Bandits with Badges

Thanks for sharing.

And yikes, this makes me nervous to even be out on foot in LZN. Where were you exactly? In the alley behind hong kong (primer callejón coahulia) turning on Av Niños Héroes? That worries me because that block around Hong Kong should be immune to police corruption.

You've now got me worried that simply crossing the street from Rizo to HK risks an encounter.

Geez, that’s awful PT. While not surprised it happened, I’m shocked about WHERE it took place. I’d expect that on Revolucion by the Arch, but not there in the heart of the Red Light District.

And as Ron alluded to, something like this makes guys want to remain in Hotel Cascadas/HK or Rizo/TB instead of going to the other clubs, just to try to ensure it doesn’t happen to them.

Thanks for sharing instead of keeping it to yourself. There's some dudes who have themselves convinced there's no risk wandering the streets alone in TJ.

Man that sucks

The couple of times I’ve been in TJ I felt safe. Safer than times I’ve been, for example, at the White Sox stadium, fashion district DTLA, Oceanside, Little Haiti, Bronx etc.

I would be real pissed if I lived in Socal.

From Mass, a flight to Germany is about the same price and same time inthink and although sessions cost more, the safety makes up for it I would think.

Sorry to hear this, PT

What's the theory behind holding your cash in hand while they search you? Is it to make it easier for them to confiscate it without searching you? Or are they not so bold as to take it from your hand in plain sight?

Thank you for sharing. I'm visiting TJ in 10,days and this is important to know. It's been several years since my last visit and I never had any fear of walking around before. I'm definitely going to have to readjust my behavior. Looks like I'm staying at Resort Cascadas more! Not a bad place to be confined!

Thank you for the warning. I guess I'm going to have to use the sock and shoe trick.

Damn, that sucks. Surprised at the location as well. When I’m in TJ I stroll the streets in those few blocks a lot between drinks, dances and bouncing from club to club.

What time of day was it?

Did they ask for ID?

That sucks. I got stopped at the corner near BT five or six years ago. Pretty much the same scenario but they left me my cash. It certainly sobers you up quickly!

I guess I'm going to have to use the sock and shoe trick.

Or get a money belt that is easily hidden. PT is also right when he says only take the money that you’re budgeting for the day. I’d go a step further: if you’re at HK/Cascadas and you’re doing two arribas for each day, take half of your budgeted amount for the first one and the other half for the second.

To answer a few questions:

Yes, they asked for ID. It was morning. I had just turned out of the alley. Holding the cash in hand is just the advice I was given. I assume it is because they want to get away before you realize that the cash is taken. If it is in your hand, much more obvious.

As mentioned, third time that I have been stopped in eight years, so I am writing it off as the odds catching up with me. It is just money. I wasn’t hurt or threatened. Got another trip planned in a few weeks. Not going to stop me.

A local friend said that the cops are starving.

Met a real hot sweetheart in CC this trip that I hope to molest again. Met another all natural beauty from Nogales in BT. Going to Nogales in a few weeks and hoping to connect with her.

PT ...Sorry to hear of your encounter with the bandits with badges. unbelievable that they are the biggest single threat to our visits to Mexico,

Thanks for the report, I literally was there these past few days. The only time I'm going beyond HK is to BT across the street or Oxxo across and down the alley a bit. Even eating at Senda Norte, I just go though the hotel versus the shorter route around the corner from BT. I'll be more on the lookout for these bandits next time. Thanks

Somehow surprised that it was in the morning in broad daylight. Guessing that you didn’t appear drunk at that time as well.

Glad to hear that you had a great time nonetheless

FYI, I don’t drink in TJ. I want to remember my experiences with the girls. I don’t do drugs that the doctor doesn’t prescribe, anywhere or at anytime (since college). Just no interest and not worth the risk.

Interesting. Good context PT. Did they claim any rationale at all for stopping you? They are professional liars so whatever they said would have been complete BS but just curious what kind of line they used on you.

Have fun in Nogales

Sorry to hear that brother.

I bought a travel money belt off Amazon when I first started going years back. It looks like a normal belt but has a zipper on the inside to hold folded bills. For the $15 it costs, it gives me a lot of comfort. My large bills are always in there or the hotel safe.

@Powerman: wise choice. I’m definitely getting a money belt before my next trip.

Like I said, I have a hidden pocket in my shirt and in my pants, but they are a little hard to get to, so I had a enough money for some fichas, food, and a session in my front pocket. Next time I will just have a little ficha money in my front pocket.

And to repeat, they didn’t have or give me a reason for stopping me.

Thanks for sharing

Wandering by yourself the streets in TJ is never a good idea, especially as a gringo you’re at an even higher risk ( regardless of the area, trouble can get you anytime ). As such it’s always been a general rule for me in staying at one specific location/bar that I originally decided to visit in the first place, instead of bar hopping and wandering around solo because that’s when you become more vulnerable to these ‘ Bandits with Badges ‘.

That corner of the alley's end at Majestic bar is a perfect place to get frisked. I've got frisked in front of HK at noon before, so there's no safe place. Also getting pulled over while in a taxi or uber is real. It's no joke until it happens to you.

Got pulled over in an Uber by the military once. The driver was a local friend and I was with an HK ATF. All of the streets out of the zone had either a police or military checkpoint.

Initially, I couldn’t see why my friend took a sharp left turn, but it was to avoid the police checkpoint and go through the military checkpoint. One of the soldiers spoke passable English and my friend is bilingual. They separated us. I was searched while the soldier kept saying, “I am not taking your money.”

Apparently, they were giving my friend a lot of grief. My girl was searched by a female soldier. She went through my ATF’s purse in great detail. My ATF carries pepper spray, a knife, and brass knuckles. It looked like the soldier was going to give her grief over the weapons.

After the longest 14 minutes of my life, they sent us on our way. My ATF said that if we had gone through the police checkpoint, they would have taken all of our money.

Checkpoints are not as bad. I was talking about a set up by the driver & his cops. It's real.