A little more from Baja...

[85 SA Toy]

Seems to be an increasing trend....... But I still love going down there to fish...... This and all the other stories will not stop me...





I copied this post from race-dezert.com:




Last night our family made the decision to drive home at San Quentin. We felt fine, not tired and saw lots of chase and race teams on the road- heck, it was only another 5 hours to get into our own beds. The drive went just fine until we were 7 miles from the border. We were almost to the last toll booth in TJ when we were pulled over by “the police”. As soon as we stopped another car stopped in front of the truck and trailer blocking our path. At the same time this was happening the truck (our 2007 super duty and McMillin’s Weekend Warrior) were surrounded by men with guns, their faces covered. They stuck a gun to Chris’ head and pulled him out of the truck. They then proceeded to pull the kids out and stuck a gun in my side and told me to shut up and not move but to put my head down. The kids and Chris were stuck into the back seat of the truck with a man sitting next to Tyler (age 16, this week) who stuck a gun in his side for the next very long 2 hours. We were driven with our heads down and guns on us up into the hills above the area near La Playa. The gunmen yanked Chris out of the truck and made him disconnect the trailer and then finally shoved him back into the truck. There were 10 men, during this time they were ransacking the truck and trailer and taking everything including the jewelry off of our bodies. They pulled the GPS for the stereo out of the dash. We still had the gun men with guns stuck to our bodies. We were driven further up into some new development that was just graded. They first took Tyler out of the truck and shoved him to the side of the road. They then removed me and pushed me to the ground, I laid over Tyler as best as they would let me. They then covered us both with a sleeping bag and threw a pillow on us. At this point they brought Divinia and Chris around and forced them to the ground. We all told each other that we love each. Our truck drove away. We stayed there for about 10 minutes not moving. We then did a 1 ½ hour hike thru cactus, barbed wire down a mountain in the fog wearing our shorts tanks and flip-flops. We ended up on the south side of La Playa where we knocked on doors and rang security bells for over an hour before a very nice lady let us into her home and called the police. The La Playa police came and decided to hurry us out of the country, giving us a ride to the border. The customs and immigration folks were less than helpful and even less sympathetic to our situation. While they did let us walk into the US they would not let us use their phone, bathroom nor have a drink of water. They directed us to the McDonald’s for assistance.

So this is what happened. The rumors are close but this is the boiled down version of what transpired. Please be safe.

 

[SOCALFJ]

Too many stories lately. Regardless of what time or where it happens.. im simply not going back until it's safe again(which very well could be never). I say this as someone who traveled to Baja many times each month as a kid , camping and riding dirt bikes. The last straw for me was when i heard someone telling a horrific story and they've been going down for 38 years. They were the people you hear that say 'its safe just use common sense and dont travel at night". Now they won't go anymore.

There's too much here to explore and up in Alaska. I don't need to worry about our safety.

 

[Boston Mangler]

That was a good friend of mine, Chris Hall, got off the phone with him about 30 mins ago, very shooken up and understably so!

Him and his family are about as good of people as they come!

I was with him at the BFG drivers meeting and spent most of the day with him.

This sucks happening to anybody, but sucks even more when its a good friend that is one of the nicest guys you have ever met!

This story sickens me!

Its only a matter of time before there is an american or 2 that decides to shoot back, then all hell will break loose! Its only a matter of time!

Not meaning to take anything away from the severity of this, but i also think it is worth mentioning that he was traveling alone, towing a very flashy trailer with the biggest name in baja on the side, AND that it was 1am +/-

Traveling at night is risky enough, traveling solo @ night is just baddddd

Anyway, i am very thankful that Chris, Tyler and the rest of the Hall Family are home safely!

 

[TemeculaTim]

Times have sure changed down there. We used to go down at all hours and not worry - worst thing was the $20.00 "Mordida" to the local TJ or tecate cop for some ridiculos reason they would dream up.

But these day's the drug and smuggling trades have brought a dangerous element to the border region. It totally sucks because once you get down a couple of hundred miles, the real Baja begins.
The problem is getting there .

It seems that off-roaders are not the only targets these days.

http://www.surfermag.com/features/onlineexclusives/bullets-over-baja/index.html

 

[latinoguy]

There is an inherent risk everywhere you go. Mexico is no exception. I have logged thousands of miles driving in mexico with no issues, and have had a gun shoved to my stomach (97) while travelling via bus in Michoacan's coast...my cost for the experience: $100. The waves I got in NEXPA where well worth the adventure. others have been very unfortunate.

Posting this from another website.......

Reporting an assault

While in Mexico, flag down a police officer or dial 066 on a local phone.

People visiting Baja California can receive help by calling the office of the region's secretary of tourism. The hotline is 078.

Once back in the United States, people still can report crimes that occurred in Mexico by contacting:
The U.S. Consulate's office in Tijuana, which channels complaints to the appropriate Mexican agency and assists U.S. citizens with follow-up investigations. E-mail consulartijuan@state.gov.

The San Diego Police Department, which takes courtesy reports and forwards them to the consulate's office. Call (619) 531-2000.

 

[Slomo]

A little late but I have 2 thoughts.

One the key factor to the increasing theft and violence toward foriengers (primarily Americans) is the land purchasing and the influx of huge amounts of money where there used to be little. They are fightning bitterly amongst themselves over money and now are directing that greed and animosity toward us, the "ones with wealth".

Two the crime against Americans has progressed, as seen with Chris Hall, Andy McMillin and others, over the last 8 years especially to a level that someone is going to get killed over a simple possesion. That is the sad but logical next step. I for one don't want to be there when that happens.

I have been exploring the lenght of the Baja Peninsula regularly for the last 17 years and I love it down there, but I don't want to die for it.