disturbing message from craigslist- Any validity?

Martin456 · Post by **Martin456** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 6:43 am

Date: 2008-02-05, 10:45PM PST

The police are stopping pedestrians and robbing them of their cash, watches, cell phones and jewelry.
If they stop you insist on going into the light (la luz) and get the TRUCK NUMBER. Last week alone at least 10 robberies by the police including myself and my clients. It is out of control and will ruin our tourist industry and real estate market-it already is.
Tell all your friends and call Mayor Bravo. This must stop NOW! The police are cowards and deserve 25 years in prison for this.
THANK YOU- we can all stop it together!

BUFFETT 06 · Post by **BUFFETT 06** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 3:16 pm

huh? ......if your afraid to go, then don't go!!! just remember, the louder you sing, the more attention you will bring.

winterpegman · Post by **winterpegman** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:44 pm

What a crock of sh*te. I'm having trouble leaving this post up...

ellen · Post by **ellen** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 5:03 pm

I've been here since mid-January and haven't seen anything like this going on in the places I've been. Having said that, I haven't been out late nor have I been in some of the barrios off the beaten track. These kinds of incidences do occur - just ask JRO Jeff - but I don't think they are frequent by any means nor have I seen them reported in the local papers. If I do hear anything about them I'll post it here.

Martin456 · Post by **Martin456** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 5:59 pm

Hey! Don't condem the messenger! I'm not any happier about the message then you are, pal! But someone was conserned enough to sent it to cragislist and I was wondering if there was any validity.

Jennybean · Post by **Jennybean** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 9:13 pm

Did the "concerned poster" give a name? That should be your first indication whether it was someone who really was interested in warning people about something, or whether it's trolling BS.

No name - trolling BS 9 times out of 10.

Besides, what they describe isn't robbery...it's called "mordida" and has been around Mexico (ALL of Mexico) since the dawn of time. You're not required to pay it, and nor should anyone pay it if it happens.

I'd be concerned only if I were driving outside the rules of the road, while drunk, brandishing a firearm or hanging a small child out the window. Like at home, follow the rules of the road and nobody is going to bother you. If you're not driving at all, this "post" shouldn't give you any concern.

15 trips and a decade to PV, I've yet to have anyone shake me down for cash...police or otherwise.

Martin456 · Post by **Martin456** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 10:14 pm

I appreciate your civil response. Yes, I understand about trolls and who knows... The message appeares to be genuine because the fellow apparently knows the name of the local mayor. Your guess is as good as mine. The writer did give an email address. You can find it yourself in craigslist- Puerto Vallarta- real estate. I suspect this guy or a group he was with had some sort of encounter with the police. If they were roudy tourists asking for trouble or innocent people is mere conjecture. My consern is: has there been a recent reported incident increase of this nature? Apparently not. Sorry I brought it up.

Jennybean · Post by **Jennybean** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 4:18 am

The message appeares to be genuine because the fellow apparently knows the name of the local mayor.

Well, it's actually pretty common to know that so I'm not sure that should be an indicator it's the truth.

There are aspects to that post that are just...well...hinky. An awful lot of grey area and unanswered questions, IMO. But nothing that I would think to be that worried about - and if the long termers like Ellen do a headscratch over it, that's enough for me.

ellen · Post by **ellen** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 5:03 pm

Iwent onto Craig's list, Puerto Vallarta real estate but I can't find this particular post. What date is it under or do you remember the heading?

palapa_gal · Post by **palapa_gal** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 5:07 pm

I sent this guy an email asking him to come and explain some more but I don't think he will do it but he did send me an email back. Here it is

I would love to come onto more message boards. I am posting flyers,
meetings are happening with Mayor Javier Bravo, and I am going to all
businesses, I have had many Craigs List responses. I am getting people
telling me the same thing. (They were robbed)
I have been here for many years and have never seen such blatant robbery.
Last wednesday alone I know of 10 police robberies, 2 to my friends
($1300usd taken and a Rolex.) The police threatened to kill them if they
reported it. (They did not but left PV to go spread the word not to come
to our paradise ever.

