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68 year old, Marianne Clift from Ontario, Canada has been the victim of a vicious assault and robbery at a rental house in Bucerias, Mexico. On February 18th, Clift was alone in a rental house overnight as her husband returned to Canada for an urgent work issue. After she went to sleep for the night, a man and woman scaled the 3 meter security fence and entered the property.
Canadian Senior Beaten and Robbed Near Puerto Vallarta
“I thought I was in a nightmare, but there was a man choking me and I just could not scream”
-Marianne Clift
Clift was awoken to a man was choking her. “I thought I was in a nightmare, but there was a man choking me and I just could not scream,” she told the Vallarta Daily News.
At some point the man had removed his hand from her neck giving Clift a chance to scream for help. At this point she was hit so hard that the assailant knocked her unconscious. Clift suffered severe bruising and bleeding around the cheeks, eyes and neck.
When Clift awoke the assailants had already fled the property. They stole her passport, money, cell phone, house keys, credit cards and other valuables. Clift then went out on to the street to ask a neighbor for help. Emergency services arrived and treated her injuries which included 12 stitches to repair a knife slash to her face. Clift has since returned to Sarnia, Canada with the help of the Canadian consulate and has been reunited with her family.
Puerto Vallarta is a Popular Travel Destination for Canadians
Every winter Canadians flock to the Puerto Vallarta area. It's gorgeous beaches, beautiful climate and traditional culture make it one of the most visited cities in Mexico. The government of Canada has not updated its travel advisory for Mexico which currently stands at “Exercise a high degree of caution” There is a warning in place for Nayarit (the province where the attack took place) which states “criminal activity is high”. The warning also goes onto to state “Foreigners have been targets of robberies that sometimes involve assault”
How to Protect Yourself and Reduce Risk of Traveling in Mexico
- Do not attract attention by carrying high end goods such as designer purses, jewellery and electronics. Keep all cash and credit cards discreet
- Stay within tourist areas
- Avoid intoxication
- Do not travel at night
- Avoid rural and secondary roads
- Only take registered taxis
- Avoid traveling alone if possible
- Stay within resorts and hotels
- Avoid beaches at night
- Don't travel alone
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Michelle
Monday 17th of June 2019
Where was this home located in Bucerias? Very sad! Been going to Bucerias for many years... crime such as this will hurt travel there in a hurry.
Jay wilson
Sunday 10th of March 2019
Been here 14 years...never a problem...had my home broken into at home while i was in Mexico...don’t fear monger about Mexico...its as safe...if not safer than any city.
Darrel Chornopyski
Friday 8th of March 2019
My comment would be,"STAY"home. You pay good monry for what. So much having a relaxed vacation.
Rocco Salvatori
Friday 8th of March 2019
Moral of the story: always be prepared to play baseball and have your bat handy and try to hit that penyata.
Steve Lane
Thursday 7th of March 2019
Yes some friends of mine got pulled over after a slow moving truck waved them on Yes it was a double solid line ( truck was going less than 5 MPH ) The Cops said you need to pay $100. US CASH or go to town to see Judge My friends said let’s go see the Judge then He ended up only paying $25 US CASH They had heard about this SCAM As they drove away they seen the Cops handing the truck driver his share of the SCAM So be Prepared Folks