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CaboSur
Nomad
Posts: 108
Registered: 9-10-2014
Location: San Jose del Cabo
Member Is Offline
Mood: Irrelevant
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Thugs, Thievery and Ladrones... input please
Just curious how many of you have been robbed ... house broken into..
car stolen ... vandalized..
Approx. 3 years ago my home in San Jose was broken into with various tools and jewelry
stolen. Apparently the ladron left in a hurry since there were various items
scattered outside. Nothing recovered .
Also during construction of my home (6 years ago) a thief entered and was sacred off by
one of my neighbors. Mostly copper tubing, fittings and a few tools taken.
Don't know if the incidence of thievery has increased here in the Baja or is it
being reported more often?
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DaliDali
Super Nomad
Posts: 1132
Registered: 4-21-2010
Location: BCS
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Wiped me out last year when I was gone to the other side.
TV, Sat box, cleaned out my tool chest, snatched every rod and reel I had, every lure I had, power tools, down to Sabiki bait rigs. All this behind
steel locked doors and concrete block walls in a bodega.
I take the list of missing items to the local "administario publico" who wanted a propina for taking the report and more propina to "help" look for
the items.
Now yesterday my mobile phone is gone. Had it in the boat in a zip lock bag along with my camera. Put that bag on a table outside, (phone and camera
inside) one worker here at the time. Phone gone!!....camera no.
My son left a bag full of lures and my handheld GPS near the ramp in Loreto, I hustle back 30 minutes later and ask the local groupies if they saw
what happened and who took the bag. Then some groupie confronts me and says "gringos must have stole your bag" in a "I hate gringos" manner.
Good Victoronix filet knife......gone the other day. No where to be found.
Housekeeper snatches 11000 P I had hid in a cupboard.....
Housekeeper snatches 3 $100 bills I had under some t-shirts. Then says I must have mislaid them.....or another "visitor" must be the rata. Yeah right
honey.
Housekeeper snatches 3000 pesos I had hid in a jacket pocket in the closet.
(not all the same ones) When confronted, "oh no not me"
She got fired for that one.....and then files a "demanda" on me which cost me 2000 P to dissolve.
EVERYTIME I go to find something or other.....damn if it ain't gone and no where to be seen. I know for a fact I did not steal it, nor do they have
legs.
Shovels, hammers, rakes, wrenches, tools of all colors......gone!!
Frankly I am sick of it all......now I have bars on all the windows and all doors are secured with bars and padlocks. Prison style barbed wire around
the block walls.....3 dusk to dawn lights.
Then I notice that barbed wire cut the other day.....and the plants trampled inside where the rat stepped down into them.
That rat never got in the house or garage.....pheww!!
[Edited on 10-28-2014 by DaliDali]
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6004
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retireded
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I have been visiting Mexico since my parents brought my siblings and I down to Manzanillo in 1959. There were bars on the windows then, and we
quickly learned not to leave things unattended.
What has changed, is communication. There was no way to know back then how often and where it was happening.
By the way, during that same time period in the northern California sierra Nevada mountains, we quit locking my grandfathers cabin because we were
tired of replacing doors and windows!
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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Osprey
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3694
Registered: 5-23-2004
Location: Baja Ca. Sur
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Must be just the luck of the draw. After 20 years of fishing, vacationing down here in Baja Sur, then 20 more living here full time, zero problems
with thieves. That fact that I live a kind of Mexican way of life might have something to do with it. Not many material things around my place worth
breaking a law to own, use or try to sell. Bob Dylan again "When you got nothin' you got nothin' to lose" --- maybe he was singing about me.
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DaliDali
Super Nomad
Posts: 1132
Registered: 4-21-2010
Location: BCS
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Osprey
Must be just the luck of the draw. . |
Could be just the luck..... I have lived in the same casa for 13 years and never had a thing stolen.
Lately it seems, it's rampant.
I live a "Mexican" way of life about as well as to be expected.
Speak the lingo and get along with everyone. All my neighbors are Mexican.
I hate to be putting up bars and locks....prison does not suit me worth a damn.
But lately I have laid out thousands $$ to replace my fishing gear and power tools I use frequently.
Yep, I am on the hunt for "another" housekeeper and another day laborer.
Despite my bad fortune, here is far better than the bowels of So Cal anyday.
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Bob53
Senior Nomad
Posts: 661
Registered: 2-24-2014
Location: Fallbrook, CA & Bahia de los Angeles
Member Is Offline
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Been traveling in Baja for close to 50 years and have only had a gas can and spare tire stolen. Oh, and my virginity.
