Tonight, we just got back from San Felipe in Baja.
My brother in law had his 2002 Duramax stolen at Pete's Camp
on new years morning. We heard the thing start up and speed
off. :mad:

My other brother in law tried to chase the thieves northbound
toward Mexicali with his Toyota T100 pick up, but the Duramax
out ran them...... they were traveling over 100 mph.

The night before, the banditos took off with a $7000 ATV.
They cut the 1/2 inch cable lock right in camp.

The local San Felipe police were of no help. :(

Censored Ill keep my comments to myself...sorry for your loss. I hope the Insurance comapny does not try to screw you 2x.

That really is a shame. We took our first trip down there back in june and camped at pete's camp as well. We usually lock the quads and bikes and take the steering wheel off the buggy and feel semi-safe. Guess they ain't got much to lose and alot to gain. Im gonna have to keep that in mind as we are heading back down there in late february :eek:

How did they get it to start? I thought the Passlock was suppose to stop that..I guess not.

It is really easy to breakin----they did that to mine---just punch out the keylock cylinder and open door--the alarm does not sound.

I hope Insurance was purchased prior to traveling down there.

Good luck with that insurance, if you bought it. Ouch. That does suck.

San Felipe police will probably be using that truck for 6 mos then contact you to say it's been found and it'll be torn up. Never take anything to Mexico that you don't mind having ripped off. You cross that border and it's a whole different world.

How did they get it to start? I thought the Passlock was suppose to stop that..I guess not.

I hope Insurance was purchased prior to traveling down there.

My brother in law parked the truck next to the Toybox. He
left his other set of keys in the truck.... and they got them.
They took it in broad daylight when we all were having
breakfast in our campers.

Yes, they had Mexican insurance. It appeared that the local
police had absolutely no interest in these thefts.

There are rumors that people who have interests in Pete's camp
were also part of this problem.

We will never, ever return to Mexico again.

use to live near el paso, auto theft captial of the southwest. vehicles were stolen and across the border in minutes, I would never trust my dmax in mexico. I have friends that have relatives in Juarez and a couple other towns. Most thieves work with the Federales. dont trust anyone south of the border.........

Kiss it goodbye. In ca, there is at least the remote chnce that it may be found en route to Mexico, but if its already there, youre SOL.

Good luck with the ins.

The thieves usually have to work with the federales if they are moving out of the border area. Usually to get mexican plates they have to go to a Mexican Customs holding lot where the VIN# is run against stolen cars in the US...but for money you can get around that. Mexicali has a big holding lot.

My guess is that they import the car in another state and pay off the federales to drive the car to that state without papers. You can get more for the car.

I mentioned this in another thread...we have to fix the easy entry into these trucks.

56NOMAD: I thought there was a Mexican Army checkpoint about 25KM out of town...they usually stop cars in both directions...and the Army does not like the federales...they would have probably helped you the most.

Let us/me know what happens with the insurance..I travel to Mexico(Cabo/Lapaz) all the time in my truck.

Thanks and good luck.

It does sound like a lot of insider help going on here. The federales, and maybe Pete's camp has someone working there that calls the guys when there is something of interest there.
I am sure the police department folks don't make that much dinero so they would get pay offs for looking the other way. An easy way for them to make money.

What is Pete's camp?

Buying the insurance (more than just liability) starts a new runaround. Hope it works out.

So, in the final analysis, what could you do different (besides stay home) to prevent the theft. Club? Deflate a tire (at lunchtime?)

We need to fix the weakness in the door cylinders. Eliminate the cylinders, and harden the handle from screwdriver penetration.

No, bordertown mexico is not interested in helping americans, only getting into your wallet. It is still a 3rd world country that sees us as pompous jerks. You risk your life more just by entering, by virtue of not having the same medical attention, with no guarantee of being brought across the border if you were injured in a controversial act. A story a few years back told of a man injured in a car wreck, no insurance. Slowly bled to death internally, or permanent paralysis and such leading to death, while the federales held him hostage (at the hospital) for days, while his wife went back to the states for bond money. She returned with it, and they uped the price.

