Mexico City taxi robberies
Posted by Richard Ferguson October 4, 1999
For tourists, perhaps the most serious crime problem in Mexico is taxi robbery in Mexico City. This problem is more or less unique to Mexico City, so many tourists are not aware of the problem. The governments of the US, UK, Canada, and Australia warn travelers of taxi robberies. I have also read several first person accounts of taxi robberies, via the internet and in the media. Taxi robberies in Mexico City have been covered in US and Mexico media, both TV and newspapers. Basically, anybody who knows Mexico knows that taxi robberies are a problem in Mexico City, and takes certain precautions to prevent themselves becoming a victim. The exact recommendations may vary, but it is unwise to ignore the problem and pretend that "It can't happen to me."
A taxi robbery generally works something like this: The victim or victims get into a taxi, usually a green VW beetle taxi. After a few blocks, the taxi stops, and one or two armed men enter the taxi and rob the victim. In many cases, the victim is held for hours while the robbers use the victim's ATM card to get more money. This is sometimes called a "fast food" kidnapping. In a few cases, the victim is held overnight to allow withdrawing more money the next day. The taxi driver is part of the gang, and may have stolen the taxi. In some cases, a waiter or hotel employee may also be part of the gang.
In one article that I read, the robbers found out that they were robbing a reporter. While he was being held at gunpoint on the floor of the taxi, they told him not to write anything bad about Mexico! An American resident of Mexico City was killed in a daylight taxi robbery in December 1997. An American reporter was shot in a taxi robbery April 20, 1998. The personal accounts that I have read indicate that a taxi robbery, even if you are unhurt, is a very traumatic experience.
So, what can you do to protect yourself from taxi robberies? Use the official sitio taxis at the airport and bus stations. Buy a ticket at the window, and take that ticket to the official taxi stand. If there is no taxi stand (sitio) where you are, call a radio taxi. Get the taxi number so you get into the correct taxi. According to an article about taxi robbery in the November 1998 issue of US/Mexico Business, radio taxis have become so popular that it is difficult to get a taxi after dark on a weekend. Generally, the roving taxis are the problem, not the ones that work from taxi stands. You can use the metro (subway), but pickpockets are a problem.
I have many phone numbers for radio taxis from various sources, but I have not personally verified them. Note that Mexico city has recently switched to 8-digit dialing, so prefex 7-digit phone numbers with the digit 5.
Servi-Taxis is at 516-6020,
Radio-Taxis is at 566-0077.
Other radio taxi phone numbers include 271-9146, 271-9058, or 272-6125.
Servi-Taxis 271-2560,
Taxi-Mex 538-0912 or 516-6020,
Radio Taxi 56 74 61 20, 56 74 66 20 or 56 74 63 23.
Sitio #146 55 73 68 57 or 55 73 23 21 .
Sitio de Taxis #144 is 55 49 85 63, 56 54 30 83, 56 49 06 57,or 56 50 69 71 .
Servicio Ejecutivo Radio Elite 53 91 90 80.
You can ask your hotel for a recommendation, and verify the phone number.
The Canadian government in their March 1998 advisory said that you should leave your credit cards and ATM cards in the hotel safe, to minimize the risk that you will be held prisoner while the robbers use your cards. (The current warning is worded more mildly). Only carry the cash that you will need that day. Some people say you should carry 20 or 30 dollars US, to prevent a robber from becoming angry with too small an amount. Consider using your ATM cards only at ATM machines inside a bank or other commercial facility during regular banking hours, as recommended by the US government. Even the Mexican government recommends that you not carry your ATM card with you unless you plan to use it.
If you are robbed, comply and hand over your valuables immediately. This will greatly reduce the risk of violence. Your life is worth much more than your camera or your credit cards.
Official statistics show that crime in Mexico has doubled since the start of the economic crisis in 1994. However, I should note that victim surveys and many government crime statistics indicate that crime rates in Mexico City are similar to or lower than rates in urban areas in the US. In private correspondence with a university professor working in statistics, I have been told that Mexican crime statisics are a little primitive, and are not really worthy of confidence. I have seen few crime statistics for visitors and tourists, just overall statisics or surveys of residents.
In a brief visit to Mexico City in July 1999, my friend Miguel, a lifelong resident of Mexico City, said that he felt that the crime situation was exaggerated. When I was with him, I did get into a couple of roving taxis, somewhat against my better judgement. I still feel that roving taxis should be avoided, and I did avoid them for the rest of our time in Mexico City. I also carefully reviewed the ID for the driver before I got into a tourist taxi outside a museum. We did see one noteworthy thing on that trip, relating to the police. There was a police car, running red lights and siren, so overstuffed with police officers that neither of the rear doors could close. It looked a lot more like the Keystone cops than a professional police force. Of course, the Mexican police are often critized for being ineffective and corrupt.
Should you go to Mexico City? Of course, the decision is yours. There are lots of things to do in the largest city in the world, but it is not a place to relax and let down your guard. Mexico is a big country, and most areas of Mexico are much safer than Mexico City. If you do decide to go to Mexico City, read the various government travel advisories before you arrive, and practice security while you are there.
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