The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
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monoloco
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6667
Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
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There is quite a few home burglaries in the area where I live, so us and most of our neighbors have installed security systems and we closely watch
each others homes, we all have a powerful hand held lights and when a dog starts barking at night, we'll go check it out, also when someone is leaving
for the evening we will call the other neighbors and let them know so they can be extra vigilant. One thing that's important with a security system is
having a flashing light on the roof so the neighbors can easily determine which house the alarm is coming from. When I see strangers walking around
the neighborhood I make it a point to go and talk with them and try and determine if they are there for some nefarious motive, it also gives me a
chance to get a good look at them so I could recognize them again. The key to good security is having a good dog and knowing your neighbors and
getting everybody involved in maintaining vigilance. So far no one in our immediate neighborhood has had a major theft in several years since we have
become more serious about security. A lot of it also depends on where you live, some areas are just a lot worse than others, years ago, we lived in
Bario San Juan de Pescadero, and you couldn't leave a pair of Levis hanging on the line unattended.
[Edited on 10-29-2014 by monoloco]
"The future ain't what it used to be"
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9009
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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The thievery and the policia municipal run-around goes on quite a bit over here, too. We have had cops caught red-handed, and they were let go. No
items returned to any of the victims, and this was multiple houses.
Nothing encourages crooks more than police, prosecutors and courts that won't do their jobs.
Judicial reform, indeed.
We have not been hit, but our lot is basically a fancy RV lot. It doesnt have much (what the RE agents call) curbside appeal. Yes, we have window bars
and metal security screen doors.
There is one very successful security company in town that puts in security systems. Keep in mind that many homes are vacant during the off-season,
which is the summer months. One person who contracts with them claims that he was told by the owner that their main function was to arrive BEFORE the
police get there, to make sure nothing else disappears while the police are, uh, investigating the incident. The security company doesnt intercede if
the perps are there; they call the police for that. But they are watching the police as much as anything.
One last note to the line from Dylan's song. The locals got nothing and they still get burglarized. But they NEVER call the police. That just
compounds the problem.
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monoloco
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6667
Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
Member Is Offline
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Another thing that happens here is that the thieves will rob a place where the homeowner is gone for the summer, the police catch the ratones, but
since the homeowner is gone there is no one to press charges within 72 hours and the ministerio publico is required to let them go with no charges.
The thieves know this and they have become very bold about burglarizing unoccupied homes, often hitting several in the same neighborhood on
consecutive days. We are lucky because we live in a close knit neighborhood consisting of mostly year round residents, so there is usually people
around who would notice if something is amiss.
"The future ain't what it used to be"
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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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Thefts happen constantly throughout Mexico. You already know about US states like California. If you want to live life openly and with
vigor....theft is a very high risk in Baja.
Just offhand I can think of these items being stolen in Baja.
An 18 aluminum boat, 50hp motor
sonar, cb, cassette player
cooler and booze
rare autographed photograph of Casablanca cast
sea books, logs, and charts
clothes off a clothesline (Mexican Army dudes from road camp in Coyote Bay.)
outside light bulbs (meth heads)
motorhome tv..(Ensenada policeman spotted carrying down the street)
handheld vhf
12volt inverter
...and God knows what else...lots more, I'm sure.
So, although I have had many things stolen over the last 45 years from boats and cars and because of my own trusting nature, my home was burglarized
just once.... a long time ago when I had to fly north quickly - my sister had developed brain cancer.
I was pretty peeed when I returned months later to find my home had been broken into. Home invasion hurts, and I'm not about to turn my cheek at this
insult, so I offered a big reward for the capture and imprisonment of the criminal. Word spread via my reward posters, plus mi amigos in Coyote and
Mulege helped to spread the word, locals and foreigners alike. He was soon captured and most all of the stolen items were returned. Oddly, this
character turned out to be a US citizen...a latino from Vacaville bumming around Baja and robbing homes. Many residents thanked me for doing what
they believed was a deterrent to crime.
Here's a photo that I took of him standing in a police impound area. I paid the large reward and saw him brought to justice with the return of my
stolen items. (One of which turned up in the home of a prominent and embarrassed citizen in a larger Baja Sur town, but that's another story and
hilarious to boot.)
Baja justice is hard on the criminal. This fellow was very roughly handled and sent to prison, and Mexican prisons are no country clubs like a lot of
ours up north. The ones in Mexico actually punish you for your crimes. Anyway, the prisoner appealed to me for humanitarian reasons and I was
compelled to help deport the crook back to the US or he was not going to make it very long in the cereso. I found out that he was treated like an
animal and tortured. You can replace stuff, but not a life. It all worked out for the best, though. I'm sure when they dropped him at that border
gate he got down and kissed the ground. We won't see my crook in Mexico again. Not after a few months in that lockup.
