Seguridad en La Manzanilla - 10 Tips for Safety

   After hearing all the concern about safety and the recent incidents in the neighboring town of Melaque, I decided to just give you a few safety tips and recommendations on how to stay safe and still have a great  time!!

1. Be discreet: when you arrive in Mexico and you take a cab to your destination, make sure you don't say too much about yourselves and the details of your trip, it's best not to share this information with strangers. 
2. Eliminate temptation: when you settle in to your space be sure not to leave out anything that might tempt someone to break in to your place. For example if you have a balcony or a patio, don't leave you camera, laptop, cell phone, purse, etc, out in plane sight were anyone passing by can see it. 
3. Lock up: always lock up your doors and windows, as well as your car. Even if you are just going out for Tacos or a quick errand, most of the Rateros don't even have to force an entry to get to peoples stuff! 
4. Lights on please!: it's easier for a burglar to do his work in the dark, make sure you leave your street light on, as well as one in your yard; and always carry a flashlight if you are going to be walking home in the dark.
5. Carry only what you need: try not to be walking around with all your belongings in your purse or all your money and credit cards in your wallet. It's best while going out, to bring only what you might need for that day in cash and leave the rest at home in a safe place. If there is no such location in your rental or home, there are safes available in town for tourist use.
6. Contact Info.: in case something did happen to you and you need to reach someone are some useful numbers:  Director of Public Security in La Huerta, Jalisco.  Juan Manuel Rojo Garcia. Tel. (357) 384-0046 Ext.130/131 Emergencies: (357) 384-0178 . ----- Director of Proteccion Civil Jose Ramirez Mendez Tel. (357) 384-0778 Ext.159 --------- The Delegacion in La Manzanilla does not have a working phone at the moment, so if your are experiencing a crisis I would suggest to get your neighbor to help, the good people from town will always drop anything to help you in any way they can.
7. Women precautions: because of the presence of Machismo in our society men will still whistle at a girl, smack his lips, yell out all sorts of things, or ask you if he can walk a pretty girl home (?)... It's important to just ignore catcalls, or if you can't resist I suppose you can say "dejame en paz pendejo!" and walk away! But be sure not go hiking by yourself, not to go walking alone down the beach or at night. Watch your alcohol so you are always aware of your surroundings. 
8. Dealing with the Policia: please never bribe and never give a cop money. No matter what crime he says you have committed don't let them scare you in to paying, and if you have no choice you can go to the Delegacion the next day and report this and get your money back! 
9. Documents: make a copy of your passport and I.D. use that to get around, never hand out your original documents to anybody. 
10. Denuncia: and last but definitely not least! The Denuncia or formal complaint is very important, even if it is a pane in the butt process... If nobody files a formal complain there is no record that anything bad ever happened to you and when the Municipio asks the State for support with security funds or police elements, etc, the State looks at the amount of denuncias for reference as to how much criminal activity is happening in the area. Also if some of these bad guys get caught they might not even serve time for their doings because nobody filed a Denuncia. Recuerda la Denuncia puede ser anonima.

La Manzanilla's Finest - Be safe!