Retirement Communities Blog

NationMaster’s Crime per Captia reports Mexico (rank #39) as having a very low crime rate compared to countries like the United States (rank #8). This is the primary reason my husband and I chose to move to Mexico and raise our three young children.

Let’s put this in perspective. For example: Miami is the winner of the most violent crime rate in the States, but does this deter you and your family from visiting Disney World?

Here is another fact. As reported by RE/MAX Investment… tourist hot spots in Mexico are twenty six times safer than some zones in the U.S.

RE/MAX’s report compares specific regions… E.G. Los Cabos, La Paz and Lorerto, all cities in the sate of Baja California Sur, have a murder rate twenty six times less than Orlando, eighteen time less than Miami, seventeen time less than West Pal Beach, twelve time lower then Tampa and six times less than Honolulu.

In addition, the study points out that Mexican tourist zones are even safer when the homicide rates are compared with major cities in the United States and Canada. For example, Baja California Sur has a homicide rate 39 times lower than Washington D.C., 19 times lower than Houston, 17 times lower than Dallas, 7 times lower than the city of New York and 3 times lower than Vancouver.

The bottom line is Lake Chapala Mexico is one of the most secure and safe places I have had the pleasure called home. What makes that comment more interesting is that when I lived to the North I wasn’t in any major cities, yet I still feel safer here. I’m from Greely, Colorado, which doesn’t hit the crime rate lists, but acts like murder, rape and armed robberies do occur. We simply don’t see that here in the Lake Chapala Ajijic part of Mexico

Focus on Mexico recently sent out a survey to find out what other residents had to say about crime and safety in the Lake Chapala Ajijic area, and these are a few comments that seem to embody the general sentiments of the people who responded:

* Clay McAdam: I would like to share my impressions and feelings from the perspective of a retired Edmonton police officer who has chosen to live permanently in Mexico. We feel perfectly safe walking in the streets of Ajijic at any time of day or night. It never ceases to amaze me when walking down the street and being greeted with an hola or buenos dias, by people whom we do not know. Not since I was child in a small town in southwestern Saskatchewan have I been greeted in this manner. The North American news media has taken a situation that is occurring in the border areas and is blowing it totally out of proportion as far as I am concerned. My advice is to come to Lake Chapala and see what it is like to live in a happy and enjoyable environment.

* Jerry Pounds: My personal feeling is that Lake Chapala Mexico is as safe a place as one will find anywhere. I decided the second day that I was in Mexico (with you wonderful folks at FOCUS on MEXICO) that I would spend as much of the rest of my life in the Lake Chapala area as possible. Two years later I think of myself as Mexican/American and am very happy with my decision. As soon as I can finish business obligations in the states, I will live full time in Ajijic and have absolutely no fear of violence in Mexico. In summary, Lake Chapala is much closer to Andy Griffith’s Mayberry, as far as safety goes, than any place I have been in the states, in Europe and the rest of Mexico.

* Lori Truly: I would be happy to comment on the “crime” (or lack there of) in the Lake Chapala area. First of all when my husband and I lived here in 1997, we had no children and I asked my husband if we ever have children, can we raise them here?” He said sure and chuckled, because we never thought the dream would come true. Well, it has, and the children love it! Why did we want to raise our children here? The safety. Is there petty theft? Sure, like anywhere, lock your doors when you leave the house, and don’t be careless with your belongings, and you’ll be O.K. just like any “nice” neighborhood in the states. I feel so much more secure her, than I do in the States now. When I visit there I am nearly uncomfortable. Always looking over my shoulder, making sure my children are safe, and always holding on to my pocket book. Not here!!!! I just love it here, and have NO desire to go back north at all.

* Sheila Turner: I have always lived in large cities in the U.S., and I am no stranger to crime. Here, I live alone and there has been no time that I have felt insecure or fearful. All I can say is “It’s a great life.” In summary, I have no idea if the American media is just lazy or if they have an agenda, but I cannot sit idly by and allow all of Mexico to be painted with such a broad brush. Lake Chapala Mexico is, indeed, safe. If you want to learn more about common myths and misconceptions surrounding Mexico, watch my Mexico Mythbusters video.

To be blunt… the media in the States and Canada is either lazy or they have ulterior motives. I will not sit around while the media paints such a horrible portrait of a country I love and live in. Lake Chapala Mexico is safe!

All misconceptions and myths about safety in Mexico are address in my Mexico Mythbusters video at www.focusonmexico.com.