I know how you feel 56Nomad,

Back in the early - mid 80's I had a small oil field business in South Texas with one of the offices in Laredo, Tx. On 2 diff occasions we had trucks stolen in Laredo that were in Mexico within 20 min. :eek:

I personally saw/identified these trucks in parking lots on the Mexican side of the border because of scratches/dents and believe it or not . . .bumper stickers! The Federales & local Mexican police were absolutely NO help!

The guy that "owned" one of my trucks just grinned at me & the police, got in the truck & drove off out of the lot and on down the road.

I saw that truck on average of 1 - 2 time per month for the next 3 years I was in Laredo. Nothing I could do. Thankfully for me, it was documented that they were stolen from the USA, so my insurance did have to "pony up" their part.
BTW, just for grins, I took the insurance adjuster down to the Rio Grande river bridge (on the US side) & showed him one of the trucks in the parking lot on the Mexican side. When he saw that, he lost a good bit of his arguments to me about paying off. Nothing either of us could do about it, so I finally got a check from the ins company.

I still get mad thinking about that after all these years . . . :mad: :mad: :mad:

PDS

Next time you see it you should flatten the tires or throw in salt into the gas tank or something to it, since these bastards didnt pay for it to begin with, they can pay for it now.

Sorry to hear about everyones misfortunes. I absolutely hate the fact that stuff like this still happens, and there is nothing done about it. If thieves had their hands or fingers cut off when caught, I dont think they'd ever do it again, too bad we dont impose some type of law like other third world countries do.

Careful what you suggest. Mexican jails lose keys regularly.

RJTirado wrote in part:

56NOMAD: I thought there was a Mexican Army checkpoint about 25KM out of town...they usually stop cars in both directions...and the Army does not like the federales...they would have probably helped you the most.

You are right on..... there is a checkpoint with lots of ninja looking armed
police and they let the speeding Duramax through without problems.

When my brother in laws', (in the pursuit Toyota T100 P/U) reached the
checkpoint officials played dumb and waived them on.......

My brother in law's still had them in line of sight at this point. The
Duramax simply outran the Toyota.

After my brother in law's truck was stolen..... I crawled under
my truck every time I parked it and shut off my fuel line.

We also "circled the wagons" with the motorcyles, golf cart and quads
completely surrounded by toyhaulers and trucks :ro)

56Nomad,

hopefully no one in Mexico is on this forum, or they have a hard time reading english.:o

56Nomad,

hopefully no one in Mexico is on this forum, or they have a hard time reading english.:o

I hope everyone who lives in Mexico reads this post! Every day
they advertise on TV to come and visit their "friendly" country,
so they best get their act together and stop the obvious corruption.

:mad:

I hope everyone who lives in Mexico reads this post! Every day
they advertise on TV to come and visit their "friendly" country,
so they best get their act together and stop the obvious corruption.

:mad:
That is so true. I see those commercials up here all the time too.

Sounds like you could pick off thieves pretty easily if you were a cop.

Set a Dmax in a lot with the keys in the truck.....

I can't understand why you folks go down there. What is there that isn't better somewhere in the States and you spend your money here besides. I won't go back there after all the stories I've "heard" including kidnap/ransom. You risk a staged traffic accident only to be cleaned out by every crooked federale around. To hell with that corrupt nation. They need us alot more than we need them and the tourist buck has to be a large part of their economy since the rest of their economy consists of what the illegals here in the U.S. send home. I won't hire the illegals for anything. I cut my own grass (in Calif. no less!), clean my own house, etc. They can just stand out in front of Home Depot soaking up the rain. Good place for 'em . . .

I had everything I owned stolen one night while on the beach in Rocky Point back in 87. Damn good thing the keys were in my pocket or they may have take the pickup with my kids sleeping in the camper (I was asleep in a bag next to the rear wheels). I have never crossed the border since and it'll be a cold day in hell before I ever go there again!!! The get enough coming up here, I see no reason to deliver for them!

Mitch, It doesn't have to be that way. We should get together.

How old are your kids now?

Mitch, It doesn't have to be that way. We should get together.

How old are your kids now?
The oldest is 26 next week and the boy is 21 and headed to Iraq (Marine) next month. I know a lot of people that I work with that head south of the border and have a great time and return frequently. I am invited frequently to head south with knowledgable people. Nope, not for me. More power to them, but once was enough for me. Nothing racist about it what-so-ever, I just have no need to be the bait for a 3rd world baracuda.

