More Problems in Chapala Haciendas

Before I give the details on the latest of 3 home invasions in Chapala Haciendas - I noticed the last few home invasion posts went into the Octogon. C-Bob is that where we are supposed to put all crime info? I will leave it to you to move this if that is the case.

As I said - just worried about friends who live there - from TOB:

This is edited content {deleted names} of an email from victim for yet another armed robbery home invasion {3 that have been reported within the last sixteen days}.

“We've had a bit of a bad experience. We were robbed in our home at gunpoint by three men on Thursday morning at 7:30.

[name of husband] had just returned from the states and was still asleep. I let Chara {our dog} out the front door and was instantly confronted by three armed and masked men. My wrists were bound by tape behind her back and I was made to lie on the couch in the living room. The men proceeded to collect items throughout the house. [name of husband] was awakened by two of them in our bedroom. They showed him their guns so he understood the situation. Those two commenced to collect anything they felt of value and put it in their pockets, backpacks and a large suitcase which was open on the floor. They kept demanding the car keys but [name of husband] kept saying, "No espanol." After about five minutes a third man came into the room, I think to find why he didn't have the car keys yet. While he was in the room, I was momentarily left alone. I had been working at the tape and had got it loose. I took instant advantage of the robber's absence and, opening the sliding door into the veranda, escaped into our neighbor's driveway since it is separated from our house only by a gate.

I shouted, "Help, help, we are being robbed now. Call the police!"

Our neighbors [deleted names of neighbors] were just preparing to walk their dogs so were conveniently just outside their back door. They grabbed me, took me into their house, locking the door behind them, and called the police emergency line, 066 here. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the robbers realized they had to get out quickly, which they did, escaping only with what was in their backpacks and pockets, leaving behind many large items, among them our TV and various kitchen appliances.

The police arrived in about ten minutes. Not too bad, but far too late to even see their vehicle, which we believe was parked on the freeway above us. Our friend [deleted name of Mexican national], a contractor who had just arrived at [deleted name of neighbor], came over and translated. They took all the particulars and told us the state investigators would come in a couple of hours from Ocatlan. They actually showed up in about an hour, one man and three women. They were most friendly and sympathetic. Our friend and neighbor [name deleted], from across the street, showed up on her own to interpret that time. The investigators found many clear fingerprints, a cigarette butt in the kitchen sink and even a ski mask that had been left in the rush to leave. They were here for an hour and before they left told us to fill out a report at the police department in Chapala. We called our friends [deleted names] (who own a restaurant lakeside) who escorted us to headquarters and were our interpreters there. They spent so much time with us that they didn't open their restaurant until 2 p.m. Wouldn't you call them very good friends?

Anyway, we survived the encounter with no damage to our persons, although I think it will be a while before our psyches are healed. I had to ask [deleted name of husband] to take me to the emergency room at 2:30 a.m. yesterday morning because my blood pressure was over 200, from being in shock, I think, which had simply delayed its arrival. I think it finally sank in how I could have easily been shot during my escape.

It has taken a while to calculate what was stolen, but included were [deleted name of husband] laptop (they neglected to take the battery which was right beside the laptop or even the power supply), my beloved purple Kindle, our various wrist watches, two pocket knives, all our mp3 players (including three iPods), my little boom box, much of my jewelry (none expensive, but personally valuable nevertheless, such as my engagement ring), the remotes for the TV and DVD player (obviously planning to take them, too), our cell phones, several satellite phones and various other small items.

Luckily, neither of us nor Chara [name of dog] were physically injured, but it will take a while to feel normal again. [deleted name of husband] has already called the house's owners in Florida and he has agreed that a security system is called for, which he will pay for. Over the next few days we'll be investigating those possibilities, but right now I think [deleted name of husband] is leaning towards the electric fence type. Here in Mexico, large voltages can be used in them so anyone who touches them will receive a serious shock, not a mere warning. If the wire is cut, an alarm goes off, both inside and outside the house.

We are also considering moving into Chapala. We'll keep you posted on what we decide.

[deleted name of husband] and I send our love. Sorry to have such disturbing news this time.”

These criminals have, and will become more brazen with the three successful armed robbery breakins, and will plot and continue further assaults until apprehended by Mexican law enforcement officals. Be vigilant of unknown individuals lingering in your neighborhood, cars or vehicles parked for long periods of time in the vicinity of your residence with one or more individuals possibly doing surveillance of each residents everyday activities, and their comings and goings.

Why do you want to post this in a General forum instead of the Octagon's Criminal Activity section?

I think CBob will move it and let you know where it should be posted

A lot of people don't read the Octagon - I am one of them. And if Bob's policy is all crime info goes there I'll start doing that. Need to hear from Bob.

One question, are any of these crime victims reporting to Lakeside Crime? I don't see anything about Thursday on the site.

raqueteer wrote:One question, are any of these crime victims reporting to Lakeside Crime? I don't see anything about Thursday on the site.

This is the link to the one on Jan. 8 in Chapala Haciendas: http://lakesidecrime.com/chapalahac/chapala0108_2012.php and a second one in CH on Jan. 12: http://lakesidecrime.com/chapalahac/chapala0113_2012.php

And no the Thursday incident Jan. 19 was not reported to Lakesidecrime.com. The person who reported it on TOB does not allow Private Messages. I have posted a request to report for the friend or neighbor. And the Lakesidecrime.com report for Jan. 12 notes similarities to the crime in Brisas de Chapala.

[quote="simpsca"]A lot of people don't read the Octagon - I am one of them. And if Bob's policy is all crime info goes there I'll start doing that. Need to hear from Bob.[/quote]

Dawg feels that simpsca was correct in posting this in the Mirador Forum. I would urge CB to leave this thread alone. People need to know if there are home invasions occuring in their neighborhoods so they can be alert to the problem and take proper precautions against becoming crime victims. I read simpsca´s report and this does not appear to me to be based on rumors but a factual event. We all need to be apprised of the problems associated with crime at Lakeside for our own protection.

And the third one in CH was just reported to Lakesidecrime.com - http://lakesidecrime.com/chapalahac/chapala0119_2012.php

Three in two weeks - Jan. 8

I usually move them to the crime section when it becomes old news.

CanuckBob wrote:I usually move them to the crime section when it becomes old news.

C.B. it might be a good idea to keep all confirmed and reported crimes on the main page for now. People looking at this board who are not members will not be able to see stuff in the octagon, so will think the crimes are not being discussed here.

keep a valid crime section in mirador. use the local rumors/crime for gossip & additional comments. keep the crime news in mirador for 3 months w/a notation that "this thread will be moved". octagon can be very offensive, & most people wont look@it for crime reports. they may go to lakesidecrime or mirador.

raqueteer wrote:

CanuckBob wrote:I usually move them to the crime section when it becomes old news.

C.B. it might be a good idea to keep all confirmed and reported crimes on the main page for now. People looking at this board who are not members will not be able to see stuff in the octagon, so will think the crimes are not being discussed here.

My thought while reading this thread was exactly that of raqueteer: Only members can read the Octagon; this is relevant to everyone. Even when it becomes "old news," Bob -- things like this need to be available to the general public, IMHO. Rumors, innuendos, posts that are way out-of-line -- all should be either deleted or moved to the Octagon, as appropriate (in your estimation).

correct. "CRIME" should be a separate thread on mirador. RUMORS & criminal activity on octagon. CBob can make the distinction. it should be available to everyone.