Break in and robbery last night. How to report.

This is not a rumor, it happened to us, despite all kinds of protection. Have just finished reporting this to the Ministerio Publico. They got next to nothing because the dog chased them out in a right hurry. Anyhow does leave you feeling a bit vulnerable.


Here's what you need to do to report. Don't bother calling the police go directly to the Ministerio Publico.

1. Take your identification, passport and immigration status (card). You will need four copies of each, so stop off at the photocopy shop.
2. Four copies of your property deed, all pages.
3. Four copies of your latest CFE bill.

Take a seat, wait, then they'll ask the questions. Yes you do need to be able to speak reasonable Spanish. Once the report is done they will send an officer with you to the house to take photos of any damage etc. They will also send a forensic team from Ocotlan to take fingerprints. We have lots, the dog scared them so bad they left their tools. Hahahaha. Plus they stole a bottle of Coke and left that behind as well with DNA and grubby fingerprints.

P.S. Those whacking big bolts worked a right treat.

Thanks for posting this information although I'm really sorry you had to go through it. Getting robbed (or even attempted robbery) sucks!
I assume that if you don't have a "deed" then you need to take a copy of your lease???

What municipality do you live in?

@Intercasa, We live in the municipality of Jocotepec. It was pretty easy to do over there, no big deal.

@Ferret, I would assume a lease. Apparently if that is missing from their files and the case goes to court, the guys could get off on a technicality.

Them getting in would have damned near been impossible from my perspective, however they were pretty ingenious. Anyhow it sure shows in a hurry where your weak spots are, so I'm grateful that nothing really bad happened, and we now have a chance to beef things up a bit more.

Figured Joco as the procedure seemed different from what they do in Chapala, no deed or CFE bill there but great to post so all know what is required in their municipality.

What a lousy run of luck you've been having. First sick, then robbed.

Glad nobody was hurt. Take care and better luck from now on.

gringal wrote:What a lousy run of luck you've been having. First sick, then robbed.

Glad nobody was hurt. Take care and better luck from now on.

Thanks, guess we were just too complacent about certain things. Not anymore. It does have that tinge of inside information, not regular people, but we have had work done fairly recently so they were obviously well aware of the 2 weak points, and had figured out how to deal with them.

All they got BTW was less than 50 bucks in cash and a few tools.

[quote="raqueteer"]This is not a rumor, it happened to us, despite all kinds of protection. Have just finished reporting this to the Ministerio Publico. They got next to nothing because the dog chased them out in a right hurry. Anyhow does leave you feeling a bit vulnerable.


Here's what you need to do to report. Don't bother calling the police go directly to the Ministerio Publico.

1. Take your identification, passport and immigration status (card). You will need four copies of each, so stop off at the photocopy shop.
2. Four copies of your property deed, all pages.
3. Four copies of your latest CFE bill.

Take a seat, wait, then they'll ask the questions. Yes you do need to be able to speak reasonable Spanish. Once the report is done they will send an officer with you to the house to take photos of any damage etc. They will also send a forensic team from Ocotlan to take fingerprints. We have lots, the dog scared them so bad they left their tools. Hahahaha. Plus they stole a bottle of Coke and left that behind as well with DNA and grubby fingerprints. P.S. Those whacking big bolts worked a right treat. [/quote]

¡Monty Python Lives!

One must not only prove one´s legal status as a complaiinant but must demonstrate residency with multiple copies of property deeds or leases and utility bills before the public investigatory arm will even proceed to action. Hilarious ineptitude accompanied by droll humor. You could not make this up. This country will remain hopelessly mired in excrement until Jesus returns from the ether and even then God will become befuddled in exacting justice.

Well Dawg you got that right. BTW they assured me that the Ocotlan people were on their way, no show. I called, and they said nobody was in the office after 3 p.m. so we had to pick up all the evidence with tongs and drag it inside so the perps didn't come back to remove it along with their prints.
Plus I had to act as chauffeur for the police officer. It's called do it yourself forensics and do it yourself detective work. I need a kit here!!!!!
I did foil them earlier by going directly to the CFE so they couldn't delay further in accepting the denuncia. Otherwise we would have had to return home and get copies, meanwhile the crooks are out there home free. No wonder there's such a low rate of prosecution.

if thats the procedure, i would never report unless it was something big. i would pay a special legal interpreter. they do this on purpose so NOONE will bother them, so they donot have to do the work. thats why mexicans do not report crimes. no one will investigate a crime like that, its too small. makes no sense to go thru all of that hassle.