Im only 25 but heres my 2 cents. Im fluent in spanish and well traveled throughout central and south america. I am an avid surfer and have traveled to the most remote sections of these regions in order to surf. I love the people of south and central america, especially the women. I lived in Costa Rica for seven months and hope to go back someday soon. But Id sooner be castrated than bring my baby (my duramax) anywhere near that border.

It's true, to be a victim there, is worse than here. You don't realize how naked you are till you get into trouble outside the border. More for the young and adventurous. I'm not that adventurous anymore. When we go, it's in a gated area, Las Conchas usually.

Kinda a cross post.... but sometime folks don't visit all the forums here.

My bro-in-law KTM450 is looking to replace this stolen truck ASAP for his work.

He wrote at:
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21304

Need to replace my stolen '02 Duramax
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Need to replace my stolen Duramax ASAP! Looking for:

'02 Chevy or '02-'03 GMC 2500HD 6.6 Duramax, Extended Cab, Long Bed, 4x4, LT (leather seats, etc.) Prefer under 70K miles, charcoal or pewter exterior but will consider other.

Would appreciate a PM or post here. Thanks.

Kinda a cross post.... but sometime folks don't visit all the forums here.

My bro-in-law KTM450 is looking to replace this stolen truck ASAP for his work.

He wrote at:
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21304

Need to replace my stolen '02 Duramax
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Need to replace my stolen Duramax ASAP! Looking for:

'02 Chevy or '02-'03 GMC 2500HD 6.6 Duramax, Extended Cab, Long Bed, 4x4, LT (leather seats, etc.) Prefer under 70K miles, charcoal or pewter exterior but will consider other.



Ok ...... who is the joker ):h

Oh man that is sad!!! Whose truck is that? What happened to it?

56Nomad,

What was the final deal on the insurance for your Bro-in-law's truck??

Thanks

Kinda a cross post.... but sometime folks don't visit all the forums here.

My bro-in-law KTM450 is looking to replace this stolen truck ASAP for his work.

He wrote at:
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21304

Need to replace my stolen '02 Duramax
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Need to replace my stolen Duramax ASAP! Looking for:

'02 Chevy or '02-'03 GMC 2500HD 6.6 Duramax, Extended Cab, Long Bed, 4x4, LT (leather seats, etc.) Prefer under 70K miles, charcoal or pewter exterior but will consider other.

Would appreciate a PM or post here. Thanks. I gather your not looking for a new one but I do know where there is an 05 exactly as you describe with a sunroof! Been there for a couple of weeks now! If interested it is in San Diego new car lot.

Fuel shutoff is a great idea.

While in puerto nuevo, 1990, had thieves break into the beach house while the entire family was sleeping,stole all purses and wallets...NEVER BEEN BACK SINCE!

I have no idea....... but I'll be the engine and tranny are
a good deal.

56Nomad,

What was the final deal on the insurance for your Bro-in-law's truck??

Thanks

Hi RonJT...... Insurance is pending. I'll keep you all posted.

I have State Farm and they insure 50 miles south of the border.
The rumor is that Progressive and Allied Insurance provide full
coverage for all of Mexico.

It is best to have Mexican Insurance, and I believe you HAVE
to buy Mexican liability insurance regardless if you are insured
by a US carrier :rolleyes:

Dam I hate State Farm they have tried to screw over my family. And everyone else that I know that has had a claim with them.

Dam I hate State Farm they have tried to screw over my family. And everyone else that I know that has had a claim with them.

Hey dozerboy..... I retired after a 20 year career with the Farm.

Sorry about your loss, but it still remains a fine company. You remain
a minority ):h

Good news all....

My sis and brother in law had the exact truck they lost delivered to their
house today. They found it at a Chev dealer in Redding. The truck is
beautiful. I drove it and it's tight! $30,000 plus tax.

Sweet.

56Nomad,

So did your in law get a fair appraisal for the truck stolen?

From the looks of it...sounds like they already got a check???

Nice truck....good color...sounds like things are good now.

56Nomad,

So did your in law get a fair appraisal for the truck stolen?

