Mexico y ladrones

A year or so after I moved here, a local Mexican periodical called Paginas (pages) had a story called ‘Mexico, Pais de Ladrones’, ergo, Mexico Country of Thieves. By then I knew the editor and publisher of this paper and his entire family. He and his writers are very bold and publish articles, complaints and letters to the editor that no one else would touch, so I admire the guy.

I have been ripped off several times in my years here and try to learn from each but its a simple fact, trust no one. Only once in all my years in the states was I ripped off and that by someone who broke in my apartment knowing I worked all night.

One of the families I know here has a 20 year old son who has been in jail for stealing from houses and robbing two cars. I let him cut grass, pull weeds and clean my truck for the last couple of years. To date he hasn’t stolen anything. However, three weeks ago, I let him use my computer for emails though I was in the house and never more than 20 feet from him. This past Sunday I needed my $500 digital camera with 2GB memory and couldn’t find it in the drawer next to my computer.

Only this guy Chancharro (Pedro) had been near it so I knew who the culprit was. The local police stop by my house at least once every two days to chat. They work 24 hours on, 24 off, are paid poorly and get bored and tired with such long hours. So I give them cokes and snacks and we joke around a lot. So I told them and they were going to pick him up for theft.

I hadn’t yet talked with my lawyer so asked them to wait. Next day a friend came by and said this Chancharro had stolen his cellphone, so he went to the house and asked the mom about it. She said yes, there was a strange new cellphone in her son’s room and returned it to my friend. I told my lawyer this and he suggested I speak with the mother. So I printed up a photo of my camera and showed it to her and yes she had seen it. She said her son told her I ‘loaned’ him this expensive camera. I corrected that and she gave me a blank stare but did return the camera and the leather case with cables.

That was all I wanted but I told her about other things her son had done and again she gives me this same blank stare, after all, this is her baby boy (he’s 20) and he was not a ladrone despite the jail time. She then suggests it is three brothers who are thieves that I should watch out for. I suggested anytime she finds anything in her son’s room that she track the source with his reputation. She ignores this and just kept saying lo siento (I’m sorry) but she adds to this kids behavior.

So $130 down for two other things he also stole that alerted me to the camera theft, but I’m just glad I got my camera back and will take all pains to avoid this thief and warn anyone who asks me about him. Of course he is known to be a thief here but I’ll now add to his rep with my experiences.

It just astounds me how SOME Mexican mothers are so over protective for their kids where they let them do anything and lie their way out of it. I suggested to the senora that one day without corrective action, her son would wind up dead or crippled from such behavior. She didn’t seem to realize the law of cause and effect. So I’ll not be helping their family again.

Time for a michelada (beer cocktail popular in Jalisco state). Made with half a chavela (goblet) of clamato, ice, black pepper, chili, lime, worcestershire sauce and salt. Fill the half glass with beer and stir, very tasty.

Drink it halfway down, then add the rest of the beer from the bottle, stir and enjoy. Used to be 12 pesos ($1.20) 5 years ago, now they are up to 20 pesos.