That sounds more plausible, in South America, I do not recall what city the kids would ask for money from motorists at the stop light, when none was given the kids would tear of the cars mirror, pretty soon there were a lot of cars with no mirrors, later the drivers started running the kids over with the vehicles, we do not want this to start.
I would encourage your friend to write a letter to the Secretaria de Turismo and to the Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores, the letters can be in English, higher educated Mexicans learn English in school, I taught English for three years at the
Instituto Politecnico Nacional, Zacatenco.
Let the authorities know about the incident, so that awareness of this type of vandalism is mitigated immediately.
navegator