Saturday I was attacked one block off of Badillo walking home from El
Brujo, about midnight, sober etc. They always hit on the dark streets.
They forced me between 2 closed Taco Stands with machine guns aimed at me.
I am a body builder, 200 lbs. with another body builder friend and we
pushed them into their truck door (# was blocked on their truck) and we
ran. We ran into a packed club (Manana) and the owner and manager came to
our rescue, thank God. There were 30 witnesses out front of the club in
line, taxis etc. Having machine guns at your back is terrifying and they
called their attorney and met with Mayor Bravo on monday.
Last night on Santa Barbara Street, 6 more were robbed. (I saw this happen
at 11pm.)
I LOVE IT HERE and would NEVER hurt this city. The police will kill our
tourism and real estate market. I have over a million us invested (every
thing I have) so please spread the word.
By the way, this is happening to gringos and Mexicans. Do you want another
Acapulco or Baja here?
Gracias por todo,

ellen · Post by **ellen** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:41 pm

winterpegman · Post by **winterpegman** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 1:18 am

My first thought when I read this is "but the Policia don't carry machine guns???", I'm REALLY having a hard time believing the numbers here. And this coming from someone that has walked around drunk and sober at ALL hours...

I can say this though, that I always had a greater fear of the Policia, than I did of the "locals"...I could share some stories, but it would be pointless. Suffice to say that I really truly don't believe those numbers (read: incidents)

JROJEFF · Post by **JROJEFF** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 1:20 am

This report seems a little severe ,yes I gave up some cash ,but I also did a stupid thing by going swimming super late and maybe it was a way of not taking me to jail for a P.I., they made a point . sure hope this is not taken the wrong way about pv ,never felt safer anyplace I have ever been and I have travelled alot with the us navy

BUFFETT 06 · Post by **BUFFETT 06** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 7:06 am

who the hell pushes a crooked cop into his truck as he is "pointing" a machine gun at you? and it sure does sound like this guy is around or "knows" people that were robbed in the same day. unlucky..very unliucky. i did however watch a cop kick a handcuffed man in the head just to shut him up..it knocked him out.

Paul Crist · Post by **Paul Crist** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 6:19 pm

OK, Time to put this issue to bed... I went and talked to about 15
people last night who would have been able to corroborate some of
these stories if they were true... Here are the facts:

I went last night to Tropicana Hotel, Playa del Sol, Playa Bonita,
and Blue Chairs. I spoke with night watchmen and night
receptionists on duty who would have been aware if something had
happened in recent memory (one of this person's posts, as well as his comments to me by phone state that a
Tropicana guest was robbed)... ALL of these places maintain a
logbook in which information is written down so that the daytime
staff are aware of problems ranging from security to a light bulb
burned out... it's standard at all hotels and resorts.

Uniformly, I was told that there have been NO INCIDENTS of police
doing routine revisions of their guests, NO CASES of police robbing
anyone. And it is absolutely certain that if a Tropicana guest were
robbed by a police officer...they'd say something to the
receptionist, a night watchman... SOMEONE! But there is NOTHING,
NOTHING to report.

The source of the original post on Craigslist called me at the hotel
yesterday after I posted a message on another forum expressing my doubts about the
truth of these stories(Blaine? Shane? He ranted on so long, I never
really got his name for sure) He told me that he "knew" that 4
older gay men staying at Tropicana, and a couple staying at Playa
Bonita Condos had been robbed by police...that's why I decided it
was necessary to investigate these places directly...he was specific
about what and where the "events" allegedly occurred. But my
investigation and questioning of staff turned up NOTHING.

He also claimed to have himself been shoved in between 2 taco stands
on (I assume) Venustiano Carranza Street...by "machine-gun weilding
policemen" ... but miraculously escaped and ran to Club Mañana,
where Peter saved him...and that 30 people in line saw the whole
thing. Where are the 30 people? Why have none come forward with a
story (in this or any other forum) of what they witnessed?

