Forums > Areas > Jalisco's Lake Chapala Region

FeelinGroovy

Jan 28, 2012, 3:12 PM

Post #1 of 16 (1060 views)

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Spare Tire Stolen off Vehicle in Ajijic

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This occurred yesterday, Friday, 27 January, 2012, between 1 - 3pm in the parking lot behind Eager's that is used by La Nueva Posada customers.

I have a 2003 Honda CR-V. It is designed to carry the spare tire on the rear exterior. It had "special" locks that require a particular tool as well as a chain with a combo lock and a locked leather cover.

Reported to Lakeside Crime. I'm not going to bother with the Ministerio b/c it's more trouble than it's worth for this particular crime. Now, I did report to the Ministerio the other two robberies that were committed against me within the last 6 months.

It has become the wild wild west here.
Libby

stevebrtx

Jan 29, 2012, 5:22 AM

Post #2 of 16 (1018 views)

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Re: [FeelinGroovy] Spare Tire Stolen off Vehicle in Ajijic

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You can probably go to Guad and buy it back at the thieves market. Some folks with a Jeep lost theirs about 4 years ago, went up there and swear they bought theirs back, they could tell by some paint on the cover. They may have used something like Freon to freeze and break the lock and cable cutters take care of the rest. Some other folks with a new GMC crossover lost their mirrors in La Floresta in broad daylight, took the whole things and only left one little mark, about a $600 loss.
www.chapalaweather.net

FeelinGroovy

Jan 29, 2012, 7:44 AM

Post #3 of 16 (984 views)

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Re: [stevebrtx] Spare Tire Stolen off Vehicle in Ajijic

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Steve, I don't see any point in buying it back from the thieves, in fact it seems counter productive. I took all known precautions, so what is to keep them from doing it again? I think I will just buy a used tire and put in on w/o any fancy cover. If they take it then it won't be a huge loss. I can't keep throwing money out the window.

I had a front license plate stolen off my car at a car wash in Chapala a few months ago. The hassle and $ involved in replacing it was way more than one would expect. AND, since it's January I have to pay for it AGAIN.

As Gilda Radner said, it's always something.
Libby

stevebrtx

Jan 29, 2012, 8:15 AM

Post #4 of 16 (972 views)

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Re: [FeelinGroovy] Spare Tire Stolen off Vehicle in Ajijic

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I understand the frustration. I have a Jeep and have a lock on the tire, but the main bracket is bolted to the tailgate with 4 nuts that looked easy to take off and they have the whole thing, so I had a weld bead done on the threaded areas of the bolts so it's permanently attached.

When I was in TX last year I had a friend in the car and we pulled up behind some SUV with a tire mounted and I said "now, there's something you don't see every day where I live" and he asked what, I said a nice new tire on a fancy rim mounted within easy reach and no lock, where I live it wouldn't last 10 minutes. There is a distinct difference in our cultures.
www.chapalaweather.net

sfmacaws

Jan 29, 2012, 9:47 AM

Post #5 of 16 (961 views)

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Re: [stevebrtx] Spare Tire Stolen off Vehicle in Ajijic

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I seem to live in a bubble of security down here. I too have a jeep with the spare bolted on the back and a tire cover on it. We do have a lock on it but nothing special. I have screen windows and a soft top and never close the windows or lock the car when I park. I also usually have about 10p in coins on the dash for the viene, viene guys. None of that or anything else in the car has ever been stolen.

I do have a heavy duty locked compartment between the seats and one time on returning to the jeep at night in a not so cool neighborhood I saw that someone had tried to pry the lock on it. They didn't succeed and they didn't take anything. I do try and park it in safe areas usually and I have it in the garage at my house at night. Still, you can't always pick where your friends live, thus my leaving it on the street late at night in the south central part of the city.

I used to kind of discount the stories about how much less crime there is in Yucatan but it is true. We have had bicycles cut off the back of our RV in San Miguel, a ladder cut off the back of the RV in Jalisco, a few other things. It could happen here but so far in 5 years it hasn't. I have had 2 burglary attempts over the roof here in Merida, in both cases the cops responded quickly and efficiently and on the second attempt they caught him. I kind of blame myself for that as we had a weak door to the roof and we left the key in it. So, nowhere is perfect but now that I have a protector and screen door to the roof and I put the key out of reach, no more problems.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

Bennie García

Jan 29, 2012, 10:26 AM

Post #6 of 16 (951 views)

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Re: [stevebrtx] Spare Tire Stolen off Vehicle in Ajijic

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In Reply To

where I live it wouldn't last 10 minutes. There is a distinct difference in our cultures.

When I was in grade school, it snowed heavily one night. Our mom went out and warmed up the car and then 3 of us got in for a ride to school. When she put the car in reverse the engine reved but the car didn't move. The car's rear end was sitting on blocks. Thieves had stolen the newly purchased snow tires. There are differences between the cultures but thievery isn't one of them.

Rolly

Jan 29, 2012, 10:45 AM

Post #7 of 16 (944 views)

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Re: [Bennie García] Spare Tire Stolen off Vehicle in Ajijic

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The rear wheels were stolen off my Corvette in Chicago. The car was in a locked garage.
They would have taken the front ones too, but the jack stuck, and they couldn't get it down.
I found out who did the dirty deed, and the insurance company bought them back.

