I’m often asked if I feel safe living in México. My answer is an emphatic YES! In fact, there are many reasons to feel safe, starting with the fact that the crime rate Aurora is much higher than in Mazatlán.
I take precautions in México. I don’t wear sparkly jewelry. Other than a pair of cheap silver earrings, I don’t wear jewelry at all. I always travel with Neto and we only go to places that he knows are safe.
Neto has certainly seen more crime in his lifetime than I have in mine. When he was eight years old, he saw a judge executed in the street by gang members. He was mugged by three men in broad daylight one morning, coming off a bus to go to work for me. Most recently, he had his bicycle stolen when he went inside a convenience store to buy Coca Cola.
I believe that most crimes in México are crimes of opportunity. If you provide the opportunity, eventually someone will commit the crime.
That occurred often when I lived in México. The crime was dog-napping and it happened with alarming frequency.
There is a big difference between the way Méxican people view animals and the attention the ex-pats lavish on their pets. I would venture to say, Méxican people are generally more fond of the iguanas in their courtyard than they are of the guard dogs on their roofs. They don’t walk either one and iguanas make less mess.
Méxican people are often amused by the love and devotion that Americans show to their pets ~ especially their love of small white, fluffy dogs. Therein lies the opportunity for crime.
Little white, fluffy dogs are accustomed to being walked outside. They wiggle their cute little butts with happiness at all the wonderful smells out on the street. They learn to smile and make friends wherever they go. They welcome being petted by strangers. Occasionally, when doors are not secure, they escape and go for walks down the street without their owners. This is not a safe situation. In fact, in a city in which the average worker earns 200 pesos/day (about $12.00 U.S.) doing hard labor, it is an opportunity for a crime.
Fluffy is easily scooped up by men, women and/or children who want to earn extra money. The upset owners are willing to do anything to get their dog back. They put up reward posters featuring a cute picture of Fluffy, with her shiny white hair and beguiling black eyes. Often the reward is $200.00 (U.S.) It lists the local telephone number for Fluffy’s owner, who now spends every moment waiting for a call.
The call comes soon enough. Of course the caller isn’t a dog-napper. It’s someone who “found” Fluffy walking down the street and took her home to insure her safety. Fluffy’s owner is over-joyed. The reunion is full of happy tears. The Prodigal Pet has returned! The reward is paid. Often hugs are exchanged. Everyone is happy.