He also claimed that Peter went to speak to Mayor Javier Bravo about
this the very next day. I know Mayor Bravo, so asked if he had
spoken to Peter Deep. NO.

Finally, let me address the "vested interest in protecting my
business" argument. Someone mentioned that I am denying these
stories because the bad press will harm tourism, and thus, my hotel
occupancy.

I certainly do have an interest in protecting my business, and PV
tourism. The way I believe that is best accomplished is to ensure
that PV is a safe and welcoming place for visitors and
residents. IF I HAD FOUND ANY EVIDENCE of police wrong-doing, I
would both say "Yes, it is happening;" and "We are working with the
Mayor and Director of Police to find the perpetrators and set an
example for the entire department to stop the activity." A year or
so ago...there was a problem. A group of business owners met with
officials, and the result was 40 fired and arrested corrupt cops, a
complete modernization of the emergency call center, and a re-
opening of a long-closed police training academy. THE POLICE
SHAKEDOWNS STOPPED. Until now, there have been no such reports.

And, I reiterate, after investigating this current story as far as
anyone can...THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT IT HAS A SHRED OF TRUTH.

So lets put this whole sad "story" behind us.

Paul Crist
Owner
Hotel Mercurio

palapa_gal wrote:I sent this guy an email asking him to come and explain some more but I don't think he will do it but he did send me an email back. Here it is

I would love to come onto more message boards. I am posting flyers,
meetings are happening with Mayor Javier Bravo, and I am going to all
businesses, I have had many Craigs List responses. I am getting people
telling me the same thing. (They were robbed)
I have been here for many years and have never seen such blatant robbery.
Last wednesday alone I know of 10 police robberies, 2 to my friends
($1300usd taken and a Rolex.) The police threatened to kill them if they
reported it. (They did not but left PV to go spread the word not to come
to our paradise ever.

Saturday I was attacked one block off of Badillo walking home from El
Brujo, about midnight, sober etc. They always hit on the dark streets.
They forced me between 2 closed Taco Stands with machine guns aimed at me.
I am a body builder, 200 lbs. with another body builder friend and we
pushed them into their truck door (# was blocked on their truck) and we
ran. We ran into a packed club (Manana) and the owner and manager came to
our rescue, thank God. There were 30 witnesses out front of the club in
line, taxis etc. Having machine guns at your back is terrifying and they
called their attorney and met with Mayor Bravo on monday.
Last night on Santa Barbara Street, 6 more were robbed. (I saw this happen
at 11pm.)
I LOVE IT HERE and would NEVER hurt this city. The police will kill our
tourism and real estate market. I have over a million us invested (every
thing I have) so please spread the word.
By the way, this is happening to gringos and Mexicans. Do you want another
Acapulco or Baja here?
Gracias por todo,

teatrolimon · Post by **teatrolimon** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 7:28 pm

peter deep has not heard anything about the original poster

and trust me if the guy went into manana for safety he would have been ok

peter knows nothing of a sort

so all in all this original poster is just trying to cause crap

smitty · Post by **smitty** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 10:13 pm

Thanks Paul and Bruce .

Jennybean · Post by **Jennybean** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 11:08 pm

Thank you Paul for your information. It's very helpful.

palapa_gal · Post by **palapa_gal** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 11:39 pm

Thanks Paul and Bruce.

I had a bad feeling about this post especially since he wanted to get the message out but wouldn't take the time to come to the boards. Also who carries that much cash on them and wears a Rolex.

condor · Post by **condor** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 1:31 am

palapa_gal wrote: . . . Also who carries that much cash on them and wears a Rolex.

Me!

NOT

I know I spent over an hour searching Craig's list and could find nothing of what he said. I also talked to a friend in P.V. He stated also that there were some problems over a year ago that resilted in a bunch of police getting fired , but as far as he has heard thinks have been greatly inproved since.

I think it's time for a Moderator to lock this thread down and put it to bed.

disturbing message from craigslist- Any validity?

cragigslist comment

Hmm

thanks Jellybean

Listing

Police robberies a HOAX

bull

Good News

Postings