Sorry to hear these guys got in, it is such a horrible feeling to know someone was in your house, even if they do not steal anything it makes you feel vulnerable. , At least you are untouch that is the plus in that story.

Do they give you a copy of the report in Jocotepec. Did you gat a case number after the report was done?

brigitte wrote:Sorry to hear these guys got in, it is such a horrible feeling to know someone was in your house, even if they do not steal anything it makes you feel vulnerable. , At least you are untouch that is the plus in that story.

Do they give you a copy of the report in Jocotepec. Did you gat a case number after the report was done?

It is a bad feeling, but now we know, and have plans!!!!!

They will have a report for us after they get the paperwork done, everything in quadruplicate of course. I guess it will be a couple of days. It may seem not worth it, but if the prints are on file, maybe it will bring some results. Plus if it's on the net, so you guys can see what's happening, forewarned is forearmed. If there's even a remote possibility of someone getting in, deal with it now, before they do it.

@raqueteer P.S. Those whacking big bolts worked a right treat.

What does this mean?

Also can you let us know what the weak points were so we can check our places out.
Thanks

Hensley wrote:@raqueteer P.S. Those whacking big bolts worked a right treat.

What does this mean?

Also can you let us know what the weak points were so we can check our places out.
Thanks

It means that the huge bolts we put on our bedroom doors kept them out of the bedrooms which open onto the terrace. It was on my list of 50 ways to beat the bad guys. Rather ironic wouldn't you say?

There were two weak points. One was an entrance gate which was not covered with bougainvillea, just a narrow space but enough for someone fairly small and agile to gain entrance. It was locked, but a reasonable climber would have little problem. Plans for razor wire as a temporary deterrent and a bougainvillea plant asap.

The second one blew me away. We have two large glass doors with decorative metal which no one could squeeze through. When we're home we leave the large key in the door, because without breaking the glass, making a hellacious racket and taking a very long time to do it, nobody, or so we thought, could ever get at it. WRONG. The perp sat outside drinking a large bottle of Coke, and quietly cut, chipped out tiny pieces of glass, and picked out all the silicone in the one and only area where he could insert anything. He then rigged up the handle for a paint can into a hook, slid it through and somehow pulled this huge key out of the lock. The space was so small, it's still hard to imagine how he did it. He then wriggled this six inch long 1/2 inch thick key out through a space which was not even a millimeter bigger than the key, (in fact I just tried to do it and failed) and opened the door. Probably no longer than a minute or two later things went horribly wrong for him, and our 80 pound lab woke up and confronted him, very quietly. There was no barking at all, not a good sign with dogs. Obviously she bared her teeth and began snarling at which point he took off like a bat out of hell, dropping my handbag after rummaging through it for money, and disappeared over the same gate which he could easily jump over from the cochera since there are a few steps up to the cochera floor. He also in the confusion dropped my wallet which had no credit cards in any case and luckily left all my identification which I had taken to carrying due to driving a Canadian plated car.

Thanks for describing the problem. A good cautionary tale.

One of the more amusing robbery stories I've heard was about the thief who couldn't get in any other way, so he broke through to the house by way of a skylight, collected some loot and then discovered he couldn't get out because the doors were double locked with no key in sight.............and it is far easier to drop down than to drop back up.
Tall ceiling.

Wow incredible the detail and time this must of taken.

Thanks

Well, I got out of providing copies of the deed thanks to Spencer's post, but did provide them with copies of the CFE bill. They have opened an investigation, and gave us the number. The Ocotlan guys came last night about 9 p.m. Busy guys these days!!! They did get prints and explained that if the perp had been detained before the prints would be on file.

They were really quite chummy today at the M.P's office. I apologized for taking up their time but explained that we just couldn't let these crooks get off without at least trying to catch them. They agreed.

Yes Hensley, the guy/s had to have been out there for a very long time, have incredible manual dexterity and I'm figuring there were probably two of them because one of the doors had dropped just enough to make opening it a two person job, with a crowbar. Clearly they're totally shameless and fearless. It's about time to establish a precedent. We will report it, we will get prints, then we'll be coming after you. Our employees will be informed about progress, news of which will immediately be spread all over town.

