I did notice, too, that even the Mexicans who were at the police judicial agency–probably waiting as much time as I did, were patient. I had to work at being patient. Yet I learned something–maybe the wait is why so many Mexicans go to such agencies with someone else. (It’s easier, if one is chatting in the line.) And it would have been better for me, too, had I remembered to take a book.)

I learned some other things, too, but they will have to wait. It’s still painful. There is a real hit to one’s self-esteem to realize that they’ve been distracted (or conned, seduced ) into taking their eye off their purse. So a word to everyone–to quote a friend–our childhood training still pertains; “Don’t talk to strangers.”

But there were some plusses: a super cab driver I happened to hail twice while doing all the errands-sans-drivers license; a friend who reminded me, “we all make mistakes;” and the reminders to myself that many people have far greater problems. I even watched a flirtation , where the young man must have studied the eyes of Elvis Presley!

Those living in the less “gringo-ized” areas don’t experience this as often, but things do happen.

Many people take the leap from “lowest crime in Mexico” to thinking “no crime” and that just is not true.

There is an enormous divide between the rich and poor and actually, the poor and everyone else, because the poor are so badly off. When you live in a thatched palm roof house that you built with your own hands on land of questionable ownership, and the only belongings are a couple pairs of shorts and t-shirts, a hammock and maybe a piece of a barrel laid on three rocks that you cook over, EVERYTHING looks appealing to you.

This is not to fault the character of the poor at all, but rather as a reminder that Americans are vastly more wealthy than even most Mexicans of the middle class. By far and large, the Yucatecan people are honest, friendly, kind and upstanding people. But temptation must come to mind from time to time.

Still, all that said, property crime is the main crime committed. Even your elderly friend who was tied up was not harmed or treated brutally as could have been the case (all too often) in the USA. They stole her things, but she was alive to miss them.

And, the final emphasis to add is this: The Yucatecan police are actually quite talented and honest. There have been many cases where they could have jailed a scapegoat, closed the case, and gone on about their business. Instead, just like in your friend’s case, they pursue the true criminals, not “the usual suspects.”

That is one of the reasons for the low crime rate: the police actually arrest the real criminals.

So, please, always report every crime. The friends who did not report the crime against them do everyone a disfavor. That might have been the break or the clue needed to catch the real, repeat culprits.

My present belief is that if one is generous in other ways (tipping, payment to workers and such), it is easier to ignore the riskier requests. The former owner of my house gave me some good advice to the effect that: “Remember, the workers are VERY poor, so don’t leave anything of value laying around when they are working.” She is a very kind and generous woman herself, so I considered it a good lesson.

So far, I’ve had few problems. In the beginning, when I had to look at the cash register to see how much change I was to receive, I was short-changed rather often. But now, now that I can understand what is actually said to me, this seems to have stopped.

And I never stop remembering–I was burgled almost annually in San Francisco! The finger-print guy even remembered me! Here, in over 10 years, not one such event!