From the looks of it...sounds like they already got a check???

Nice truck....good color...sounds like things are good now.

RonJT,

The insurance company has to wait 10 days after the theft
before they settle. No offers made at this time. I think establishing the
market value should be a no brainer.

Their carrier will also be responsible for tax and lic fees.

I'll let you know when all is concluded.

Thanks for your good thoughts

Nothing is a no-brainer with insurance companies. Now you have to deal with a mexican ins company, as crooked as the border itself. You can bet he is in for a ride.

I've been watching this thread since the beginning. I have spent a LOT of time (a few Winters and more) at Pete's camp and know the owners (a family) fairly well. It's not the first time a vehicle has been stolen from Pete's Camp, as well as almost anywhere in Mexico populated by gringo's. Oddly enough, real Mexicans prefer Ford trucks!
It's crazy to say the 'owners' might have anything to do with the theft. They have spent the majority of thier lives living and working in Kali, and actually have a lot of local influence in preventing and solving these kinds of crimes. I could tell you all a lot of stories, but trust me, they do VERY well with the cantina/restraunt and renting lots.
It is well known to be one of the safer places around San Felipe.
Personally, I've never had any major problems in Mex, but there is a lot of crap that happens down there. Keep away from the border towns and the larger cities and you won't have a problem. Most all the BS in San Felipe is caused by aholes from Mexicali. The thieves did drive North towards Mexicali, right. Sorry for your family's loss Nomad, and I hope this helps some of you. Daryl

Sorry to affend you for any comments made. But if somthing like this happens to ones self it is one too many times and he/she want action and answers now so their guard is up and every one around is guilty untill proven innosent.

56NOMAD........Are there any recent developments or info about the truck or the culprits? Daryl

I've been watching this thread since the beginning. I have spent a LOT of time (a few Winters and more) at Pete's camp and know the owners (a family) fairly well. It's not the first time a vehicle has been stolen from Pete's Camp.....

Yes...... we have now found out that quite a few vehicles have been stolen at
Petes Camp including a considerable number of new bright and shiny ATVs.

The day before my bother in law lost his truck at Petes Camp,.... our friends,
had their $7000 quad stolen at night when the thieves cut the Kryptonite cable
and pushed it off on to the beach and drove off into the night.

Oddly enough, real Mexicans prefer Ford trucks!

Who are "real Mexicans"? Are you saying that these thieves are not real Mexicans? :rolleyes:

It's crazy to say the 'owners' might have anything to do with the theft.

It was a detective in Mexicali who made that implication.

Also, we also found it most interesting that when the police came to Pete's camp, 3 hours later,
they did not interview the victims or witnesses of the crimes......... no, they were up at the
cantina having lunch with the owner........... hummmm

They have spent the majority of thier lives living and working in Kali, and actually have a lot of local influence in preventing and solving these kinds of crimes. I could tell you all a lot of stories, but trust me, they do VERY well with the cantina/restraunt and renting lots. It is well known to be one of the safer places around San Felipe.

We'll they didn't solve this case, nor did they offer any assistance other than let us
use their land line phone as our cell phones do not work there. The Petes Camp owners have a duty to
at least advise their customers that there have been ongoing problems with vehicle theft.
What would it cost to install a few warning signs? For all the money they make, they could
afford a security person as do some of the other resorts. As you said, they are very well off. Years ago, we stayed at Petes Camp and enjoyed ourselves..... but now it
is not a safe place

We would have left the camp immediately, but we had to jury rig my nephew's suburban to tow their
toy hauler home..... plus file the theft report for the insurance claims in San Felipe. The third evening,
the thieves tried to break into my wife's brother's truck, but fortunately, someone decided to sleep
in the truck and the thieves took off when they discovered someone was inside the truck.

Personally, I've never had any major problems in Mex, but there is a lot of crap that happens down there. Keep away from the border towns and the larger cities and you won't have a problem. Most all the BS in San Felipe is caused by aholes from Mexicali. The thieves did drive North towards Mexicali, right. Sorry for your family's loss Nomad, and I hope this helps some of you. Daryl

We will never, ever have problems again.......... as we will never visit Mexico again. 15, 20 years ago we used to go
two times a year and never had any problems. Unfortunately, quite a bit has changed for the worse.

