Are Robberies and Carjackings of Surfers on the Rise in Baja?
Travel Blog • Jim Benning • 11.15.07 | 5:43 PM ET
It’s hard to say because some crimes go unreported, but it’s clear there’s cause for serious concern. We recently wrote about a surf trip that went horribly wrong when three veteran surfers and Baja travelers were robbed and carjacked just off the road in northern Baja. Now, the San Diego Union-Tribune is reporting that about six robberies and carjackings of surfers have occurred in Baja since June, according to “unconfirmed tallies reported via the Internet.” Among them was an attack at Cuatro Casas, a popular surfing and camping beach 200 miles south of the border.
Encenitas surfer Pat Weber had gone there with his girlfriend to get away from the smoke accompanying the San Diego wildfires.
Reports Anna Cearley and Terry Rodgers in the Union-Tribune:
Just after sundown Oct. 23, two men wearing military clothing and ski masks confronted the couple. Weber said he initially refused to come out of his motor home, but surrendered after the robbers fired a shot into the vehicle.
“They made us get down on all fours - execution position - and put guns to our heads,” said Weber, who owns the San Diego Surfing Academy in Carlsbad.
The gunmen sexually assaulted his girlfriend before stealing $10,000 worth of computers, video cameras and other gear, he said.
A similar robbery took place at Cuatro Casas in September.
The article quotes a number of longtime Baja travelers, including Weber, who say their Baja surfing days are behind them.
Related on World Hum:
* Surfing Mags Reporting Tale of Robbery, Carjacking in Baja
* Top 10 Foreign Cities for Americans to Get Arrested
Photo by mewtate via Flickr, (Creative Commons).