Just heard a 3rd report about cops on Revolucion extorting gringo dollars.. Same line, "prostitution is not legal on Revolucion"... BULLSHIT!!!

If it wasn't legal, they would bust the chicas... My TJ amigo, Jose (Arrieros upstairs bartendar) advised me that a mutual friend who frequents the place and has a novia @ San Souci was nailed this past week..

This pisses me off to think that these A-holes are collecting tons of gringo dollars from unsupecting S.D. based sailors, marines, tourists from N. Dakota or where ever...

If it happens to me I hope I have the balls to ask to be taken to the station... First, I'd say she is my novia and no money was exchanged... Then I guess they would say it's against the law to be seen leaving a hotel that is used by prostitutes...

Rule #1 is NEVER give cops (in TJ or any country) money... Of course that's easier said than done...;o)
ag

Jose also advised me that this past week he was walking West on calle 1 near Fracaso Bar when he noticed a potential ratero leaning on a cab... He noticed 2 other suspicious hombres hanging near the buildings as well...

He proceeded to the corner (Constitution) while being aware of his surroundings, paused to talk with an old beggar lady, turned around while talking and saw the "same" guy that had been leaning on a taxi in front of Fracasco. The guy was leaning on another taxi now still watching Jose...

Within moments they targeted another "local", within seconds, choke hold applied, pockets emptied and they fled...

I can't recall the time of day, but it does not matter... Several of us have witnessed muggings while the sun was high in the sky and throngs of locals were milling around, it doesn't mean shit to these A-holes...

Many locals I know, will not walk that block between Rev & Consti as they have either been mugged or witnessed too many... The taxi drivers say they witness many muggings each day as a matter of course... These are day drivers...
ag

Here's what I figure...the newspaper "Frontera" a few weeks ago ran a story about how the TJ Restaurant Owners Association wanted to close down all the "table dance" places like Peanuts & Beer, Bambi's, Caribbean, etc...because the association wants to promote Rev as a place for "family entertainment"...Also, the association is claiming that the "table dance" bars are taxed as if they were restaurants rather than bars.
My feeling is that the cops have been cued to put indirect pressure on the bars on Rev (by cracking down on prostitution, for example...) as a way to discourage customers for these bars and as a way of appeasing the RA's desire for a "family-type" atmosphere on Rev. The Restaurant Owners Association is very powerful in TJ...

KRICO

Krico- Thats interesting I heard something similar to that a few weeks ago. I think it would be great if they moved those bars North, It would be nice to go from AB upstairs and recharge in say Madonna Strip club.

While at Arrieros Sunday, my amigo the bartendar told me of yet another disgusting episode regarding how low some of the TJ "cops" can sink. There is a young lad, looks to be around 13 yrs old who makes his living by delivering food from a restaurant. While on his way home one afternoon, was mugged in the plaza... This is the diagonal "walking street" that connects 1st & 2nd...

He started yelling for help as lots of people were around. The cops came, took him away in hand cuffs to spend a night in jail claiming they thought he had been robbing people.

I've met the young lad, he is a very clean cut & respectful guy... Go figure.. Another example of how the cops protect the rateros...

Some gringos think that cops & rateros only target gringos. Not true, I've heard too many stories to the contrary. As Daytimer said, it's a war zone down there... Watch out for "boobie-traps" & not just the kind at CC...;o)

this is my first post. i would like to share my first crime in tj experience.

i was there jan.27 sat. with my buddy.
did the usual thing, shop and eat before heading down to AB(crowded but not in full swing about 7p.m). had a few beers then headed to chicago(was dead).had one beer, just went back and forth between thr to clubs for the next 2 hour or so. since i didn't"t really see anything to my taste, i decided to do a street girl. after crusing the street i found someone near or almost in front of HK(very cute...another story).after a fun session, we headed towards chicago. went to the corner then crossed the street i was walking in front my friend(a pretty stocky built guy, who i try to bring with me for protection).i was walking on the sidewalk and my friend about 6 ft. behind me. 20 ft before the intersection, two guys must have jumped out of nowhere and got behind me. i was millisecond away from getting mugged, thank god for my friend(a real mean bulldog)who ran up behind the baditos calling my name.so i m in front and the baditos 1 ft. behind me and my friend 1 ft. behind them. by the time i started to turnaround the banditos must have noticed that my friend was about to start breaking heads because they made a hard left and stopped to cross the street as if they were going to ab. so by this time i was stopped with my friend, the banditos were also stopped waiting to cross the street.we were all within 2-3ft. from each other. my friend was pointing them out and was telling me that they got behind me and was sizing me up.the banditos must have noticed that they were about to be rushed themselves.

i been going to tj and felt safe most of the time(except going solo,which i wont do anymore).I FEEL LIKE I REALLY DODGED A BULLET.

SO GUYS BEWARE.... AND NEVER LET YOUR GUARD DOWN.

sorry guys for not posting before. i feel that this experience is to important not to share, so becarful guys.

THANKS REDSNAKE...this site has been very helpful

LOCATION:walking towards chicago on consitution 20-30ft.before crossing the street ,on chicago side.

if you see me, don t be shy. come by and say hi.(i m a big asian dude with a mild limp i usaually at cc or ab.)


downtown

Downtown, glad to hear you avoided the attack. Thanks for the location information.
SB

Hey Downtown,

I'm still trying to figure out your location information. So you were on Constitucion on the same side as the police station right? The two guys emerged about 20 feet before reaching Coahuilla right? Then the four of you stood at the intersection..you and your buddy about to cross Coahuilla towards Chicago and the two bad guys headed towards AB...about to cross Constitucion. And this just happened on Saturday? I think that's right.

Hey can you give us a description of the two guys? Approx age, height, weight...clothes etc.

