Knife Attack in Paseo de la Presa

[raquelita]

Sorry to have to report this but need to let all know that my 6'7" visiting son and a friend were attacked last Sunday night (after the buses had finished) at the beginning of Paseo de la Presa. Three men with knives surrounded them demanding everything: my son's phone, wallet, camera, ring, hooded top, hat etc; and worse still his friend's backpack, phone, camera, and laptop complete with irreplacable thesis preparation. Worse than this she was also pushed into the dark and bruised, assaulted and violated. The police and other authorities are involved, and we are told because this is not the first time, the assault is being taken seriously and patrols increased.

I mention this so that you can beware of walking at night with anything valuable, and warn any young people who may move around at night carrying computers. The attackers do not just target foreigners. Mexican young people have also been their victims.

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Heather, Thank you for reporting the experience of your son and his friend, unpleasant as it was. I hope you will add the hour this happened.

A friend and I were assaulted by a pair of young men with real or model pistols in front of CEDAJ on Paseo de la Presa two years ago after midnight during the Film Festival. I think they followed us from the intersection where Paseo de la Presa begins. I had very little with me but I suffered pistol blows on the head when I didn't hand over my purse immediately. Her losses were similar to the ones you report.

About nine months ago I was staked out by someone on Tepehuajes, a lane that feeds into Paseo de la Presa, and treated the way your son's friend was, this time at 8:30pm, not late at all but dark in December. Apparently the perpetrator was angry when he found only four pesos in my coin purse because within a minute he climbed up from the lane and assaulted me again. I have heard of at least two other incidents along Paseo de la Presa.

I reported both incidents at the appropriate office on Calle Alhondiga, anyone along the street can explain where to go. The second time I was referred to an office a few doors closer to the Alhondiga that specializes in sexual crimes where a detailed written report was taken.

I also called the newspaper El Correo, told a reporter about the poor lighting for Tepehuajes and she published a detailed article, an additional way of getting the word out.

The only silver lining in your account is that apparently the powers that be do track the statistics and even act on them. If your son is still here, I encourage him to file a report.

This is not about whether Mexico is more dangerous than other places but is a warning about a specific neighborhood delightful in the daytime but risky after dark.