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Again, as with the metro bag slashers, the whole thing is over before you realise it.

Nightclubs & Bars

When you order a drink the waiter will usually open the bottle in front of you. If it arrives open, just refuse to accept it. The scam here is to slip some pretty nasty chemicals into the drinks that will render you unconscious. This trick is usually pulled on men to ease the theft of their wallets. You can probably guess why it is done to women. By the same token, in a nightclub, never leave your drink unfinished if you go to the dance floor. If you forget, just order another drink when you return. These practices go on in the UK as well, but the difference there is that the police try to actually do something about them. Here you are on your own, so do as the Mexicans do, and don't fall for tricks like this.

Basic Precautions

Wear trousers that have zips on them - the more the better. Then spread the cash around as many pockets as you can.

Don't change a lot of cash all at once. Far too many bank tellers are involved with gangs, so if you are robbed just after changing money, the chances are that the teller tipped off his cousin that a fat prospect was on his way.

Use your credit card. It may sound crazy, but Mexican thieves are not interested in the plastic: it's too sophisticated for them. They want cash, jewellery and watches. Pull out a wad of pesos and you become a potential victim. Use a credit card and people tend to lose interest in you.

If a policeman is around you can try to get him to do something. Criminals who do get caught tend to be nabbed in this way - the victim got a good look at the villains and could point out the street where they ran to a passing cop. Make sure that you go with the police, because they do have a habit of taking bribes from the crooks to let them go. If someone is arrested, stay with the police until you, they and those under arrest all get to a police station.

Reporting a crime

However, the chances are that no arrests will be made, so unless you need to report a crime for insurance purposes, my honest advice is not to bother. If you do have to report an incident, telling the police on the street is not enough. You have to go to an office of the Ministerio Publico - the prosecutors - and make a statement. This statement can only be made to a lawyer, and if they are all working on other cases, then you will have to wait. And wait. And wait. Once you have made your statement, then you will speak to the policia judicial - the investigating police. Expect to be hanging around for about five hours at least.

If you are adding to the statistics, make sure that you are given a copy of all the documentation before you leave the building. Tell all concerned that it is for your insurance claim. If you forget to do this, then getting hold of these documents at a later date is next to impossible without spending yet more long hours and ruining yet more of your holiday.

Language

In theory the Ministerio Publico offices should have an English speaker on hand, especially in the tourist areas. I would not bank on that if I were you. You can try calling your consulate and see if they have someone who can help, or hire someone from your hotel to go along with you.

As you can see, it is far better to stay away from danger than to try and sort the mess out afterwards. Be careful, follow my simple advice, and hopefully your trip will not be ruined by anything at all.

Learn more about this author, Kenneth Bell.
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