I've blocked out identification...because I think this person may have suffered enough, and I have no need to beat a dead horse. I'll give him the
benefit of reformation. But…I’m thinking of writing an account on the entire event….it was a real Baja Hoot with all the usual wide cast of
characters. I still laugh when I recall having to buy film for the policeman's camera to take photos of footprints, and then paying for the film
developing, too…..Hoo Boy! Got to be sure I don’t singe any feathers, though. I’d have to check with various cops, federales, lawyers, a judge, a
certain politician who knowingly bought stolen goods, a neighboring town's mayor, the police chiefs in two towns who were using my vhf radio and my tv
in their offices..…ah well, best forget about it....for now. 
It's just something you learn to live with... and go with the flow. Accept the partnerships of crook and cops and your stuff. Protect yourself as
best you can and don't put much stock in material things that others less fortunate do not have.
Hah...brings to mind the time my wife and I went to La Paz carnival for a couple weeks of R & R. I told my buddy & neighbor Noel to keep an
eye on our place while we were gone. When we returned late one night, a figure emerged from the blackness wielding a huge machete! Jeez...Noel
scared the caca outta both of us. An apparition from a horror movie!! Naturally, nothing was missing on that trip.
[Edited on 10-29-2014 by Pompano]
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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CaboSur
Nomad
Posts: 108
Registered: 9-10-2014
Location: San Jose del Cabo
Member Is Offline
Mood: Irrelevant
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Pompano
Thefts happen constantly throughout Mexico. You already know about US states like California. If you want to live life openly and with
vigor....theft is a very high risk in Baja.
Just offhand I can think of these items being stolen in Baja.
An 18 aluminum boat, 50hp motor
sonar, cb, cassette player
cooler and booze
rare autographed photograph of Casablanca cast
sea books, logs, and charts
clothes off a clothesline (Mexican Army dudes from road camp in Coyote Bay.)
outside light bulbs (meth heads)
motorhome tv..(Ensenada policeman spotted carrying down the street)
handheld vhf
12volt inverter
...and God knows what else...lots more, I'm sure.
So, although I have had many things stolen over the last 45 years from boats and cars and because of my own trusting nature, my home was burglarized
just once.... a long time ago when I had to fly north quickly - my sister had developed brain cancer.
I was pretty peeed when I returned months later to find my home had been broken into. Home invasion hurts, and I'm not about to turn my cheek at this
insult, so I offered a big reward for the capture and imprisonment of the criminal. Word spread via my reward posters, plus mi amigos in Coyote and
Mulege helped to spread the word, locals and foreigners alike. He was soon captured and most all of the stolen items were returned. Oddly, this
character turned out to be a US citizen...a latino from Vacaville bumming around Baja and robbing homes. Many residents thanked me for doing what
they believed was a deterrent to crime.
Here's a photo that I took of him standing in a police impound area. I paid the large reward and saw him brought to justice with the return of my
stolen items. (One of which turned up in the home of a prominent and embarrassed citizen in a larger Baja Sur town, but that's another story and
hilarious to boot.)
Baja justice is hard on the criminal. This fellow was very roughly handled and sent to prison, and Mexican prisons are no country clubs like a lot of
ours up north. The ones in Mexico actually punish you for your crimes. Anyway, the prisoner appealed to me for humanitarian reasons and I was
compelled to help deport the crook back to the US or he was not going to make it very long in the cereso. I found out that he was treated like an
animal and tortured. You can replace stuff, but not a life. It all worked out for the best, though. I'm sure when they dropped him at that border
gate he got down and kissed the ground. We won't see my crook in Mexico again. Not after a few months in that lockup.
I've blocked out identification...because I think this person may have suffered enough, and I have no need to beat a dead horse. I'll give him the
benefit of reformation. But…I’m thinking of writing an account on the entire event….it was a real Baja Hoot with all the usual wide cast of
characters. I still laugh when I recall having to buy film for the policeman's camera to take photos of footprints, and then paying for the film
developing, too…..Hoo Boy! Got to be sure I don’t singe any feathers, though. I’d have to check with various cops, federales, lawyers, a judge, a
certain politician who knowingly bought stolen goods, a neighboring town's mayor, the police chiefs in two towns who were using my vhf radio and my tv
in their offices..…ah well, best forget about it....for now.
It's just something you learn to live with... and go with the flow. Accept the partnerships of crook and cops and your stuff. Protect yourself as
best you can and don't put much stock in material things that others less fortunate do not have.