Thanks!

Thanks for the "heads-up" Downtown... glad you avoided that one! As Redongdo just said - if we can get an ID on these guys it would be helpful. The area you described is right smack where many of us tend to walk (ie, between CC and AB). Also, something to keep in mind - Try not to wear any watches or jewelry - they are like beacons to the rateros. After a close-call last year I stopped wearing watches or jewelry. I just keep my watch in my pocket... progman

redongdo,

the location you describe is right on, and yes
it happened this sat.january 27. 2001

descrription: both banditos
age...18 to 22
height...5 9 to 5 10
about 140 plus they were kinda skinny
they dress in collar shirt with jeans(like a mexican cowboy but with baseball caps instead of cowboy hats tennis


downtown

Right on Downtown,

That's real helpful. I'm sure there are many bandido's and descriptions of clothing are self-limiting...but I'd like to get a look at some of these guys. When strolling down Ratero Row or any of the streets that are supposed to be prone to the muggings I've tried to see if I can spot the potential muggers...usually it's hard to tell which ones may be the bad guys. I've even stood around in some of the "hot" spots just to see if anyone looked suspicious...but either everyone there does or none of them do. Need a scorecard I guess!

"...i was walking on the sidewalk..."

Very useful information. When I was mugged on Articulo 123, I was on the sidewalk and the rateros came out of an alley. I think they like to hide near a quick escape route. Most of the muggings seem to happen on the sidewalk. Hence the value of walking in the street like the careful locals.

Regards,
RickFeliz

A quick question ... where exactly is the "Ratero Row"??? Thanks.

Gringo,

That's First street/Articulo 123, Between Revolucion and Constitucion...apparently a lot of muggings have happened there.

BTW, while we're on the subject...this is more of a scam than a crime...but last week at about 2-3am on the American side I got hit up by a guy with a scam I hadn't seen in maybe 6-7 months. This was dicussed on Redsnake before but since it's resurfaced maybe it's a good time to bring it up again. As I exited the walking bridge towards the parking lot this white guy started giving me a sob story of how he's all out of money and his brother got busted by the TJ cops and was in some jail. I heard him refuse a ride from another guy just before he asked me anything so we know it's all BS. All he wants is cash, I just told him I was flat. It wasn't the same guy that tried this on a number of us last year but the story was exactly the same. The guy looks normal enough and is very convincing...don't hand over any cash.

My buddy Mike, who is a local zona tour guide (some of you know him) pointed out some rateros a couple months back while we were in front of the Red Accion. They look like everyday TJ "down-and-outs". They were not large or mean looking. Some even looked like teenagers. The best advise is to watch out when you come up to a dark sidewalk or a cross-alley. Walk down the middle of the street or alley when possible. Having a fellow monger with you also helps (as in Downtown's case)... progman

Redongdo - I saw the same guy last Tuesday and he tried the same bullshit line on me and a newbie friend of mine! I told him to hit the road but my friend caved in and gave him a buck. He is very convincing...

LETS START TAKING PHOTOS OF SOME OF THESE MOTHER FUCKERS AND POSTING THEM.!!!!
SB

NO PHOTOS!!!

Not Chicas.

Not Hobbyists

Not Con-Artists

Not Rateros

Once we start, there will be no controling it.


StrikeEagle

How many of you fly solo?, and how often.


myself,if I go solo about 4 times out of 10. I
guess about 40%.


downtown

My first visit last weekend - went solo.

I was up and down that same street several times Saturday afternoon where Downtown almost got it. I saw lots of rateros but no-one who made a play for me.

I am 6' 220lb, maybe they just didn't like my look either.

The parking lot scam guy tried me in late October on a Sunday morning. I told him to call somebody that might care. Had to admit he had a good routine. His poor brother had been in la cárcel hace mucho.

I walk in solo during the day. I'm only 5'8" 160, but I have been lucky and not had any problems. I do not walk in at night.

I am usually alone when in the Zona and take a taxi from the border. I was mugged 2 years ago on Articulo 123 within one block of Constitution, so that has made me somewhat paranoid about walking around alone. If you ever see someone wearing a blue New York Rangers hockey jersey watch out since that he is the one who was in front punching me.

any of you guys who fly solo interested in getting together for a trip? safty in numbers.

i usaually go solo about once every 1 or 2 months.i would sure like to hook up with someone at those times.

In the day time I walk from Pueblo Amigo to the zona. At night I walk from Pueblo Amigo to the Autobus Terminal at the border and take a bus to Constitucion and 3rd(?) and then walk down Constitucion to the zona. I am always alone and always walk in the street between 1st the Chicago Club. I have never had any trouble, day or night.

I fly solo 95% of the time and except for a close call several months ago I have not had problems. As I stated a few days ago - I think the rateros were after my watch. Since then I bring a cheap watch and keep it in my pocket. I'm also 6',4" and weight about 240 lbs. I don't worry too much if I see one guy but do use caution if there are two or more... At night I ALWAYS take a cab from the border and get out in front of Adelitas, in reverse when I leave. I get down to la zona about 3 or 4 times a month (advantages of being a San Diegan). Anyway, I'm at a point where I notice things that seem out of order but also always never let my guard down... Progman

Hey Downtown --

Please add your e-mail address.

It *might* help with the responses.

RT

my e-mail is downtown90601@yahoo.com

I usually walk in late afternoon and walk out anywhere from 10:30 until 2:00 A.M. and have never been hassled.

I am a black guy 5'9" 190 lbs..

I did have some cripple dude berate me vocally, because I would not give him any money.

I have had 3 gringos claiming to be merchant sailor that had just been rolled asking for money at the bridge, but no hassle, told them I had spent all of my money on the chicas.

I am pretty street smart and don't walk into bad situations.