Safety in the RGV

[Dog_Trainer]

Please forgive me for stirring the pot here. We are new snowbirds having spent a part of last year in central Fl. and presently in Fl. until late march.
We were talking about what we might do next year and the RGV is a possibility. We mentioned this to some folks that had recently left Brownsville TX. and they stated that we had better be careful down there because there is a lot of crime. I know a lot of you spend your winters there and we are not even a little bit wimpy or afraid of things. I am prudent a do research where we will be going so I wonder how much weight to give to the safety issue in the RGV. One comment this person made was that the Walmart in Brownsville now had armed guards. Thanks for your input.

[TomG2]

If it gives the old folks a thrill by calling it a biker bar, that's great. Most of them would not go near the real deal. By the way, it is no longer called "Crazy Joe's".

[pawatt]

TomG2 wrote:
Calling a bar populated mostly with retired Midwestern farmers and school teachers a "Biker bar" is a little bit of a stretch. It is a fun place though.

It is a biker bar when the Winter Texans are not here, They probably fear for their safety when we are here and stay away.

[TomG2]

Calling a bar populated mostly with retired Midwestern farmers and school teachers a "Biker bar" is a little bit of a stretch. It is a fun place though.

[2gypsies1]

pawatt wrote:
Living in fear is not living.

We feel the same way. I'd just stay home if I felt I had to look over my shoulder constantly and eye everyone as a potential mugger.

[pawatt]

IMO safer here than many,many places in the USA. And we rarely stay in the compound. Last night it was a biker bar under an international bridge to Mexico. Beer, live music, bonfire and complimentry BBQ thanks to Crazy Joes.
Living in fear is not living.

[joebedford]

I wasn't trying to say the RGV is unsafe - I was just saying.

In fact, the ONLY precaution I take here that I wouldn't take in any other city is that I won't park my Harley outside the movie theatre.

Heck, I live in the country waaay up north and my next door neighbours got burgled. In the city where I lived before that, my next door neighbours got burgled. We have an alarm system.

[John_Joey]

The longer you stay in the RGV the more stories you can tell. That's assuming you leave the "Sandals" style resort compound, and explore the area. If you're happy with the compound, then life is good. If you venture out, then you throw the dice.

[2gypsies1]

It's a well-known fact that at most trailheads in the U.S. it's advised not to leave valuable in the vehicle.

Again, this is not a RGV problem. Crime is all over the country - and world. Just use common sense.

[joebedford]

Two days ago, my neighbour parked on the Texas side while he crossed over to Nuevo Progresso for some dental work. When he came back after 3 hours, he noticed that the lock on his metal pickup bed toolbox had been jimmied. He 'lost' about $500 worth of tools.

We parked my Harley in the same lot yesterday while we were in N.P. for the day.

[2gypsies1]

It was just in the news yesterday that Chicago had a very high increase in murders the past year.

Don't worry about the RGV. 🙂

[joebedford]

All this talk of safety in the RGV makes me happy to escape to Nuevo Progresso if only for the day tomorrow.

Today I'm competing in the Encore Games - slow bike race.

[TomG2]

Might not be directly related to safety, but an honest observation. The dances and hot spots are as crowded or more so than ever for this time of year. That may mean that the fun people are still coming to the RGV and the others.......

[John_Joey]

... A real problem is the driving...

I was helping a friend pull a 5'ver. We were on the service road getting ready to pull onto 83 when a car pulls off of 83 and comes charging down the hill (off the pavement) and T-bones the truck. Young man jumps out of the car and runs into an empty building holding what looked like a donut box.

Security guard comes out with the guy and sits him down on the curb next to his car. Texas trooper shows up, then the INS who handcuffs the man and drives off. Tow trucks show up to haul us in now for repair.

While sitting in one of the tow trucks I asked the driver what that was all about. He told me that the building was an illegal casino, the box may have had drugs or money in it, and if the young man ran it would have gave the police reason to search the building. Thus, the security guard sitting the man on the curb. Driver told me if the young man did run, he may have ended up in the Rio Grand upside down.

[TomG2]

Bad drivers are everywhere, but our proximity to the border increases the number of crazies that will make a run for it rather than get caught with their illegal cargo of drugs or people. Their "Employers" do not appreciate them getting caught.

[Scottiemom]

TomG2 wrote:
Some have talked about fences and armed guards. A real problem is the driving. When one of the criminals is on the run, which is quite often, they run stop signs, red lights, and anything else that might slow them down. You do not want to be in their way.

Part of that is because traffic lights, signs, etc., are only suggestions down here. If you are in the far right lane and want to go left. . . you just turn.

I once came up on a woman who was weaving all over the road on the expressway, no less. As I passed her, I saw she had the wheel propped between her legs. She was holding a bowl of cereal in one hand and spooning it into her mouth with the other.

Takes all kinds. . .

Dale