Advice on public transport.

dtapia says on Mar 29, 2006, 21:10:

Man that sucks... I agree with everything you've just said, I use transport all the time and I feel like it's as safe as anything but really you just can't expect that's how it always be... Not taking anything heavy is good advice...

Could you describe what happened? I mean I know it could be painful to go over it again but was it late, in which part of Bogota were you in, etc.

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Rubiazo says on Mar 30, 2006, 01:09:

Of course you could also be driving and be carjacked!

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kernow62 says on Mar 30, 2006, 04:25:

Usually a tourist will have a few more things, digital camera perhaps etc.

My wife and I rode the buses constantly and of course were only there such a very short time the odds favoured us not getting robbed. However the camera was an inexpensive one that I can replace on eBay for under $50, it remained out of site, took only cash for the day, split between two people with a stash as well to get home. No jewelry of any description, no wedding bands etc.

Of course had we been there longer who knows. Crooks know what a tourist looks like, I live in perhaps the tourist capital of the US and we hear on the news of tourists being attacked, robbed, beaten raped quite often (usually in lifts or just as they are entering a vehicle or their rooms).

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miamimike says on Mar 30, 2006, 04:56:

CerealKiller-How did it Happen ?? Tell us about it unless its too paunful an experience. You may save others a Headache. Thanks

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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haji says on Mar 30, 2006, 06:56:

I hate hearing that Like Gib I have seen it happen,robberies,and murders.I dont take busses much because I drive.However it can still happen then.
Thing is even though you feel safe,always be aware,know your surroundings.My son is Colombian and has been robbed alot.Damn digital cameras get expensive.
Gib I would like to ask you a private question,is there someway to do that ,in which you feel comfortable.

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Cerealkiller says on Mar 30, 2006, 12:56:

Well, I have never in my life been robbed while driving, but finding parking space in downtown bogota after 9 am is pretty much impossible. Hence, public transport is the next best thing and I took a bus yesterday, in front of Universidad de los Andes, after class, I dunno street numbers but i am guessing this is calle 18 or something. SO I took bus, and was sitting down and everything, when bus stopped in Chapinero...calle 52 I think, one those candy vendors got on and since I dont pay much attention to them I am not sure if it was him and someone else or just someone else taking advantadge of the situation...I just felt someone pulling my purse and stuff and when i turned back he held my wrist really hard and took the ipod from my jacket pocket, then ran and crossed avenida 7ma. This happened at 4.30 pm in front of everyone and nobody did a thing eventhough I pretty much yelled I was being robbed...One more thing I wanted to add to that initial post. Its not just Cameras, mobile phones or electronics in general. Yesterday morning, some guy came to us (friends and me) and was urging us to help him find his 6 year old girl as he was crossing the street in front of Monserrate and someone ran behind him took the kid and threw her in a van...I thought that was pretty scary too, so I guess overly paranoid is the way to go these days.
GiB, i totally agree with you, its so much easier to just carry cash and some type of ID and keep it simple, but i find it hard to accept, just the fact of keeping yourself from having nice things because people here feel entitled to take things away from you if they want them, sounds overall absurd...But after yesterday Im guessing youre just one wise man.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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vicshere says on Mar 30, 2006, 13:09:

this is easy first givem what they think they want...wallet money watch....let them get about 10 feet away ..then pull out your 9mm and shoot the SOBs in the back ...walk over and pick your stuff up .....put you foot on his back and wait for police

listo
"con mucho gusto"
Vic

listo

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Blue says on Mar 30, 2006, 14:09:

This is like watching the news and only hearing and seeing negative things...or maybe a lot of paranoia. I wonder why transplants live there if they always have to "watch their back". Seems something more than simple common sense security awareness is going here.

Blue

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Blue says on Mar 30, 2006, 14:32:

Fair enough GIB. I certainly don't look for hidden motives or hidden agendas by posters(unless CIA or something-jeje) Just naturally curious and maybe trying to figure out if I want to do something as simple as just visit the place. It's easy for an outside observer to get caught up in paranoia while reading this stuff.

Blue

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Cerealkiller says on Mar 30, 2006, 15:27:

Blue I am not saying it is a widespread thing, as a matter of fact I had never experienced being robbed, and I feel very colombian, I was raised here. I like it, it is a country of contrasts and most people are nice. But I think it is important that people not only think of colombia as either a) Another exotic and cheap get away destination or b) the unsafest and most underdeveloped place in the world, because it might have a bit of both but ultimately it is neither. However, if i get mugged i think its only sensible to talk to people about it, not to scare everyone away but to be aware of these things...I just had my Ipod taken away but I think, what if it had been my passport? and the thought of that happening to me or anyone else, especially people who are here on holidays is just scary, chances are it wont happen if youre careful, but then again they might.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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tobntno says on Mar 30, 2006, 19:31:

I haven't had any problems so far but I keep a low profile most of the time. I take the TransMilenio just about every day and never felt unsafe.

But a friend of mine (colombian) just got mugged there even worse than what happened to you: she was sitting in the very back, got a call - answered and then felt something cold on her stomach, which turned out to be a knife. Well, she handed over her phone and they took off at the next station.

I guess it can happen to anyone, careful or not. At least I never sit down in the TransMilenio anyways so it would be tougher to corner me like that.

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tobntno says on Mar 30, 2006, 19:36:

Almost forgot: I did get mugged once - in London, Picadilly Circus :-)

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Rubiazo says on Mar 30, 2006, 22:15:

I thought it was on a buseta you have to have a whole nother level of radar on those things. Some of those drivers are not the most savory types either. Half the time they are in on that kinda stuff.
I have been attempted mugged many times in my life but nobody has ever gotten anything from me by force, ever. I have been rather successfully pickpocketed on a couple occasions though.

