NOT GOOD NEWS ABOUT TRAVEL IN MEXICO

The following message is circulating, at least in Texas. We are nevertheless soon arriving by plane into Manzanillo for our yearly forey to Melaque & area for a fix of paradise. Driving down would be something to think about. We shall be a little more cautious about being on the roads after dark........................



The Texas Department of Public Safety is urging Texans to avoid traveling to Mexico during the holidays.

"Mexican drug cartel-related violence continues in the northern Mexican border cities, and other locations such as Monterrey and Acapulco. Drug-related or other criminal activity has been documented in popular tourist destinations such as Cancun and Mazatlan. The safety and security of holiday travelers cannot be guaranteed if they venture into Mexico," said DPS Director Steven C. McCraw.

The rising tide of violence in Mexico is well-documented from a variety of sources. Kidnappings, violence between cartels and battles between cartels and law enforcement authorities have escalated in recent years.

The U.S. State Department website lists travel information related to violence in Mexico. Among the items noted on the website:

• Kidnapping, including the kidnapping of non-Mexicans, continues at alarming rates.

• Criminal assaults have occurred on highways throughout Mexico; travelers should exercise caution at all times; avoid traveling at night.

• Rape and sexual assault continue to be serious problems in Cancun and other resort areas.

• Mexican authorities have failed to prosecute numerous crimes committed against U. S. citizens, including murders and kidnappings.

"We recognize people safely travel and vacation in Mexico on a daily basis, but the increase in violence is also a reality," said McCraw. "There are no guarantees that drug-related violence will spare innocent bystanders and that criminals will refrain from attacking tourists."

Travelers should always check the U.S. State Department website for the most up-to-date information related to security issues in Mexico.

See [travel.state.gov] or [mexico.usembassy.gov].

See no evil.....

Quote The safety and security of holiday travelers cannot be guaranteed if they venture into Mexico," said DPS Director Steven C. McCraw.

The latest comparative figures I can find are for 2004, so a little out of date.

Car thefts in Mexico was 140 vehicles stolen/100,000 people.
Car thefts in USA was 432 vehicles stolen/100,000 people.

Sure there are many more cars in the USA, but nontheless he would have been more honest to add
"and we certainly cannot guarantee your safety here at home"

Addendum:
I just found this at the Insurance Information Institute, showing things are getting much better in the USA:

# 2009 Theft Statistics: According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Uniform Crime Reports, a motor vehicle is stolen in the United States every 40 seconds. The odds of a vehicle being stolen were 1 in 270 in 2008 (latest data available based on registrations from the Federal Highway Administration, thefts from the FBI and calculated by the Insurance Information Institute). The odds are highest in urban areas.
# U.S. motor vehicle thefts fell 17 percent from 2008 to 2009, according to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports. In 2009, 794,616 motor vehicles were reported stolen.
# In 2009 the South accounted for the largest share of thefts—37.8 percent, followed by the West, 34.2 percent. The Midwest accounted for 18.0 percent of thefts and the Northeast for 10.0 percent.
# Nationwide the 2009 motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 people was 258.8, down 17.8 percent from 315.0 in 2008. The highest rate was reported in the West, 380.0, down 17.7 percent from 461.7 in 2008. The rate of motor vehicles stolen was 265.2 in the South, down 17.8 percent from 2008; 213.6 in the Midwest, down 18.7 percent; and 143.6 in the Northeast, down 17.5 percent.
# Only 12.4 percent of thefts were cleared, either by arrests or by exceptional means, in 2009.

Howard Platt, Manzanillo
hplattbc@gmail.com