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

(This post was edited by Rolly on Jan 29, 2012, 2:05 PM)

FeelinGroovy

Jan 29, 2012, 10:47 AM

Post #8 of 16 (941 views)

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Re: [Bennie García] Spare Tire Stolen off Vehicle in Ajijic

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Hi Jonna, I *love* Merida! I was happily surprised to see contemporary abstract art when I was there. I'm looking at my poster from the MACAY right now. That was probably '08 before you moved there. Would love to live there.

There is probably less crime there b/c there are fewer gringos, and you are probably more integrated into the local culture. I found the people there to be warm and friendly.

Libby (& Gail)
Libby

Bennie García

Jan 29, 2012, 10:54 AM

Post #9 of 16 (936 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Spare Tire Stolen off Vehicle in Ajijic

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Our thief was caught and got 5 years in the state pen. He lived 3 blocks from us and walked by the house everyday. Stuff like that happened on a regular basis in our neighborhood. His brother killed 2 young kids of his ex-girlfriend and shot her mother and another child. They lived just down the street. He had his death sentence commuted. Cultural differences, you know.

stevebrtx

Jan 29, 2012, 10:59 AM

Post #10 of 16 (935 views)

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Re: [FeelinGroovy] Spare Tire Stolen off Vehicle in Ajijic

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When I designed and installed the security system here at the house I spent a long time trying to think like someone who would be trying to get in, how they would approach etc. I built an outer layer of sensors to keep them away from the house and more inside in case they managed to actually get in. And I do some additional things to hopefully prevent a problem, as the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
www.chapalaweather.net

FeelinGroovy

Jan 29, 2012, 11:19 AM

Post #11 of 16 (929 views)

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Re: [stevebrtx] Spare Tire Stolen off Vehicle in Ajijic

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Steve, I think it's great that you can do that. I don't have the do-re-mi, and it's a rental house, so .....
Libby

stevebrtx

Jan 29, 2012, 11:38 AM

Post #12 of 16 (924 views)

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Re: [FeelinGroovy] Spare Tire Stolen off Vehicle in Ajijic

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It cost a little, but I brought it down from TX and this is a rental house so I designed it to be removed when I leave. I had intended to leave this June but the owners want me to stay and have made me an offer I may not be able to refuse, the rent they're proposing is down 47% from what it was 4 years ago when I moved in. Outside factors are the ones I'm considering now, probably the largest pain has been the unreliability of the CFE, but they put in a new transformer and poles and lines in our end of the ghetto a couple months ago, so it might be better this year and I've added, and will add more, new equipment to the weather station this Fall, so we'll see.
www.chapalaweather.net

stevebrtx

Jan 29, 2012, 12:02 PM

Post #13 of 16 (912 views)

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Re: [Bennie García] Spare Tire Stolen off Vehicle in Ajijic

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Here or there?
www.chapalaweather.net

sfmacaws

Jan 29, 2012, 1:56 PM

Post #14 of 16 (896 views)

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Re: [FeelinGroovy] Spare Tire Stolen off Vehicle in Ajijic

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I don't know if it is that there is a lower percentage of foreigners here per capita or if it is the culture of the Yucatán that is different. The major complaints in the local paper are about the influx of Mexicans from other parts of the country bringing their not so desirable traits. Yucatecans are not fond of Mexicans to begin with and they tend to blame any and all crime on these foráneos. In some ways it is easier for those of us from another country as we are seen in a more positive light.

I'm glad you enjoyed Mérida, it's a beautiful city that overflows with art, music and cultural events.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

fug

Jan 29, 2012, 2:44 PM

Post #15 of 16 (875 views)

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Re: [FeelinGroovy] Spare Tire Stolen off Vehicle in Ajijic

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I have zero idea as to why you are attracting so much attention. 3 thefts in six months is more than outrageous I have been here seven years with no problems.Buy a new tire and become more proactive in protecting yourself And get out of Mexico as soon as you can, as you mentioned on another webboard, but thought you could not do so and would be forced to live, unhappily, in Mexico for the rest of your life. Great federally subsidized housing available in the States for seniors who have missplaced themselves in Mexico and think they cannot afford to go back. Check it out. Hate to see how unhappy you are in Mexico. You need to be more proactive in protecting yourself and complaining on a webboard is not the solution to your issues. Best wishes, fug

(This post was edited by fug on Jan 29, 2012, 3:07 PM)

FeelinGroovy

Jan 29, 2012, 3:30 PM

Post #16 of 16 (862 views)

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Re: [fug] Spare Tire Stolen off Vehicle in Ajijic

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Fug, I have done nothing to attract attention to myself. The last two thefts were to 1) license plate taken at a Chapala car wash and 2) tire taken from a parking lot. My vehicle is an 8 year old Honda w/Jalisco plates. It is presumptuous -and rude- of you to assume and say that I am doing something to attract attention to myself. It's so funny how people love to say "how long" they've been down here as if that makes you some kind of expert. Well, ok, I've been here 8 years. BFD. I've traveled by car all over Mexico. I *love* Mexico. Nothing except one vandalism to another car has happened to me until recently - WHEN THE CRIME STARTED GETTING WORSE. It is this particular area that I am dissatisfied with. It is not nearly as pleasant here as it used to be.

When I mentioned I wanted to get out of here, I never said I wanted to go anywhere specific. Again, you are making an assumption that I want to go to the States. I do not. I just want to move to another area of Mexico that is less of a crime magnet because of the infestation of gringos. No place is perfect, there's crime everywhere, blah blah blah, ginger. Let's not rehash that old song again.

I posted the info about the theft as a warning to others.

You know what? I think Lakeside was just fine until YOU got here.
Libby