Hi,

After what saddly happened to Katrina and Peter (sincerest condolances to their families and friends). It would be a good idea to share our stories with thieves that we encontered on the road. If it could just help one person to get out a bad situation. It would be all worth it.


When I was in Santa Cruz (Bolivia), 4 Bolivians tried to kidnapped with a car: I was walking in the city and a guy to me to ask directions to go to a plaza. I said sure. As I was helping to help him finding the place on his map, I saw that he was not reacting anymore to what I was saying and he was looking at the street. I found that strange. As I turned around to look in the same direction as him: A car had just stopped behind me. There was 3 big guys inside (200lbs like). One of them opened the door and shooted "Police and showed a police card". I was between the car and the guy outside. It didn't take long for a bell to ring in my head: Get out of here!!!. So I ran away from the car and shouted to them : Goodbye theives!!! After I was away, then all the people in the street were telling me that they were thieves (Ladrone in spanish). Why they did not yell that from the beginning?

A similar scenario happened to me before in Bogota Columbia: Someone that looks local said to me that he was searching a place in the city. Then, another one with suit and tie came to us and said he was from the police. Then he gave the directions to the first guy to look nice. After that, the supposed police ask me to give him my passport. I said no 2 times to his requests. He became really mad. To know if he was a real Police, I just started to walk away a bit fast. The guy didn't do anything. A real police would have grab me so I would not escape. So I decided to have a bit of fun and took my camera and started to run after the theive while shooting pictures... It was cool to see him hiding his face while going away.

So in short, be on your guard when someone ask you direction and another person come in as the police.


Patrick