BUS TO GTO ROBBED AT GUNPOINT RECENTLY

[cam00]

The following is a YOUTUBE video showing the police capture of 6 men (from the state of MEXICO) who came onto a Flecha Amarilla bus going to GTO during the day and robbed everyone of their money and valuables, at gunpoint. This just happened recently.... a local ex-pat told me that it occurred just last week. One lady on the bus who retained her cell-fon alerted the police who met the vehicle as the robbers drove into GTO. Then, after a fast car-chase, a shoot-out close to the ALHONDIGA occurred. After a tire was shot flat and their car crashed when it lost control, 5 of the men were captured and one, shot by police, died in a hospital later, I was told.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBEiwSQMl...video_user

My prior security suggestions for GTO remain the same.

[laconstance]

Well, yes. I live right in the Centro, and during the "incident" a police helicopter was circling overhead in the western part of the the Centro, just as they do when an important person is visiting the legislature. Last Friday, two Mexican male friends, streetwise and in their late 20s, and I read the newspaper report in A.M. online. They both laughed and agreed that there was a lot more to the situation than on the silly surface. Really, why would any robber (especially ones from D.F.) with any brains knock over a 2nd class bus from Dolores Hidalgo? I've taken that bus many times, and there had to have been pretty slim pickings among the passengers. Better they should have knocked over an ETN bus!

Correo is not known for its good reporting.

I refuse to be a prisoner in my own house, and yes I have left home at night several times during the past week. Tonight, I will go out again!

[cam00]

No, we shouldn't be "prisoners in our own house", but we should not ignore the reality of escalating violence and thefts either. A person is stupid in the 1st place to rob anyone, and a coward to boot. But people do very stupid things all the time. I wouldn't second guess why 6 guys from the State of Mexico would come here to GTO city to rob a bus, or select that bus to rob, or during the day, and then go directly into the city of GTO when the chance of capture would be very likely. Only they know why they did what they did.

The point is, the YOUTUBE video is clear, someone did die, a bus WAS robbed, there was a car crash involved in a police chase. I believe that we should become more aware and careful about a country that's becoming more prone to violence and robberies, which is more in some states than in others. Increasing our awareness of what's going on around ourselves and taking greater steps to secure ourselves and our property is not paranoia, but just plain prudent. None of us should have to be assaulted or robbed, I sure hope not.

[Mykul]

Obviously not masterminds. Who would think you could perform a quick getaway through Guanajuato centro via automobile.........

[cam00]

Mykul, absolutely. Just brain-dead stuff. The band of thieves that caused much of the problems that were recently posted on this list remain at large. I contacted everyone who reported being robbed, and no one seems interested in doing anything in conjunction with the police (who are very aware of who's doing this). The same band of thieves came to my landladies' property here, and stole about 5 large tanks of gas, broke into one place on two separate occasions and stole EVERYTHING.

[DML]

That is very disheartening to hear no one will go with you to the police to report their robberies. Why is that?

[cam00]

Why aren't people who have been assualted, robbed, or had their property broken into and valuable items stolen responding to a request to come together with police and devise a plan to get this gang of thieves off the street?

I really have no idea, since no one has responded. I can only speculate. I know exactly where the ladrones hang out every day. So do the police, whom I talk to frequently and have good relations with. I have authorization from them to use a GTO police badge they gave me to arrest any persons (I doubt I'd try with more than two thieves at a given time) if I catch them committing a delito. BUT, there's power in numbers to make things change for the better. I know criminal events will probably escalate, as they have already, and the gang will become more and more brash. I believe it would be helpful to devise a plan, with others, and their involvement would help influence the police to help us.