Job Discussion Forums

chichifo · Joined: 01 Jun 2007 Posts: 29

"What about the increase in "express kidnappings"? I get the feeling that isn't media hysteria."
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Samantha

I dont know where you got your figures. But according to the authorities, in 2005, there were two cases reported daily, a reduction of 50% in relation to 2004. It seems that legal changes contributed to this reduction.
http://www.metropoli.org.mx/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=267

The problem was that before express kidnapping was not considered as a kidnap, consequently, it was not a serious crime. Now, sentences are very harsh. I read on the news some months agot that a guy accused of express kidnapping was asking for clemency in court because he believed that his sentence was unfair. Of course, his petition was rejected. Nobody would like to spend up to 40 years in prison.

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

chichifo wrote:

lisa1968 · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 52

I'm not sure if the express kidnappings is what the person was refering to, but it may well be. Anyway, it may be difficult to get figures on these kinds of things, but having some experience with owners of some newspapers here in Mexico, I know how unreliable that information is. It may be a difficult thing to guage, as many people have such different experiences.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

It's generally easier to get information by living in a place, as we can probably all attest to. Asking folks who teach and live in whichever place in Mexico ought to give you the best impression of local experience for foreign teachers. Seems every region of Mexico is misrepresented badly in media or by decades-old ideas.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

MELEE · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 9:22 pm Post subject:

I've not commented before because I wanted to make sure all the people living in and around Mexico City got to comment first.
I've visited Mexico City many times over the last decade and I enjoy visiting Mexico City very much. I do not feel unsafe there, but I do not feel comfortable either. But then I don't really feel comfortable in any city in any country so it's not the crime that makes me uncomfortable. If I am in Mexico City more than 3 days I get really sick--ask just those who saw me there last Feb. the get together was on my day 3. Most people I know who live or lived there have had some problem, usually a minor pick pocket incident. But one Mexican friend who worked for a local diputado was a victim of an express kidnapping and beaten as well. He's pretty "Oaxacan" looking, but a sharp dresser and was picked up near the Congress Nacional building so they had reason to suspect he had more money in the bank than he did.

I think Mexico City has a very bad wrap that it doesn't deserve--not just abroad but around Mexico as well. I'm not at all surprised to hear that someone in Chiapas was bad mouthing it. Many people in Oaxaca are terrified of the thought of going to Mexico City.

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

Just heard a horrible kidnapping story from Janet Taylor, owner of Continental English Systems over on Revolution.

Apparently several years ago she had a young female extranejero teaching for her and one day when the girl left her corporate classroom at 8 p.m. 4 men drove up to her and pulled her into a van. They took her up in the hills surrounding the city, robbed her of all her money, jewelry and all four had their primal way with her. They also cut her face.

Janet strongly advised the girl to report the incident to the police which was advice ignored. She does not know what happened to her after that.