Security

I'm sitting at a piss shit lounge en route to Mexico city. This lounge is in LA, which you'd expect top notch facilities.. but is is like shit! Small... crappy... my god...

As I sit here, I am reading a "official welcome note to Mexico". I am extracting relevant sections out, which I thought was just hilarious...

Crime: The rate of crime in Mexico City is very high.
Mexico City leads North America in the total number of crimes committed with more than 190 violent crimes each day. Almost as many crimes are believed to go unreported. Approximately one million incidents of petty crime are reported each year. The crime rate is attributed to the high rate of unemployment, poverty, corruption and drug use. The Venustuano Carranza, Cuauhtemoc, Gustavo A. Madero, Miguel Hidalgo, Iztapalapa, the Zona Rosa district and Alvaro Obregon districts are the most dangerous areas. The Oriental Market, Pepitos Market and La Marquesa areas are also high crime areas. Avoid travel to these areas, especially at night. The number of crimes committed in the more upscale districts of Polance and Lomas de Chapultepec has also increased. In addition, statistics released in March 2003 show a 35 percent rise in crimes in public areas, specifically the theater districts in San Rafael, Perisur and Plaza Universidad.Crime against travelers has risen dramatically since 1998. Most incidents reported by travelers are petty crimes, such as theft, but travelers are still at risk for violent crime. Many petty crimes are committed by criminals brandishing weapons. If confronted by an armed assailant, surrender valuables without hesitation to avoid harm. Many crimes are committed during the day and in front of witnesses. U.S. and Canadian passports are sought by many thieves. ATM users are often robbed or targeted for kidnapping. Use ATMs that are located inside well-populated hotels or banks and restrict use to daylight hours.

Police: Police may be corrupt in Mexico City.
Many Mexico City police officers are corrupt and are sometimes involved in perpetrating crimes. The police in Mexico City are routinely involved in bribery, extortion and other crimes. Street officers will pay off their superiors to be assigned at busy intersections where they charge to overlook violations, many of which are bogus. Mexico City officers target travelers by stopping them for an identification check and then soliciting a bribe. Police officers in Mexico City are not authorized to stop and verify identification. In an effort to limit such corruption, the government has replaced many of its officers with soldiers who are posted in six-month rotations. The police station at Ave. Florencia #20, located in Zona Rosa near the U.S. Embassy, is set up specifically to assist travelers. Many of the officers and aides at this station speak English.

Property Security: Hotels Security and theft prevention in Mexico City.
There is a wide range in class of hotels throughout Mexico City, with some having better security for travelers.In the Polanco district the J.W. Marriott, Presidente Inter-Continental and Nikko Mexico are all located near the Bosque de Chapultepec Park and have a shared security program including plainclothes officers who patrol the hotels and surrounding streets.

Transportation Security:
Pirate taxis represent a threat of robbery in Mexico City; women are frequently targeted.
Taxis are safer than local buses, but threats exist for travelers, particularly women, who use taxis in Mexico City. Passengers are sometimes robbed by drivers and accomplices in pirate (unofficial) taxis. According to Mexico government statistics for 2000, more than 2,100 travelers reported being robbed when using taxis in Mexico City. Most of these victims used unregistered pirate taxis hailed from the street. Many of the pirate taxis are Volkswagen Beetles that are painted green and white or yellow and white to look like legal taxis. Travelers in Mexico City should only use radio- or telephone-dispatched taxis or taxis requested from taxi stands (sitios). Ask for the driver's name and license plate number so you are able to verify that you are using a registered taxi. Before entering a taxi, check to see that the license plate number is the same as the number on the side of the vehicle, that the driver's permit is in plain view and that the picture resembles the actual driver. Before the trip starts in a metered taxi, ensure the driver resets the meter and that it is running.Pirate taxis can be further identified by their license plate numbers. Any street taxi with a number higher than L96645, or stand taxi higher than S09997 is a pirate taxi. Do not get in such taxis. Also avoid taxis with license plates with numbers painted on by hand. The more trustworthy taxis can be reached by calling Servi Taxis at 5-516-6020 or Radio-Taxis at 5-566-0077. Other reliable taxis can be hired by calling 566-0077, 272-6152, 271-9146 or 271-9058.

Scams: Petty Theft
Travelers have been victimized by criminals disguised as Mexican police or other officials. The "officers" will demand to see currency, claiming to be investigating counterfeiting. If you are approached, do not hand over any personal possessions; ask to see identification. Let the perpetrators know you will not give them anything unless you are taken to a police station where the transaction can take place in front of witnesses. If second-guessed, most criminals will leave the scene. The most common and successful scam in Mexico involves the spraying or squirting of a substance on victims' clothing or belongings, followed by a theft. The sprayed substance can be as seemingly innocuous as tomato sauce, mayonnaise or mustard. In other cases, it can be a combination of offensive smelling liquids, oils or gels. When travelers are distracted or accept help from a "bystander," thieves steal unprotected bags, purses, briefcases, backpacks or suitcases. Some are even so brazen as to steal wallets and jewelry. Do not attempt to clean personal items on the street and do not ask for assistance from nearby strangers. Enter a reputable hotel, restaurant or tourist facility to clean up.Mexico's cities contain thousands of homeless children; many of them commit criminal acts. One ploy is for a group of children to crowd around travelers and beg for money while an accomplice picks the pockets of the distracted traveler. If you are approached by a group of children, keep walking and remain aware of your belongings.The restaurant industry in Mexico acknowledges that organized crime has infiltrated the industry, providing unscrupulous waiters with small credit-card cloning machines that can be used to copy the information recorded on a card, allowing unauthorized charges to be made. The problem has been reported in the states of Mexico, Morelos, Jalisco and Quintana Roo and the cities of Acapulco, Cancun and Guadalajara.To avoid the problem, use cash or traveler's checks in restaurants whenever it is convenient to do so. Alternately, do not allow restaurant staff to leave your sight while carrying your credit card. The restaurant's card reader at the cash register is likely to be legitimate, but do not allow restaurant staff to swipe a different machine. Always request receipts and compare them with your monthly credit card statements.