Job Discussion Forums

[Silence820]

how do you keep your important documents safe while living in mexico?

[geaaronson]

First, make a copy or two of all your important documents. Second, scan them and put them in your USB. Third, write down all the contact information that you needed to get all those documents, ie. telephone numbers and address of the migra office, your landlord, diploma translater, etc. and fourth find a way of disguising your documents so that should someone break into your apartment and want to steal your passport, he would not find them.

If you have any product boxes, such as the box that your VCR came in originally, use that to keep your documents in. Put them in a small plastic pouch or the warranty pocket that comes with your VCR. A thief will assume that there is nothing but a warranty in the pouch and leave it alone. He�s not going to steal the box but the VCR. And should that idea make you somewhat quesy, then use a box of another product, say a blender.

If it�s a question as to how to keep things safe while travelling, I have always kept my cash on my person in three different places. I will keep some money in a wallet, some in a money pouch and the rest in my backpack. I keep my passport in my backpack and don�t leave it unattended even when I go to the bathroom in a bus station.

[Phil_K]

Phew!!!!! Sounds a little paranoid to me!

[geaaronson]

No, not paranoid. I have too many things stolen from me in my lifetime, and yes I have had my apartment broken into and robbed. I�ve also been held up on the street at knifepoint, another occasion I was a victim of a sleeper hold, on another I had a room mate�s stereo system ripped off, etc. etc. When you have been a victim many times you develop strategies that are cautious.

Paranoia is unjustifiable fear of conspiracies and others out to get you. But let�s face it, there are thieves out there and we work too hard for the things that are valuable to us to be careless.

by the way, the U.S. embassy in Mexico City deals on the average, three times a day with Americans who have been robbed and need to wire home for money. My second day in DF I was robbed of my wallet, went to the embassy only to meet one American woman whose bookbag with her passport was stolen and another woman whose entire belongings were also stolen. So yes, it is never an easy place free of thieves.

[Writer]

Geaaronson isn't paranoid; I do the same in Oaxaca City. My girlfriend had her lightweight pack slashed open while she was in a market in one of the outlying towns, so now she doesn't keep any valuables in her backpack.

[Phil_K]

First of all - I would like to make backpacks illegal, they are a damn nuisance - the owners are never in control of them

But seriously, maybe paranoid was a little strong, I apologize. (KNOCK ON WOOD) I have never yet been a victim in 8 years in Mexico, so no I don't have that fear. My point is, I may be sangr�n but I ain't gonna let pathetic delinquents control my life. My answer to the OP's question "How do you keep your important documents safe while living in mexico?" is "The same way you did it back home!"

[Prof.Gringo]

[geaaronson]

As far as pepper spray is concerned, you can purchase it at the metro stop Allende near the zocalo. You want to go to the entrance that`s on the right as you face the zocalo and closest to that epicenter. There is an army navy store inside that sells two sizes of pepper spray.