Yes I saw that on Facebook. My partner has warned me about moto's and drive up robbings. When I am on his bike he locks all our stuff in the seat. It is not exclusive to moto's and he has told me that even more common than motos a car will pull up beside, gun pointed, forces bike to stop, guy gets robbed, someone else from the car leaves on the bike.... This happens ALOT to Dominicans and I never see it reported.
I also remember being in DR and my Dominican Partner did not want to walk to 2 blocks on the Malecon to a restaurant after dark because he was scared. He was nervous in La Vega too. I notice with him if he is outside of his areas - he tends to seem nervous. I think if it is his country, where he has lived his whole life - and he is getting nervous outside of areas where he has lived, then I have even more of a reason to be and I try to proceed accordingly.
I tell you (knock on wood) - in 14 years I have never had anything happen to me and here in terms of robbery and I think are the common themes:
1. I never live outside of the core batey and always near lots of people - after the age of 26 I stopped considering the south side of the hwy for me for a place to live (that is for me - I am not suggesting those with homes there and 10 dogs outside are safe/feel safe).
2. I never use gua gua. The public transportation I do use - I never use anyone I don't know. If I am at a bar I will call a moto concho I know and will not go with strangers, if I use a carito I reserve the whole car for 250RD and again, know the person.
3. I don't get on motos too often with a strap on purse.
4. I don't go out at night or to out of the way areas alone.
5. I avoid places like transportation hubs (bus terminals are a great example) because there are just too many people coming and going. I actually avoid places that are over crowded or where there is no one at all.
Now I am not sure how much of this could have helped the gentleman. I feel badly for him - what a terrifying experience.
Is there anything here that any of you personally do when out and about to improve your safety? I am not talking about at home security - I am talking when you are out and about or with friends and family?
Is there a way to learn from this or be safer as a result? I definitely think handing over the bag is the best 1st line of defence.
A middle age man was driving down the main road in La Mulata on his moto today in the early afternoon and was confronted by 2 men on a moto with Full Face Helmets. One had a gun and the other man had a knife. They took his backpack and the man is ok.
No there is no news link, just doing my part in warning people!
The man went to the police, not sure what happened after that.
It is always odd when I see Doms with Helmets on the NC!!