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vicshere says on Mar 31, 2006, 04:30:

GIB
for you info
in Colombia you have every right to shoot any SOB who has just robbed you
in your home in Colombia you have every right to kill any SOB who is robbing you
that's it plain and simple
listo
"con mucho gusto"
Vic

listo

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NewBoy says on Mar 31, 2006, 04:42:

vicshere What you say is true, BUT if you shoot the person in the back while he is running away from you on the street, you will probably be going down.

I looked into the laws, due to owning weapons in Colombia, vicshere ask a good lawyer or somebody who legally owns weapons in Colombia.

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vicshere says on Mar 31, 2006, 05:15:

newboy unlike you
I live in Colombia (permanently)
I do own a handgun (legal one)
I do carry it concealed every where I go (with my own design holster I have enter such places as government building and bank de republic with out detection)
And for you info I have discussed this with my lawyer
If someone assaults you your property(this includes a watch and wallet) you have the right to defend such property. if you aim at his ass and you happen to kill the SOB tough shit for the prick...the police will probably give you a medal.
any more questions?

listo
"con mucho gusto"
Vic

listo

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mariasman says on Mar 31, 2006, 07:51:

Yesterday While I was on the bus to Palmira( near cali), As I got on the bus, there were two guys singing on the bus trying to make money and when they were done, they started trying to collect money and when they got almost to the front of the bus, one of the guys grabbed this womans purse as they both ran off the bus. The bus stopped and the woman and a couple of guys went running after them. I was surprized however because since I was at the back of the bus, this was like a big entertainment as everyone was at the window watching. Kinda disgusting if you ask me. You just had to feel sorry for this woman.

mariasman

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Rubiazo says on Mar 31, 2006, 08:16:

Shooting a guy in the back AFTER he has robbed you as he is running away is not self-defense anymore, it's hunting! Besides, if he can get your money without you doing anything he can get your gun too!

Blue, in response to you, I've said it before here, if you are one of those people for whom personal security is at the absolute top of the list, DONT GO TO COLOMBIA! Really, avoid all of Latin America. Stick to countries with the lowest violent crime rates. It's that simple. For some of us, maximizing personal security is NOT the most important thing in our lives, at least for me it's not!

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Blue says on Mar 31, 2006, 09:35:

Cerealkiller It’s good to report the bad along with the good although you will probably never become Colombia’s Minister of Tourism. jaja The petty crime doesn’t bother me as much as these things I hear about murder for hire. You can read a thread here and go away thinking that every other Colombian will slit your throat or whack you for a few hundred USD. I know this is probably uncommon in Colombia but it’s easy to get the wrong impression. If this were truly the case, you’d have to walk around as if walking on egg shells to avoid offending or pissing someone off. Obviously some people will antagonize and offend by their rude behavior. I could see situations where you could be as quiet and nice as a church mouse but being gringo and associated with wealth you become a target. I would guess this would be less of a problem for a tourist and more of a problem for an expat. Anyway, keep posting both good and bad.

Blue

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Cerealkiller says on Mar 31, 2006, 16:55:

Blue Few Hundred Dollars? where did you get that from? Its usually a fraction of that, BUT I havent heard of anyone hiring a hitman to do anything to a tourist. Id dare say 80% of the times its mafia or illegal trade vendettas. I do believe it is very very rare, and a HUGE portion of the population need not worry about that. For any tourist visiting Colombian cities or "transplants" for that matter, hitmen are just part of a completely different world...or at least in my case... I guess what I am trying to say is I sleep tight every night. :P Dont let it torment you hahaha

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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Rubiazo says on Apr 1, 2006, 00:35:

People threaten it all the time in arguments but most wouldnt do it. It can get done cheaply but a cheap job is a sloppy one :) so eventually the police will come for this guy who will happily flip on you for a reduced sentence the same as anybody in the USA would, and you'll be off to jail!

Personally if I really wanted someone dead THAT badly I'd probably want the pleasure of doing the dirty deed myself. Why let some fourth-rate sicario have all the fun :))))

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morphus says on Apr 1, 2006, 06:56:

Sorry to hear CK The only problem I had on public transport is hitting my head on the ceiling. Some of those buses in Bogota are small. I remember the first day I was there, I smashed my head and bled a little. It starting to heal, I had a scab but ended up banging my head again. More blood. It kept happening.

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Cerealkiller says on Apr 1, 2006, 06:57:

Morphus you should be glad you didnt catch tetanus or something like that hahaha.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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NewBoy says on Apr 1, 2006, 10:51:

Vic Then I suggest you get another lawyer or make sure that you have asked the right questions.

I have lived here 5 years now, have friends in the military, and many others with legal handguns who use the military ranges for shooting, they say the same.

In fact I had a friend who killed two people with a legal gun, who had just beat up his son, they chased him to his house and were trying to finish the beating there, his father came out, they attempted to run away, but he shot two of them in the back and killed them, he went down for either 6 or 8 years.

I know of another case as well, where another friend shot at 6-8 guys who were at a farm to rob it, as they were running away, he killed one of them with his legal shotgun, he only went down for year or two though.

I also have legal weapons here.

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lawyerincolombia says on Jul 14, 2006, 09:59:

Lawyer in Cali Colombia I am a certified lawyer in Colombia. My name is Carlos Arturo Dorado and I can help to you about inmigration and legal problems in Colombia.
I am located in Cali Colombia.

Best regards:
Carlos Dorado
http://nicelatinladies.com/abogado.html

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