Hah...brings to mind the time my wife and I went to La Paz carnival for a couple weeks of R & R. I told my buddy & neighbor Noel to keep an
eye on our place while we were gone. When we returned late one night, a figure emerged from the blackness wielding a huge machete! Jeez...Noel
scared the caca outta both of us. An apparition from a horror movie!! Naturally, nothing was missing on that trip.
[Edited on 10-29-2014 by Pompano] |
You are one of the few to follow thru and i admire your determination...GOOD FOR YOU... at least most of the home invaders in the baja are
not carrying firearms like in the US, usually they only have a screwdriver or prybar..
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BooJumMan
Senior Nomad
Posts: 891
Registered: 8-11-2007
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
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Been robbed at gunpoint and beaten, had my car broken into 5x, House broken into 3x. But this was all North of Border. Been lucky to say I haven't had
anything stolen in Mexico aside from a few shots of tequila and cold tecates at the military check points.
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7393
Registered: 11-22-2007
Location: Punta Banda BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: thriving in Baja
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In my 10 years of living in Punta Banda the only things I have ever had stolen was when I first moved here and left my US passport, FM3 and a few
hundred pesos in my UNLOCKED car. What really peeed my off though was when the Federal police came to interview me they treated me like the criminal
asking over and over who I had sold them too and how much I got paid.
Bob Durrell
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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Welll...how much? 
"YOU CAN'T LITTER ALUMINUM"
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chuckie
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6082
Registered: 2-20-2012
Location: Kansas Prairies
Member Is Offline
Mood: Weary
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I aint giving them back.....It is a shame that we are forced to live that way, bars, alarms etc. The world as we knew it ,has changed..........
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dtutko1
Nomad
Posts: 341
Registered: 8-26-2009
Member Is Offline
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I have been robbed every year in Pescadero. Most of my neighbors have too. Everything from tools, fishing gear to garden tools to flip flops. We have
had no problems since we rescued a dog (who dosen't care for Mexicans) during the 4-5 months we reside there. The robberies continue during the summer
months. One neighbor was robbed at gunpoint. Very depressing. Having cameras to identify the perps dosen't seem to be the answer. The perps ground
off the door hinges and were caught/released. Some kind of security system with alarm and local investigation may be my next try. I know it's just
stuff, but the feeling of being violated is tough to deal with. The hardest part is trying to convince my wife that shooting the perps is not the
answer.
Dorado Don
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ncampion
Super Nomad
Posts: 1238
Registered: 4-15-2006
Location: Loreto
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retired and Loving it
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The thievery problem in Loreto is getting worse in the past few years, in my opinion. Seems like we hear about an issue on a weekly basis. Had
someone come in our house about a year ago and "grab-n-go". We were away for less than 30 minutes but they got a laptop, camera and several power
tools. Then a couple of months ago we woke up to find someone had taken the 40 hp motor off the back of our tin boat parked in the driveway. Clear
footprints of where they jumped the wall and took it back over to a waiting truck. Little things disappear on a regular basis. I hate to live as a
hostage to my house, but we've just about had it. The police never actually follow up on the cases so the thieves know there is no repercussion.
Something has to change or it will drive the gringos away.
Living Large in Loreto. Off-grid and happy.
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DocRey
Nomad
Posts: 180
Registered: 2-27-2013
Location: SADM, Playas de T.J./Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Cautiously Optimistic
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Only once in ten years. Thief must have been thin as a rail. Unscrewed an aluminum framed shower window, entered & stole a roto-hammer ( that
needed repair, ha! ). No other valuables touched.
Good neighbors on both sides. Pretty fortunate, I guess.
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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 dtutko1
I have been robbed every year in Pescadero. Most of my neighbors have too. Everything from tools, fishing gear to garden tools to flip flops. We have
had no problems since we rescued a dog (who dosen't care for Mexicans) during the 4-5 months we reside there. The robberies continue during the summer
months. One neighbor was robbed at gunpoint. Very depressing. Having cameras to identify the perps dosen't seem to be the answer. The perps ground
off the door hinges and were caught/released. Some kind of security system with alarm and local investigation may be my next try. I know it's just
stuff, but the feeling of being violated is tough to deal with. The hardest part is trying to convince my wife that shooting the perps is not the
answer. |
Don, If you don't sign a denuncia within 72 hours, the ministerio publico is required to let them
go. It's a total hassle but it might be worth the price of the plane ticket to see them locked up.
"The future ain't what it used to be"
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basautter
Senior Nomad
Posts: 862
Registered: 7-1-2013
Member Is Offline
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I had my hotel broken once at Rocky Point. I was pretty sure it was US citizens that had a key to the room. I have been more careful ever since, and
have never had a problem since (take the valuable stuff with you, don't display anything of value, hide/lock stuff up).
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