Security in Mexico City

A Place of Contrast

About 20 million people inhabit Mexico City, including the adjacent State of Mexico suburban area. This is a place of extreme constrasts. There is a vast, growing middle class with access to progressive jobs, yet large numbers of Mexicans are unable to find employment.

If you are new to the city, you will see many luxurious cars driven around the city. And you will also notice that some of these cars are followed by an entourage of bodyguards. Interesting enough, the number of rich and famous who are able to hire these protective services is minimal.

Yet, when you step out of your home or office, you will notice lots of men, women and children trying to make a meager living selling merchandise of every type imaginable on the street. Therefore, keep in mind that many people are looking for better employment opportunities but can't find them. Like in so many big cities, many others are unemployed and engage in criminal activity.

In order to avoid becoming victim of a crime, you must minimize your vulnerability. This page offers a few crucial preventative measures to accomplish this goal.

Leave Behind Flashy Jewelry

If visiting for the first time, please leave in your hotel safe deposit box any expensive jewelry you might have otherwise thought about wearing on the street. The idea is to avoid wearing expensive things or flashy jewelrey that will send clear messages to criminals looking for new victims. Attractive rings with diamonds or precious stones - even if these are fake - make you prone to becoming a crime statistic.

If you depend on public transportation, avoid carrying with you fancy portfolios, suitcases or laptops. However, this does not apply if you have a company car or personal driver.

The Dress Code

Mexico City is a place where the dress code calls for a suit and tie. Ladies are required to dress formally, too, if business is involved. However, if you rely on peseras or city buses for transportation, you might want to dress down a little. You will find that, for those who live in Mexico City, encountering men and women in business suits taking public transportation is common. But for visitors or temporary residents, it would be a good idea to blend in with the masses as much as possible. If you plan to visit downtown via the bus or micro or pesera, try wearing tennis shoes and jeans instead.

Credit Cards

Most importantly, do not carry credit cards or ATM cards with you. Instead, carry only enough cash to get you through the day. Don't carry any more cash on you than what is equal to 3 day's wage.

When you do need to leave the house with a credit card, plan your shopping trips in advance. After leaving the house, go directly to the store or ATM, make your purchases with your credit cards or ATM cards, then return home to drop them off immediately.

Instead of flashing your wallet containing bundles of money in front of strangers, be discreet. Practising common sense is your best guarantee of self-protection while traveling in most places across the world. By minimizing your vulnerability you will also minimize your risk of becoming a victim of a crime.

By Mario Gonzalez-Roman, a retired Foreign Service National Security Advisor to the United States Embassy, currently a private Security Consultant, columnist at www.securitycornermexico.com

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