Jeep stolen on Michoacan coast
First, let me say that I DO NOT wish this to turn into a Mexico Travel Bashing thread. This thread is intended to RVers WHO TRAVEL IN MEXICO. Moderator: I would be happy for you to delete uninformativ...
Forum Discussion
In response to any number of posts questioning what I post on this forum and why I post in response to certain other types of posts. I do wish I was a better communicator and could write more clearly and more comprehensively. It is one of my many shortcomings.
I post in response to posts about Mexico from people who post on this forum that claim that Mexico is not safe and that they would not go to Mexico because they think risks are too high. As I have said before – this is a matter of perception. The negative posts about Mexico seem to try to indicate that the crimes that happen in Mexico are the only reason these people would not consider visiting Mexico. Again – a matter of perception.
I post so that anyone who visits this forum and might be interested in someday traveling in Mexico will have some idea that there could be another side to the story. I post about crime in the US because it sometimes appears that some posters have no idea of crime rates in the US or that the very same crimes they claim keeps them from visiting Mexico also happen on a regular basis in the US as well as many other places.
I have only mentioned the crime rates in Michigan because one of the posters is from Michigan and posts as though there is no threat in Michigan but the threat in Mexico is greater. I have posted specific crime statistics about Michigan on other threads on this forum which clearly show that Flint and Detroit have among the world’s highest murder rates – up in the top 20 in the world – while Mexico does not rank in that top 20. Facts that can be easily verified.
We carry insurance in Mexico that provides us with an 800 number to call from anywhere in Mexico should any accident or theft occur. Calling this number will get us an attorney in any area of Mexico and that attorney will provide us with any and all assistance we might find necessary. They will get the police and work with the police on our behalf as our legal counsel. We report the crime to them and they promise to handle it from there. We pay for this insurance because we want that level of security. We have had no reason to use this insurance yet and hope we never do. Should we need this service we have been assured that all our needs will be addressed.
As I have said above and have said many times – I only bring up the fact that crime occurs in the US as well as Mexico so that those who seem to believe no crime occurs in the US will be aware that maybe you are also at risk in the US. I personally have known people who have been robbed and had their homes burglarized and even people I knew have been murdered in the US.
When living in Colorado a neighbors house was burglarized by a crew of 3 who pulled up to their house in a U-Haul truck while they were at work and in almost an hour cleaned out everything of value in the house. I was not at home at the time but others witnessed this and though nothing of it because they never assumed that anyone would be so brazen to attempt such a thing.
As above – I only single out towns in Michigan to respond to a poster from Michigan who seems unaware of crime in that state.
At any time on this forum anyone can ask any question they want about travel in Mexico of those who spend time on this forum trying to help others who would like to travel in Mexico. This is after-all a forum that is supposed to be for those who travel or would like to travel by RV in Mexico and not about those who come on here with the sole intent of badmouthing Mexico and making false statements and having no other reason to visit this forum than to try to stir up trouble – called trolls – they come on here to see if they can get a rise out of people like me. I respond with facts and links to websites where facts can be found.
If you want facts about Mexico you can ask and I will do my best to provide them and once again I will try to provide links to websites where more information can be found. That is what I am here for.
I have no desire to badmouth the US and that is not my intent. I most sincerely wish I never had to try to respond to these negative posts again and that the uninformed who come on this forum to cause trouble would find somewhere else to play their silly juvenile games.
We all know there is crime in Mexico. We all know about the cartels. We all know the cartels have been involved in thousands of murders and other atrocities. But we also know the vast majority of the killings by the cartels have to do with one gang killing members of other gangs. We also know that the vast majority of this happens in specific areas for the most part – rarely in the places we travel. I have heard of almost no tourists killed in Mexico – though we have heard of US citizens killed in Mexico because they were involved in some way with drugs or criminals.
We spend most of our time visiting the central mountains of Mexico where we find the most interesting towns and where we find almost no crime. We are not much for the beaches as we find them too hot and humid. We enjoy the architecture and history of central Mexico. We travel save areas – populated areas – populated roads.
We have never experienced crime in Mexico. We have never met a corrupt member of any law enforcement agency in Mexico. We by no means suggest that crime does not exist just because we have not experienced it – or that corrupt police do not exist because we have not met them. We know there are risks – but we also know there are risks everywhere. We feel safe in Mexico – but we are not delusional or kidding ourselves by thinking crime cannot happen to us. By the same token we also know there are risks everywhere else as well.
We travel in daylight because of topes, cows, horses, donkeys, and it is just safer statistically to travel during daylight no matter where you happen to be. We do not hang out in bars. We do not roam dark streets at night. All the same rules apply in the US as far as we are concerned. We almost always park in RV parks or safely light 24 hour Pemex stations with security guards.
Any capable member of law enforcement in the US will tell you that resisting an armed criminal is a dumb and risky thing to do. The same would be true in Mexico. When I drove a truck in the US they told us all the time – give them the truck – give them the load – give them your toothbrush if they want it – but never ever resist. I used to carry guns. I saw what happened to others who carry guns and I no longer carry guns. We do have a black dog who is on the large side. People who pull guns on crooks who have guns usually get shot. The truck – the load – the toothbrush can all be replaced. Your life cannot. Why risk it?
