Be Careful folks

I want to start this by telling folks that we have been coming here for 30+/- years to winter and we are not flashy dressers, are always careful about displaying jewelry or cash at any time. I should also add that we have never had a problem in the past. What I do know that it’s clear based upon things I observe, hear from friends and read that Z has changed.
Last night my wife and I were at Coconuts restaurant around 8.30. At the time these events took place I was waiting to pay our bill. My wife had ventured outside and was waiting just inside of the long entrance area. She had turned to look down the street and was grabbed from behind by a man and put in a choke hold. We can only deduce after the fact that he was attempting to get her purse away but she wears it in a manner that it’s hard to just grab and run.
Had he been able to just grab the purse and run I suspect my wife would have just handed it over. However the way he attacked her from behind she did not understand or have time to think about the intent. She began to scream and fought back by kicking and hitting the man. A by stander from across the street began to run to help her and we can only assume that the man who had the hold on her saw him and panicked and began to run down the street in the direction of the corner bar. The man then ran across the street by Pizza Locas and attempted unsuccessfully to grab another lady’s purse that also fought back. We would find out later that she was married to the man that attempted to help my wife. They were a local family who had their three young daughters with them and although they were terrified no one was injured.
The man that attacked my wife and the other family did have a knife visible and it turns out was working with two other men, one of which was the driver of a silver pickup and the other was running ahead of him on the street. These men all got into the silver truck and drove away.
On the bright side …no one was physically injured, on the downside these punks are still out there and with the total lack of police presence in town….. It will happen again and the outcome may be much worse.
In fact from the shop owners and people that gathered in the aftermath we also learned that this same type of thing in this general location happened last week and the crooks were able to get away with the two peoples processions.
Finally, I am upset and angry that these punks got away, this will pass but I am sure it’s caused me to ramble in this post.

--
Billy

Rant on! People need to know. Now that the criminals know the police won't respond until they are long gone (or not at all) it is truly the wild west downtown.
We started using the Don Memo side door at Coconuts a couple years ago for just that reason. And after dark have taken taxis a couple of blocks from one venue to another since many of the blocks are unlit under the tejabanes and we have not felt safe.
Sorry you had to go through that ordeal and that all are OK.

So sorry this happened and glad to hear it ended without injury.

As I am sure that it will be said by others, that can happen in any city in the US (and probably with a gun rather than a knife). Glad that all are OK.

As I am sure that it will be said by others, that can happen in any city in the US (and probably with a gun rather than a knife). Glad that all are OK.

Ignorant response!

NOB the police will come.

This board is about Zihuatanejo.

This post is about the escalating, out of control violence in Zihuatanejo NOT any city in the US.

Me gusta. Sticking one's head in the sand will not make the problem go away. The whole street scene has changed so much in the 16 yrs I have been coming to the point it is not longer "the fun place" to be. The economic of Z will continue to decline unless there is a reversal. JMHO, I'm entitled to mine and you are entitled to yours!

Really sorry to hear this. Besides this violent episode there were other problems downtown last night. Woke up once around 3:30 to hear a man screaming as he was being chased. Music thumped on until the sun came up. Then when I went outside to check the perimeter of our home as I do every morning I saw that FOR THE SECOND TIME IN A MONTH a drunk driver had smashed in the side our car.

I hold our mayor directly responsible!

A group of neighbors recently had yet ANOTHER meeting with representatives of the municipal government precisely regarding the problems of insecurity and the problems of the bars. I was even named to a citizens advisory committee. I have contacted my Senador and the Presidencia of the República. I'm not going to remain quiet or cowered, and I hold the mayor directly responsible for anything that happens to my family, me or our property. However, I can't do this alone, and I need the support and the collective indignation of my fellow citizens. Working on that. If they kill me that will be a sure sign to stop coming to Zihuatanejo.

Your comments here have been and will continue to be brought to the attention of the so-called responsible authorities.

Here is one of my messages to the mayor:
Zihuatanejo Sí Le Compete Sr. Presidente Municipal

04 XII 2016

EXCELLENT letter, U covered all the bases.

Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo are purported & touted to be INTERNATIONAL TOURIST DESTINATIONS.
Having the need to even discuss what was pointed out in Rob's document, should NOT even be on the agenda whatsoever.
Enough of this "Wild West " crap that goes on here in Zih-land!

BTW...¿Has anyone ever seen the local Policía Preventiva ever help someone in need at a critical moment being victimized or otherwise attacked, prevent a crime, or actually perform any other useful service to benefit a visitor or local resident?

NOT me anyways.

--
jaui

Sorry to hear of more punk activity.
How many black eyes can the area endure before it becomes a place "we used to visit" or "glad we never went there" or "never going there"

Ops, sorry about not being politically correct on this one.

