Canadians Killed in Mexico

Canadians Killed in Mexico Today Mexican police confirmed that a 67-year old from B.C. was killed in his home in Mexico, in a town popular with Canadian snowbirds. The man, Robin Wood, was shot to death when two robbers entered his home early on Tuesday morning. Sadly, robberies and murder are very common in the ex-patriot, Pacific Coast town of Melaque. Mr. Wood was a mechanic and the former owner of the Beddis Road Garage. He was killed at fellow Canadian Arvid Chalmer’s house. Chalmer, a well-known realtor, confirmed the tragic news in an email to Gulf Islands Driftwood. “We had a home invasion… by two robbers, one of whom had a pistol. Robin got involved and was shot as a result. The robbers left and I called the police, however, we did not get to Cihautlan in time.” Canadians Killed in Mexico It’s terrifying how many Canadians and other foreigners are killed in Mexico.  The statistics from 2006-2010 alone are alarming. Back in 2010, Foreign Affairs Canada estimated that 112 Canadians had died in the previous four years from accidents, murders, drowning, and suicides. Now that we’ve arrived at 2012, we know the number must be higher– most likely at around 150 deaths, considering the earlier trend. This brings the difficult-to-swallow truth into light about living or traveling abroad: it can be dangerous. Even deadly. I consider myself to be an experienced traveler and have spent a decent amount of time in third world country’s abroad. In retrospect, I don’t think that I’ve been as careful as I could have been. If you’re thinking about spending time in a third world country like Mexico, there are certain factors you need to consider. How Safe is Your Destination… Really? As I mentioned above, there have been many unnecessary Canadian deaths in Mexico. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Over 35,000 people (of all nationalities) have been murdered in Mexico since 2006.  The perpetrators are almost never caught. And yet, the country still remains a popular place for tourists and Snowbirds. If you’re thinking about spending time in a country like Mexico, it’s absolutely crucial that you do you research. If murder, violence and armed robbery is common– perhaps it’s not worth your time. How Safe Can You Be as a Foreigner? Can you go to a destination that’s heavily patrolled by police? Will there be anyone around to help you if you get into trouble? These are things you need to be aware of before you book a flight. If you’re heading to a place where rules don’t exist, be on your guard at all times. Know where your embassy is, have a backup plan and expect the worst at all times. Canadians Killed in Mexico Truth be told, a trip to certain parts of Mexico wouldn’t be particularly relaxing. If you have a choice– perhaps going to Mexico isn’t the best idea. The Department of Foreign Affairs says that Canadians should exercise a “ high degree of caution due to deteriorating security situation in many parts of the country .” It also has stated that tourists and Snowbirds should stay away from all non-essential trips to US border towns because of, “ continuously high levels of violence linked to drug trafficking… Shootouts, attacks and illegal roadblocks may occur at any time. ” Canadians Killed in Mexico

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Canadians Killed in Mexico