Chicago Tribune article about GTO

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I haven't been attending to the list for awhile, which is why I hadn't commented on crime observed or reported here.

There ARE criminal SCAMS that occur here in GTO, where a couple or more people, especially around the time of CERVANTINO, will approach someone, usually rich-looking tourists/foreigners, and pretend to be helpful/friendly while picking pockets, or anything of value that can quickly and adeptly be removed. The predators may even "accidently" spill something on your clothes, and then "pretend" to help clean you up, while pick-pocketing you faster than a New York second. So, be very careful to be sure to carry any money or ID, credit cards, etc, in a wallet that suspends from a strong cord under your clothes and around your neck. Try not to bring any PURSES or day packs that can be easily CUT from your shoulders and that will never be seen again, unless completely emptied of valuables. Always carry a hi-powered taser that can reduce a full-grown man to his knees in a second, easily and legally bought on DOMINGO, at the embajadores (the guy also sells MANY leather belts). A resident is legally allowed to use this type of weapon in self-defense.

NEVER walk alone in the tunnels, unless you desire to try out your martial arts skills. I've heard of some pretty nasty assaults that have occurred in them. Certain areas are much more hazardous than others, like darkly lit alley-ways during the night and neighborhoods like Cerro de Quarto, I believe. Check with the tourist police for a list of areas to avoid even if travelling in a group.

Your residence should have hi-intensity motion-sensor lamps to secure ALL the perimeter. ALL windows and doors should have metal-work to help prevent intruders from gaining entry, and entry doors should be especially re-inforced to resist forced break-ins, with at least two high-quality locking mechanisms to better secure them. The property around the residence should have a fence at least 12 foot high, not easily scaleable (climbable).

The police will respond rapidly and forcefully if they see or hear a crime being committed, but AFTER the crime, they won't investigate, and won't even bother to look for the perpetraters, unless bodily harm has occurred. I doubt they're trained in detective work much.

There are groups of predators that prey especially on Gringo neighbor-hoods, and watch carefully the comings and goings of various gringos, to "case" a place. Then, when no one is at home, they force entry and steal as much as possible (up to a certain dollar amount), in the shortest time possible. They are purportedly very adept at these kinds of operations, making sure that no one will see them when they commit the crimes and also making sure they steal no more than a lower level criminal charge, like a misdemeanor, which would be leveled at them if caught.

In other words, they steal stuff worth up to maybe $5000 US and leave the rest. They will go for the small stuff 1st before anything else, so secure/hide any jewelry/watches, cell phones, digital cameras, or anything small and valuable. Do NOT put it under the mattress or in drawers or under the sofa cushions. Hide the stuff in something like the freezer, packaged to look like food, or in an empty cereal box, with the cereal in the bag placed ABOVE the stuff. Also, grand theft IS investigated much more seriously here, so they know that and avoid it.

Guanajuato is not a dangerous city, and the kinds of incidents I described are not frequent. But, one can do various things to protect oneself from possible violations, and I hope these suggestions and precautions are helpful.