I totally agree. I am so tired of hearing "that could happen in any city." It's for real down there. Getting really rough from what I have been reading. So many problems have happened recently in the area that we stay in Z. I don't have that problem where we live in the states. Tourism will really drop if they don't do something fast about this problem!

Unfortunately one of the reasons we sold our Colonial Madera home a few years back. Late night noise, disrespectful bars and their patrons, ongoing threat of petty street crime. Certainly not the "Paradise" of three decades ago, but neither is my Minneapolis neighborhood.

I was at Coconuts last night too; hubby and I were dropped off in the back and came through the walkway. Although it was well lit, we did not like that, but it must be where cabbies like to drop offf as this is where we were dropped off last years visit. We were one of only a few tables at about this time last night, and after a very nice meal the mature'd (Abel) walked us to our cab out the other side. We must have just missed this terrible incident and very glad to learn you folks are safe now. We as well do not visit the shops and walk around as we have for the last 20 years. Incidentally last year our visit to same restaurant there was also a violent occurrence that we just missed.
I have often thought Zihuatanejo needs more lights on the all streets and maybe a few cameras in tourist locations, or possible shut off all traffic other than cabs during evenings in the central tourist zone. IMO

.....and hey what's with this rain my hair is frizzy! ! :D
❤️

Thankfully we are early to bed, early to rise people. I don't think we've ever been downtown past seven at night. So scary to hear these things are escalating in our beloved Z. We are constantly assuring our friends, who tell us we are crazy to go to Mexico, that it is indeed very safe as long as you use your head and aren't stupid. Sounds like even being smart isn't working.

What you didn't get was this was 8:00 @ night & they were NOT drunk!!! Need police & maybe Coconuts needs security these days! Either way, don't leave out the back way, just go Don Memos/Eloinas way!!

¡Bien dicho, amigo!

Thank you, Rob, for getting so involved. It is no joke you might get killed for it ! That,s why, as you know, people don,t speak up in Mexico. I would be happy to add my signature to your letter !! You and Lupita are appreciated !!!!!

Glad to hear P. is OK, Billy. Sad to hear that folks can't go into Coconuts' main entrance without fear of being mugged.

Am I going to be safe in Z or do I need to stay in Troncones or Barra? How is La Ropa?

i have been here a month, I see an increased police and military presence, and nothing more. There are incidents, but never near or at the hour that I am present. La Ropa seems very safe, Im sure having the Military residence located in the community is a deterrent. Late nights and downtown bars maybe should be avoided.

Am I going to be safe in Z or do I need to stay in Troncones or Barra? How is La Ropa?

Ummmmm.....Ixtapa

D

So far for what we do which isn't much at night Ixtapa has been fine

Always our choice

From what I am reading a dinner out at a downtown restaurant and then a walk back to La Ropa (Embarc) as we have done on three different visits in the past ten years is definitely out of the question.

So, my son and his girlfriend are arriving today, does it not seem safe for them in town after dark? That would really be unfortunate. He has visited many times, she has never experienced Mexico, we don't want her first time to be her last time.

Copy of post directed to "Jaui" (ME) Dec. 8 2016--->

by cantinero46, Thursday, December 08, 2016, 13:05 (1 hours, 38 minutes ago) @ jaui

So, my son and his girlfriend are arriving today, does it not seem safe for them in town after dark? That would really be unfortunate. He has visited many times, she has never experienced Mexico, we don't want her first time to be her last time.

Hello cantinero46

I will try to answer your concerns you directed to my post....
No, I wouldn't go to the extreme calling it not safe to be in town after dark, which is around 6:30 p.m. now.
Really, most people come & go, WITHOUT any incidents.
Although nobody is exempt or immune from suffering some type of unfortunate incident, odds are in your favor that you will not be a crime victim.

Unfortunately, there are a few unlucky people who, let's say, had bad timing of where they happened to be at the time they were robbed, assaulted, etc., that "bad timing" being, some local delinquents were there when they were, and victimized innocent people.

Being a F/T resident here in Z, I most definitely do NOT feel any where near as secure I would like.
The main reason is, that the local society, is a LAWLESS one.
Local people and local delinquents know that police presence is about zilch, (in spite of the alleged "stepped up" patrol rounds they do), and they can get away with committing just about any crime.
I'll guarantee U, they WON'T be "en el lugar de los hechos" when they are most needed.
In effect, thel local policía preventiva, as I have mentioned b4, are relatively useless.

So, to conclude, I recommend U take the standard advice usually given for the situation, and maybe add another set of "feelers" & antennae to be conscious of your surroundings, at ALL times.
Don't let your guard down.

--
jaui

Is ixtapa experiencing the same uptick in crime? I was just in Z a few weeks ago and was awoken to gunshots. The rest of the trip was wonderful as usual, but when I read posts like this I am seriously questioning returning.

It happened right in front of Don Memo's.