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verichip
Banned
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Has baja changed, need a new list of places to avoid.
“It’s very seldom that I ever post anything on this site however I think this is something that’s very important to all of us that reside in
Baja full-time or part-time. Last night at approximately 1:30 AM in the morning two young thin Mexican men pried open my front door came into my
bedroom turned on the light pointed a pistol at me and threatened me to give me the keys to my 2019 Toyota Tacoma pick up. They then duct taped my
feet and my hands and took my truck. Hopefully this will help in someway to get the word out that there’s many problems in the beautiful town of
Bahia De Los Angeles. My place is in the front right on the beach and there were people in houses on both side of me at the time this took place. It
is in the Diaz complex.”
Somebody had a San Felipe thread awhile back, some like this.
They even have warnings about Oaxaca neighborhoods that used to be safe.
Name the top 3 or more places to avoid in baja.
Yikes!
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David K
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Any place people are, or people can drive to, in 2WD cars. 4WD reached locations are the safe places, in my opinion, not just Baja but anywhere. If
you are hard to get to, the criminals will go for easy pickens.
Since our older, single amiga, Mary Ann Humfreville was dragged out of her Bahia de Los Angeles home at midnight, so her truck could be taken, and
body never found, I don't trust that area for camping.
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surabi
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While bad things can happen anywhere, and certainly no one deserves to be home-invaded, mugged, or murdered, it really isn't a good idea to flaunt
one's wealth where the local population has much less than you.
Upscale homes on the beach and nice newish vehicles and toys make people targets for such things. If you look like you have something worth stealing,
criminals take notice. Living simply, and not looking like a rich gringo can help a lot to make you safer.
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RFClark
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There’s a reason why there are parts of the world with a tradition of homes with high walls topped with sharp metal or broken glass. Open housing
concepts (low or no walls) only work where government actually protects the right of citizens to live safely and own personal property.
The solution isn’t to have nothing because it might be taken from you. The solution is to make government enforce the laws protecting it’s
citizens property and personal safety.
Bay of LA isn’t one of the places where that happens and should be avoided.
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advrider
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Sad, I love that area but I'm much less inclined to visit these days. Not sure I would camp at La Gringa, at least not solo. I hope something is done
before the town's tourist trade dries up!
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PaulW
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Has Baja changed, need a new list of places to avoid.
I have my list
1 San Luis. Avoid if possible. Based on reading the Yuma news.
2 LAB. Based on reading. I will still go there but have more caution than normal.
3 Consititucion. Just a worry place. Still go there
4 San Felipe. New worries. Still go there
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surabi
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The alternative to living simply and not flaunting one's wealth is not "to have nothing".
I drive a 20 year old Ford Escape that gets me from point A to point B just as well as a shiny new truck would, but it isn't a vehicle someone would
likely bother holding me up at gunpoint to steal.
My home is a modest 2 bedroom built in Mexican style, with traditional materials, but with more finished detail work than is common, because I am
fussy about that. Even if someone broke in, there is little of value to steal, as I am quite comfortable with a simple lifestyle. My place isn't
surrounded by high walls and broken glass, looking like I have something super valuable to protect.
[Edited on 10-17-2022 by surabi]
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JZ
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Quote: Originally posted by surabi  | While bad things can happen anywhere, and certainly no one deserves to be home-invaded, mugged, or murdered, it really isn't a good idea to flaunt
one's wealth where the local population has much less than you.
Upscale homes on the beach and nice newish vehicles and toys make people targets for such things. If you look like you have something worth stealing,
criminals take notice. Living simply, and not looking like a rich gringo can help a lot to make you safer. |
Typical blame the victim mentality. Do you tell the girl it was her fault for wearing a skirt that was too short?
Not everyone wants to live like you and drive a 20 yo junker.
[Edited on 10-17-2022 by JZ]
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John Harper
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| Quote: Originally posted by surabi | | My place isn't surrounded by high walls and broken glass, looking like I have something super valuable to protect. |
A can of bear spray on the nightstand (or somewhere easily accessible) might be a good idea.
John
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shari
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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perhaps we should mention places that ARE safer than others.
One good example of relatively crime free places is our area on the central coast in Bahia Asuncion.
Because we have a very effective security patrol or vigilancia paid by our 2 fishing cooperativas, there are patrols in vehicles 24/7 and if a strange
vehicle enters town...we have a security camera at the entrance and the Vigilancia follows the strangers truck around to see what they are here for.
The remote beaches are all patrolled daily so it is safe to remote camp and crime is very low here.
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JZ
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| Quote: Originally posted by shari | perhaps we should mention places that ARE safer than others.
One good example of relatively crime free places is our area on the central coast in Bahia Asuncion.
Because we have a very effective security patrol or vigilancia paid by our 2 fishing cooperativas, there are patrols in vehicles 24/7 and if a strange
vehicle enters town...we have a security camera at the entrance and the Vigilancia follows the strangers truck around to see what they are here for.
The remote beaches are all patrolled daily so it is safe to remote camp and crime is very low here. |
Great to hear Shari.
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surabi
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| Quote: Originally posted by JZ |
Typical blame the victim mentality. Do you tell the girl it was her fault for wearing a skirt that was too short?
Not everyone wants to live like you and drive a 20 yo junker.
