth much since we don't know what you are saying.
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Martyman
Super Nomad
Posts: 1904
Registered: 9-10-2004
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A friend who was in the security business told me a very loud alarm works well. Try and get one of those speakers off the top of the cars that drive
throughout Mexico selling crapola.
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micah202
Super Nomad
Posts: 1615
Registered: 1-19-2011
Location: vancouver,BC
Member Is Offline
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...just in case you're not aware of it yet,,,here's the address to ventana's daily email newspaper........occasional theft reports in there
ventana.view2@gmail.com,,,put 'subscribe' as the subject.......cheers
.......personally,,I'd go with the idea of a nice RV--you can store it for ~$200/year at Pablo's when you're not around,,,move it when your interests
change,,,,or perhaps get a peice of land when you decide where you want to be.
...RV storage is very low price!
[Edited on 1-11-2013 by micah202]
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