No settlement $ have yet been offered by the insurance company.

Quote:
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">Originally Posted by BajaDQ

Oddly enough, real Mexicans prefer Ford trucks!

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
[QUOTE]Who are "real Mexicans"? Are you saying that these thieves are not real Mexicans?

Only my personal observation. The most popular pick-up that Mexicans buy or drive are....Ford #1(Lobo), GM & Dodge #2.



[QUOTE]
For all the money they make, they could
afford a security person as do some of the other resorts.

Very true and I agree. This is also a big problem across the highway in El Dorado Ranch, and they have some security guards that patrol that housing development.
I haven't spent very much time in Baja for 2 or 3 years now, but not because of this problem. Also, I learned many years ago that the best theft deterrent in Mexico is a large dog left tied up outside. Mine are always with me there, and I know I would have had more trouble without them. The thieves scope things out during the day and come back later, but if they see dogs in your camp, they go somewhere else.
It's these kinds of incidents and more that keep a LOT of people from having fun in Mexico. The corrupt police and thieves are ruining it for all of us! Daryl

Hey dozerboy..... I retired after a 20 year career with the Farm.

Sorry about your loss, but it still remains a fine company. You remain
a minority ):h
I don't know about all of that!


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It's a relatively safe haven for the bandits. They know there is not one single gun to contend with, as it is a serious crime to cross the border with one. Americans have no resources to investigate it, no language skills to navigate it, and they go home to their featherbeds, tail between legs. Add that to a relatively incompetent law enforcement system (unless YOU break a rule), and it's a perfect place to be a criminal. All societies have its bad zones, where the criminals play. (It's where the money is (bordertowns), and keeps coming back.

As you go deeper, the problems are less.

The State Department has issued the following warning about travelling to
Baja and Mexico. It could be very dangerous. Tonight, Fox just had a news
piece about all the vehicle thefts and crime wave that is ignored by the
Mexican police. YIKES..........

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_2100.html

"This Public Announcement is being issued to alert U.S. citizens to the current security situation along the Mexican side of the U.S.-Mexico border in the wake of increased violence among drug traffickers." :eek: :eek: :eek:

Just returned from cancun Mexico, had a first hand experience with the "law enforcement" bs that goes on there!
Rented a jeep, didn't get more than 10 kms when policia motor bike., with flashing lights came up, told me to pull over, came up and informed me that I was speeding through town, and that the fine was $45.00 US!
To make a long story short, I have driven tractor trailer (for 11 years) all over Canada, been to all 48 main states in the USA, never even had so much as a parking ticket since I was 17.
There was actually cars honking at me a couple of times to speed up!!! After getting pretty mouthy with the useless Censored , My girlfriend handed over the cash, said she didn't want to spend her holiday jail!
I explained to him (although he "claimed" he didn't understand english) that its a real shame that big companies are building manufacturing plants, in a "country" that only exists and survives on, bribery, lies, and thieves!
I have vowed to myself, that I will NEVER, EVER, buy a product, that has been manufactured, by that nation of bottom feeders!!!!:flipa:
Oh by the way, the jeep we rented was bright yellow, and had the rental name on the doors, the next stop after the run in with the meat head, I took the doors off, stuffed them in the back!

Guys it's everywhere SOUTH of the border, not just in Mexico.

The first time I traveled south(Venezuela) it was with the wife. Her father is fairly well connected, but still I didn't feel good about the whole thing. So I decided to hedge my bet. What I did and still do, costs me about 100 bucks, but it's paid great dividends. I went to the local policia station and struck up with the HMFIC, who also got a bottle of good scotch, a few police patches, and all the compliments I could muster in spanish.

In return, I got escorts to the bank to exchange money and nightly drive by's at the house, and a wealth of information regarding where to go, where to eat, where not to go, and where you might find that hard to find item. I've even "rented' pistols during my stay.

When we'd leave I'd actually "tip" the officers that accompanied us to the airport.

I don't like things crooked or corupt, but if you know it's like that, play the game to your advantage.

BTW Just in case you're wondering, if the wife didn't have family there, my big arse would never leave the states.

Doug