So this happened to me in mexico... what should I do?

Question

I was in mexico and the cops harrassed me.. surprise surprise.. first I was detained for being on an illegal street.. I demanded the consulate and they "let me go".. then a half hour later I was talking to some hooker on the side of street (you walk by and they grab at you).. So I leave and get half way down the street when some mexican cop slams me and a friend against the wall. he convieniently pulls the hookers wallet out of my pocket.. with like 5 dollars in it.. then handcuffs me and a friend and drags us throught the streets to jail.. The cop is banging his baton on the walls ect.. to intimidate us.. they steal 40 out of my friends wallet and 60 out of mine. then tell me the hooker has 100 and 2500 pesons stolen (even though I had no pesos on me) Then it becomes 200 then 1000 dollars. (because I had things to do stateside) I eventually had to hand the cop a bribe through the jail cell of $60 (he said .. it was for the hooker to make her whole) wait for more...

Answer 1

d**n thats crazy

i doubt you're gonna get anything back but i'd kill those mofos with my 9

Answer 2

Wow, I'm sorry that happened to you! You can try the USA Counsulate in  your area but it will most likely be a lesson learned. Mexico is another world.

Answer 3

Well you may want to stay away from Revolucoion street for some time.. and about your money it was cheep, look at it this way your home now some people don't make it back....

From: Mike (Fugitive Recovery Agent)

Answer 4

That is very very sad, it makes me ashamed it happened to you.

You have lost the money, I`m sorry, but maybe you can prosecute, if there is any chance you have the badge number or name of the policeman.

If you really want to make it a big deal (it will be tiring, I hope you do), send a letter to the newspapers, start making noise.  Please note that not ALL mexicans are like that, nor ALL policeman, you will have a better chance of being heard if you do not blame MEXICO or the people or the jobs.

Usually newspapers pressure the cops and they find a solution, the consulate probably will not do much for you.

Sorry again.

Answer 5

Live and learn.  In Mexico, the law typically presumes you're guilty until you can prove you're innocent.  This puts you at a clear disadvantage when dealing with cops there.  Many, *many* cops in Mexico look for any, *any* excuse to hit you up for a "mordida."  Usually it's just a bribe to save you the hassle of a ticket or an incarceration.  Sometimes though it's more like an extortion or a robbery, occasionally involving planted evidence and fabricated statements.  It can be all that much worse should your mind or body be impaired or incapacitated by drink or drug.  Then anything's possible.

Your demand to see the consulate was the right move.  You should have insisited on it even more in jail, not that the consulate would have actually done anything for you.  You could have alternatively demanded to be taken the police station to speak with the chief there.  This tactic often gives cops pause and makes them reconsider their actions.  

  Getting your money back is going to be a real challenge and may cost you more than you lost.  As Oh_cielos says, getting the interest of the local newspaper in Mexico would bring attention to your situation.  An empathetic reporter would even help you file a report with the local police equivalent of Internal Affairs.  Yet unless you can identify the culpable officers by name, photo, or badge number, not much will come of the report.  I know.  I've had my own run-ins with the oxymoronic Mexican law enforcement and took my troubles to both the local newspaper and Internal Affairs.  I've since learned better and now know how to deal with cops looking for "mordida."   I now see it as a game of wits and I relish every challenge.

   Don't carry a lot of cash and don't give the police an excuse to stop and search you.  Once crooked cops see or smell cash on you, they'll work that much harder to get it from you.  They'll search extra thoroughly for contraband.  They'll cite obscure law violations.  They'll try to intimidate you or at least inconvenience you to the point you'll offer to pay to be "freed."  Behavior rewarded is behavior repeated, so as long as it pays and they get away with it, some cops will always target tourists for "mordidas."

Answer 6

I feel my parents are Mexican so we go to Mexico in the car from California takes 2 and half days so anyways every time we go we get pulled over by the cops happens always they can tell by your license plate or your color of skin they always take ur license and one time almost took our license plate

Answer 7

I find this shocking! I've always heard Mexican cops and hookers are known for their unwavering honesty.

Nothing you can do about it, consider yourself lucky that it wasn't worse.

Answer 8

Man dont ever go to tijuana Its like going to queens in NYC or bronxs or downtown atlanta. but dont do that again If you say I go to cancun its different because thats for upper class americans tijuana its for low class americans we dontt have to forget eventhough we are in america social classes still exist.

Answer 9

And that's the life style they want to bring over here to us.

Your are lucky that is all they wanted.

I know of some who have stayed in jail for months before getting all the bribe moneys they wanted.

By the way how are you going to prove that you "payed"or gave them or they took the money.

Just thank God you servived the ordeal and had no real harm done.

Answer 10

sadly, there is not much you can do..

I had a situation happen to my family in Cancun a few years ago. My brothers went out at night (they were 18,19,20), they were going to a club and I guess somehow they were walking on "private property" and all of a sudden they saw all these men running at them wearing all black. They got scared for their lives and ran into a building.Two of my brothers jumped out of the building (which happened to be a few stories) and they were hurt. One brother broke both ankles and the other broke his wrist so the cops of course caught up to them and after all that FINALLY told them they were the police. A cop then punched the one brother who was not hurt straight in the face and actually burst his chin open and started hitting the other 2 that were already hurt. They brought them back into the building and took all their money. My brothers did not understand what they did but then the cops explained to them that they were on private property. They then threatened them and said that they would hunt them down and kill their family if they told anyone what happened.

I was in Mexico that night but at the hotel and it was a very scary experience. The medical bills were insane! Luckily my dad got money back from travel insurance and he tried to press charges but had no luck at all. I don't know the entire story because I wasn't there but I don't think anyone should be treated this way.