[Edited on 10-17-2022 by JZ] |
Once again, your poor reading comprehension and misrepresentation of others' comments is on full display. As lencho pointed out, my comment was
regarding situational awareness, not victim blaming.
And your attitude of entitlement to treat another country like your personal playground where you can bring all your American attitudes and fancy new
toys is exactly the attitude I am talking about that can lead to one being a target.
And yes, a woman who goes out and about with a skirt that barely covers her ass and her cleavage majorly hanging out is going to attract the wrong
kind of attention and she is stupid if she doesn't realize this. That by no means excuses anyone assaulting her nor blames her, but intelligent people
conduct themselves so as to lessen the chances of becoming a target for crime. Just as calling a taxi rather than walking alone down dark deserted
streets at night is what a person who is aware of the danger they may be putting themselves in would do.
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Hook
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| Quote: Originally posted by lencho |
Or simply situational awareness.
It does suck to be a target because of our opulent lifestyle, but it's the reality.
[Edited on 10-17-2022 by lencho] |
Ms. Humfreville was guilty of flaunting an opulent lifestyle? By owning an old truck?
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John Harper
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| Quote: Originally posted by Hook | | Quote: Originally posted by lencho |
Or simply situational awareness.
It does suck to be a target because of our opulent lifestyle, but it's the reality.
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Ms. Humfreville was guilty of flaunting an opulent lifestyle? By owning an old truck? |
Hasn't JZ always advocated paying off crooked cops and bad guys? Voluntary victimization?
John
[Edited on 10-17-2022 by John Harper]
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surabi
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| Quote: Originally posted by Hook | | Quote: Originally posted by lencho |
Or simply situational awareness.
It does suck to be a target because of our opulent lifestyle, but it's the reality.
[Edited on 10-17-2022 by lencho] |
Ms. Humfreville was guilty of flaunting an opulent lifestyle? By owning an old truck? |
Yet another comment that attributes a self-interpreted meaning to a comment that said no such thing. As I said in my original response here, bad
things can happen to people completely randomly.
It was tragic what happened to that woman, and as far as I'm aware, she didn't live any opulent lifestyle that would make her a target- she was just a
victim of a horrible crime perpetrated by heartless animals.
Just as a woman who is modestly dressed can be raped just like one who is scantily clad, it isn't a case of a victim being to blame, but smart people
weigh risks and try to behave in a way that that will lessen their chances of attracting the wrong kind of attention, and try to avoid putting
themselves in situations that could make them more noticable or vulnerable to those with ill intent.
[Edited on 10-17-2022 by surabi]
[Edited on 10-17-2022 by surabi]
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bajatrailrider
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TJ is a place to avoid drive past it OK. As far as last guy with two guys break in house . Put a solid door on bedroom inside lock difficult to break
down. Gives you time to greet them. Your answer is there more problems now. Just Check Calif. that should worry you.
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surabi
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As an example of how people can actually be unaware of how they make themselves targets, because they have never considered how they might be
perceived by others, especially in another culture-
I have a friend who was complaining to me one day that she always seems to get quoted much higher estimates by tradesmen than what other people she
knows paid for similar work. This woman takes very good care of herself and always looks very upscale- perfect haircut, nice clothes, make-up and gold
jewelry. I said, "Dear, you always look like a million bucks. That's great if you're going out to dinner, but when you ask a Mexican tradesman to come
give you an estimate on a job, I suggest you put on your gardening clothes, forego the make-up, and ditch the gold jewelry." She followed my advice,
and now isn't perceived as a rich gringa who can easily be gouged.
Another neighbor, who is certainly not wealthy by US or Canadian standards, just middle class, even drives an old Toyota wagon, was always getting hit
up for "advances" (which they never paid back, they just disappeared, never to come back) by his workers. He was b-tching about this, and asked me,
"Do I look rich or something?"
I said, "Of course you look rich to them. You have a giant screen TV and fancy computer system, which they can see through the open door, you have a
huge pool, and they could live with their entire extended family in your large house, where only you and your wife live. Your living room alone is
bigger than the house they live in with their 4 kids and grandma and grandpa."
[Edited on 10-17-2022 by surabi]
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baja-chris
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It seems areas of serious crime move around. 4-7 years ago there were frequent reports of murders and such in La Paz and Cabo. More recently Cancun.
About a year ago the US state department warned to avoid the "Mexicali Valley" which I presume means the agricultural areas between Mexicali,
Algodones and the upper gulf. Most recently bad crime has moved into LA Bay and San Felipe. It's not a pretty picture.
Here is a summary from about 4 years ago.
https://www.cheatsheet.com/culture/the-most-dangerous-cities...
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Hook
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Apologies, but the logic of that reply is eluding me. Actually, the MEANING of that is, too.
BTW, surabi seems to think my statement was directed at him/her, even though I didn't quote him/her. Puzzling. Yes, random things happen. But
flaunting extravagance was the gist of why this latest thing happened?
Owning a Tacoma is flaunting extravagance, surabi? No indication of its age. No indication of the extravagance of the owner.
I agree. There is a pervasive mentality that always blames the victim these days.
And, as always, the Mexican cops get a pass. 
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mtgoat666
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If you have a house like Thurston Howell III, you better build a fence and hire a security guard!
To most Mexicans, the average expat gringo sure looks like Thurston Howell III
[Edited on 10-18-2022 by mtgoat666]
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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