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gpkgto

Jul 19, 2009, 10:27 AM

Post #1 of 8 (3811 views)

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800 number and email addresses for citizens to report suspicious activities

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The Mexican defense department (SEDENA) has an 800 number and email addresses for citizens to report suspicious activities, etc. in their neighborhoods re: illegal drug sales, kidnappings, etc. So far there have been over 23,000 reports and according to the newspapers this has resulted in the capture of lots of criminals, weapons, drugs, and the release of some kidnapping victims. All reports are anonymous. Just in case anyone has seen something strange in their neighborhood, here is the website to get the 800 number or the email of your closest SEDENA installation. It is also interesting to see which areas have generated the most reports.

http://www.sedena.gob.mx/...UALIZADOJUL.2009.pdf

Peter

Jul 19, 2009, 12:50 PM

Post #2 of 8 (3774 views)

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Re: [gpkisner] 800 number and email addresses for citizens to report suspicious activities

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I wonder if that was the number some neighbor used to get the houses raided of two brothers in my colonia with adjoining lots, they were told it was an anonymous tip. Their parents and sister also live nearby in the colonia, the sister with an adjoining lot to the parents.

It was somewhat less than a year ago that the army stormed their houses around two in the morning with automatic rifles, overturning furniture, ransacking their houses looking for drugs, none of which were to be found. It seems nothing was found except for about $3000 pesos that the brothers couldn't find later after the army left.

I've known these two guys for some time now, they are not drug dealers or they would be living at least one or two notches up into the comfort zone and would still be maintaining a low profile. They buy old cars at auctions and tianguis, do a little mechanic work, throw on a new paint job, then sell them for a modest profit. Possibly a little unreported income is their biggest crime.

You could argue they "look" suspicious having tatoos they aquired in their earlier youthful days living as mojados in the US, with a sparkling new looking old Cadillac or pickup truck parked in front of their house they fixed up to sell, and that they live in Michoacan. There are even those instances of wild conduct, the two brothers fighting with each other in the street after breaking their usual tea-totaling habits with an odd bottle of tequila someone brought by, even though they now know the consequences of drinking which they rarely do anymore as they have gotten older, in their 30's, and are family men with young children now.

They are not friends with every one of their neighbors, especially anyone who may have bought one of their old cars, had a mechanical problem with it later, or decided they didn't want to pay the balance owed. But they are not drug dealers. That anonymous tip line can be abused to create a nuisance or "get even" with a neighbor. Please, if you are going to use this tip line do so with some discretion.

(This post was edited by Peter on Jul 19, 2009, 1:01 PM)

SecretAgent69

Jul 19, 2009, 1:18 PM

Post #3 of 8 (3761 views)

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Re: [Peter] 800 number and email addresses for citizens to report suspicious activities

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This seems like an effective plan, but it is easy to see how it could get messy. Perhaps they could heavily punish those who abuse it. The criminals, however, could still send false tips to distract forces.

I like the idea, but also get very nervous when citizens are given the power to spy on each other. It creates a culture of fear, deception and mistrust. Not a nice environment to live in. However, it does seem like an good way to self-police. It works in Cuba. Crime is lower there because everyone thinks everyone else is secret police.

chinagringo

Jul 19, 2009, 1:40 PM

Post #4 of 8 (3757 views)

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Re: [SecretAgent69] 800 number and email addresses for citizens to report suspicious activities

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This is not a new concept in law enforcement and can be quite effective if not abused! The "CRIME STOPPERS" concept was originally conceived here in Albuquerque, NM before branching out across the U.S. and internationally:
http://www.crimestopusa.com/AboutUs.asp#

I did open the PDF file and reviewed the reported results fairly quickly. One statistic that jumped out at me was the total lack of reports from Juarez (unless I read it wrong)! As many are aware, this is a real "hotspot" and has been for years!
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

Peter

Jul 19, 2009, 3:09 PM

Post #5 of 8 (3730 views)

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Re: [gpkisner] 800 number and email addresses for citizens to report suspicious activities

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I am not in favor of Mexico becoming the police state como the US. With the Patriot Act you patriotically gave up any reasonable expectation of privacy if someone, anyone - it's anonymous, right?, reported you as being the least bit suspicious. Remember Bush Sr. had his Thousand Points of Light? That was the catchy little name for his idea of people becoming neighborhood snitches for the government.

Mexico has recently had some changes in their privacy laws. Previously your house gave you almost absolute privacy and the police could not enter under any circumstances unless you invited them in. I am told that has changed now and the police can enter if they suspect a crime, and that this law came into effect at the beginning of last December. It worked in my favor the middle of last December is how I know about it, and was told it was a new law only in effect about two weeks at that time.

Earlier that day I had unlocked one side of my garage from the inside preparing to make a trip out to the supermarket but an interruption, a phone call or some such, delayed and eventually postponed my trip and I forgot to lock it back. That night, around two in the morning, I was awakened by a neighbor pounding on my door and calling my cel phone, telling me the police had some "chavos" in custody that were found by the security patrol entering my cocherra and that I needeed to come out to the street.

My colonia has two persons designated as Cargado de Orden and they were both there present with the police. Both had a son, the other his daughter, in custody by the police, the other two "chavos" I recognized as the ones my neighbors had warned me were suspected as the neighborhood "rateros" responsible for various burglaries in the recent past. Both CdO's begging me not to press charges and trying to smooth things out with the police.

Had this law not changed, the police would have "sat" on the house waiting for someone to emerge, trying to contact me, and me having to come downstairs to face the burglars myself to turn them over to the police. Or perhaps that is when "inviting" the police to enter would be the right thing to do for that occasion.

Still, I oppose laws that erode privacies, especially those that permit "invasions" based on idle suspicions and not "probable cause".

gpkgto

Jul 19, 2009, 3:40 PM

Post #6 of 8 (3721 views)

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Re: [SecretAgent69] 800 number and email addresses for citizens to report suspicious activities

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I assumed (I guess I am still a gringo after all) that a report would be "verified" or investigated separately before any action was taken--but maybe not.

I do not like the idea of a society based on "everyone watching everyone", but the drug/crime problem is so deep here that this seems like at least one way to stop the criminals from "hiding in plain sight".

Openly reporting suspects can be very dangerous--so do not do, i.e. keep any "tips" anonymous.

chinagringo

Jul 19, 2009, 4:42 PM

Post #7 of 8 (3710 views)

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Re: [gpkisner] 800 number and email addresses for citizens to report suspicious activities

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Being an "informant" on the drug trade can be most dangerous anywhere! In the 60's, I was offered a "DEA-type full ride scholarship" if I was willing to be an informant in college. Since I was already on a full ride and I valued my life, I declined. Knew of another that took them up on his offer and he informed on some "family members from Chicago". Found him in a corn field in Kansas!
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

richmx2

Jul 19, 2009, 5:18 PM

Post #8 of 8 (3698 views)

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Re: [gpkisner] 800 number and email addresses for citizens to report suspicious activities

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Of course, you realize that gringos -- and their habits -- are considered strange by many.

http://voiceofmexico.com