Here are some of the pieces I've put together over the years:
Driving on the highway to PV I stopped at an ATM .. it wasn't there. I mean the mechine had been physically removed. Driving down the highway looking for the next one I found it had been removed .. then four more. Is that bold enough ferya? All in all seven were removed during that night on that stretch of highway.
Take note of the armament contained on many homes, razor wire, electrified cables, barking dogs security cameras. It's all there for a reason.
A Mexican's home often looks like a fortress. Why? Because it is. Children learn at an early age it's a jungle beyond these walls. They devote a large part of their daily life with concerns about security and their well-being while on the streets. Why shouldn't you?
Beware of your schedule of comings and goings. My neighbor picks up his daughter from school at noon five days a week. Two weeks ago he was robbed, and I do mean robbed. Poisoned his dogs, jumped his fence and took EVERYTHING of value .. just after he left.
Scams .. there's one behind every bush. You know who I trust? The guy who speaks no English, never been to an English-speaking country, as Mexican as a taco with chewy meat with extra chile and lots of lemon and salt.
Theory: Asians are indeed bad drivers, suicidal beyond belief! If they're Buddhists they believe in after life. Mexicans have confessionals. Think about that for a few seconds.
In reality, IMHO, there are no laws here. Sure, there are books full of them. But it's all idealistic. It's unlawful to pay a mordida .. no it isn't. If you overstay your visitor's visa you'll be deported .. no you won't, not if you have a handle on how things work.
I once read in The Mexico City News about some polling. The question was; "Who would you prefer rob you in a dark alley, a ratero or a cop?" "The cop will take it all, the ratero will leave me with bus fare home."
Note: I taught school for years. Eventually the theme of occupations comes up. So the children are asked, what does your father do? All those years, a thousand students or more, not once did lil Johnny raise his hand and say, my daddy is a policeman. Why?
Three years living in this tiny community and I know of four people who were murdered. Not one crime was investigated. You'd have to mortgage you home nine times to pay that bill. What happens when a foreigner gets topped? They call your consulate, they clean up the mess. In other words, you are easy to kill. Who's going to come to Mexico looking for justice, your mom in Alberta?
Your daughter's date rapes her. What do you do? You oil your gun and go to his house. Or just suck it up. It's like a cowboy movie round here
No money = no justice, no security.