Gringal, a great story, love it.

It means that the huge bolts we put on our bedroom doors kept them out of the bedrooms which open onto the terrace.

Are you talking about a dead bolt into the floor or a type that slides into the wall?

Glad your lab is an alert one & not a lazy one! Some people have little dog pets but they won't protect you. I insist on a few beasts w/a reputation after having a break in w/a just a yappy pet who did nothing! Our Mexican friends advised us to get a security dog. So the more the merry I say. Why stop with just one? Especially if you have any property or live out away from the village.

So sorry this happened to you! Thank you so much for sharing how we all can look into protecting ourselves better.

Chapalagringa wrote:

It means that the huge bolts we put on our bedroom doors kept them out of the bedrooms which open onto the terrace.

Are you talking about a dead bolt into the floor or a type that slides into the wall?

Glad your lab is an alert one & not a lazy one! Some people have little dog pets but they won't protect you. I insist on a few beasts w/a reputation after having a break in w/a just a yappy pet who did nothing! Our Mexican friends advised us to get a security dog. So the more the merry I say. Why stop with just one? Especially if you have any property or live out away from the village.

So sorry this happened to you! Thank you so much for sharing how we all can look into protecting ourselves better.

Two very large wall bolts, and a lock.

Our Lab is amazing, she's very friendly and loving, but also extremely protective. This undoubtedly came as a huge surprise to the perps who in all likelihood figured she'd be a pushover.

It's a really good thing when stuff happens and you get a better idea of the areas you need to beef up, especially when the event was as minor as it was. I also learned how to do the M.P. business which is a huge advantage in case of any future events.

I'm sorry that happened to you but am glad you are okay and you did have the security bolts on your bedroom door as I questioned the need for them early in my career here. Keep us informed of what happens.

Dr. Mike

Raq,
Am I reading you correctly that you left a key in the deadbolt on the inside of the door?
In San Miguel, we had a 700 pound iron exterior door. My hubby thought I was nuts when I kept talking they key out and putting it in the centre of the dining room table. He stopped commenting when, from the outside, I slid a piece of paper under the door and used a coat hanger to push the key out of the lock and onto the paper, then pulled the paper towards me. I picked up the key and opened the door...the look on his face was priceless.
Hope your locks are not so easy.

are you in touch w/the MP? will they contact you if they find the people? maybe we should keep 4 copies of all papers in the house?

We need more people like Racqueteer who will report and follow-up, this helps all of us. If the MP knows someone is going to bug them , they will make a little extra effort and the criminals will know they can expect trouble.
Right now the criminals know that the chances for them to be picked up and prosecuted are tiny so they go ahead and keep robbing people.

Nor a bad idea to have a several copies in your house, this way it is one less step to take when you are under stress. In this country you can never have too many copies of your papers as it is the first thing any office ask.: for: copies and more copies...

Yes, we are in touch with the M.P. and they will keep us informed. We have a case number and their phone number.

@Ferret, the doors were pretty near impenetrable in our opinion without making a lot of noise, such as smashing the heavy duty glass which would have instantly woken us up. There was absolutely no space at the bottom to slide the key under, in fact they tried to dig away under the door with no luck.
The lock was a very old fashioned type with a huge key. I'm still amazed they managed to get it out through the space left when they removed the silicone around the wrought iron lock.
I might add that the key is now sitting on my desk, and will never be left in the door again. Never a dull moment here in Mexico it seems.

My Spanish teacher was amazed that the forensics guys came the same day for such a miniscule crime. It appears that the M.P. are anxious to be as helpful as possible to the foreign population.

By the way if this happens to anyone else I have offered to go with the victim to the M.P. and translate etc. It's amazing how bad one's Spanish gets under stress, even if you start out fairly fluent. I'm also going to do a complete review for the procedure in Chapala since it appears to be somewhat less onerous, as well as for Jocotepec. This will be put up on Lakeside Crime as soon as it's ready.

Brigitte has put forward a great idea. Best to have copies of everything on hand before something happens.

One last thing, I am letting word out in the neighborhood that prints have been taken, and word spreads fast. Once the crooks get the idea that we will no longer let things slide they might think twice before acting rashly again.

they tried to enter to take more than the handbag. they also may have been armed & ready for you if they saw you coming. report to lakeside crime.