I post in response to posts about Mexico from people who post on this forum that claim that Mexico is not safe and that they would not go to Mexico because they think risks are too high. As I have said before – this is a matter of perception. The negative posts about Mexico seem to try to indicate that the crimes that happen in Mexico are the only reason these people would not consider visiting Mexico. Again – a matter of perception.
I post so that anyone who visits this forum and might be interested in someday traveling in Mexico will have some idea that there could be another side to the story. I post about crime in the US because it sometimes appears that some posters have no idea of crime rates in the US or that the very same crimes they claim keeps them from visiting Mexico also happen on a regular basis in the US as well as many other places.
I have only mentioned the crime rates in Michigan because one of the posters is from Michigan and posts as though there is no threat in Michigan but the threat in Mexico is greater. I have posted specific crime statistics about Michigan on other threads on this forum which clearly show that Flint and Detroit have among the world’s highest murder rates – up in the top 20 in the world – while Mexico does not rank in that top 20. Facts that can be easily verified.
I like that I can call and honest law enforce will come to assist me. I do not feel secure in a situation that has me driving around for hours or days trying to report the crime and being sure the person I am reporting the crime to will not be as big or bigger crook than the person that robbed me. It not the level of crime as it is the security of knowing someone is there to help you rather than further victimize you.
We carry insurance in Mexico that provides us with an 800 number to call from anywhere in Mexico should any accident or theft occur. Calling this number will get us an attorney in any area of Mexico and that attorney will provide us with any and all assistance we might find necessary. They will get the police and work with the police on our behalf as our legal counsel. We report the crime to them and they promise to handle it from there. We pay for this insurance because we want that level of security. We have had no reason to use this insurance yet and hope we never do. Should we need this service we have been assured that all our needs will be addressed.
You're the one who keeps saying "look over there" whenever anyone wants to talk about the subject at hand.
As I have said above and have said many times – I only bring up the fact that crime occurs in the US as well as Mexico so that those who seem to believe no crime occurs in the US will be aware that maybe you are also at risk in the US. I personally have known people who have been robbed and had their homes burglarized and even people I knew have been murdered in the US.
When living in Colorado a neighbors house was burglarized by a crew of 3 who pulled up to their house in a U-Haul truck while they were at work and in almost an hour cleaned out everything of value in the house. I was not at home at the time but others witnessed this and though nothing of it because they never assumed that anyone would be so brazen to attempt such a thing.
What I've gotten from you is, don't travel to Detroit or Flint. What I'd like to get from you is, what should a newbie to Mexico travel do, how should they think about the situation, what kind of plans and restrictions should they employ? Things like that.
As above – I only single out towns in Michigan to respond to a poster from Michigan who seems unaware of crime in that state.
At any time on this forum anyone can ask any question they want about travel in Mexico of those who spend time on this forum trying to help others who would like to travel in Mexico. This is after-all a forum that is supposed to be for those who travel or would like to travel by RV in Mexico and not about those who come on here with the sole intent of badmouthing Mexico and making false statements and having no other reason to visit this forum than to try to stir up trouble – called trolls – they come on here to see if they can get a rise out of people like me. I respond with facts and links to websites where facts can be found.
If you want facts about Mexico you can ask and I will do my best to provide them and once again I will try to provide links to websites where more information can be found. That is what I am here for.
I have no desire to badmouth the US and that is not my intent. I most sincerely wish I never had to try to respond to these negative posts again and that the uninformed who come on this forum to cause trouble would find somewhere else to play their silly juvenile games.
We all know there is crime in Mexico. We all know about the cartels. We all know the cartels have been involved in thousands of murders and other atrocities. But we also know the vast majority of the killings by the cartels have to do with one gang killing members of other gangs. We also know that the vast majority of this happens in specific areas for the most part – rarely in the places we travel. I have heard of almost no tourists killed in Mexico – though we have heard of US citizens killed in Mexico because they were involved in some way with drugs or criminals.
We spend most of our time visiting the central mountains of Mexico where we find the most interesting towns and where we find almost no crime. We are not much for the beaches as we find them too hot and humid. We enjoy the architecture and history of central Mexico. We travel save areas – populated areas – populated roads.
We have never experienced crime in Mexico. We have never met a corrupt member of any law enforcement agency in Mexico. We by no means suggest that crime does not exist just because we have not experienced it – or that corrupt police do not exist because we have not met them. We know there are risks – but we also know there are risks everywhere. We feel safe in Mexico – but we are not delusional or kidding ourselves by thinking crime cannot happen to us. By the same token we also know there are risks everywhere else as well.
We travel in daylight because of topes, cows, horses, donkeys, and it is just safer statistically to travel during daylight no matter where you happen to be. We do not hang out in bars. We do not roam dark streets at night. All the same rules apply in the US as far as we are concerned. We almost always park in RV parks or safely light 24 hour Pemex stations with security guards.
Any capable member of law enforcement in the US will tell you that resisting an armed criminal is a dumb and risky thing to do. The same would be true in Mexico. When I drove a truck in the US they told us all the time – give them the truck – give them the load – give them your toothbrush if they want it – but never ever resist. I used to carry guns. I saw what happened to others who carry guns and I no longer carry guns. We do have a black dog who is on the large side. People who pull guns on crooks who have guns usually get shot. The truck – the load – the toothbrush can all be replaced. Your life cannot. Why risk it?
