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a friend of mine who works for his fathers computer company was in bogota this last week setting up a new computer program for some  manufacturing company. anyways, he went to a bar with some friends that he met from the company and when they left the bar they were robbed buy three guys with guns while walking to their car. my friend lost his passport, a credit card and some cash, around $200. the cash and credit card was not a big deal, but he was pissed about the passport. the worst part he told me was that the crooks took one of the guys and a girl with them to pull out money from a ATM machiene, probably if he didnt do what they said, the girl would have been dead. the guy and the girl turned up the next day, little ruffed up, but alive. my friend left bogota as soon as he got his passport from the embassy. i dont think he will be going back again though. you got to be careful when you travel.

... in response to be careful in bogota!, posted by mudd on Jun 2, 2003

Are you sure they were his actual friends?  Maybe it was a set-up?  Just my criminal mind coming out!

... in response to be careful in bogota!, posted by mudd on Jun 2, 2003

Bogota is probably one of the safer places.

Pete

... in response to be careful in bogota!, posted by mudd on Jun 2, 2003

Being in an upscale neighborhood might mean less petty crime but perhaps more chance of meeting serious robbers.They will go where the money is at.They would probably try to pick a quiet time when there is less chance someone would see them grab you.The scene leaving he bar/restaurant is important.Is there protection in numbers by having people around?Better restaurants in Cali have guys out front who will get you a cab and see you get to it.

Pete

... in response to be careful in bogota!, posted by mudd on Jun 2, 2003

That is good advice just about anywhere you travel.  The idea that you "feel" safe doesn't mean much.  Let's face it, if you were a bad guy looking for some money where would you look, probably some upscale place where you have checked out the location and the people actully have some money. No point in robbing poor people.  When you walk out of these places at night you are a potential target everytime, gringos especially.

Whenever I'm in Colombia, Peru, Brazil or even Santiago I always have a radio taxi waiting before I walk outside. Always limit your exposure when you can,  In Santiago, all the taxistas have cell phones, plus I have several regular drivers that will show up just about anytime. So when they are outside, they give me a call, and there is no waiting around providing an opportunist thief the time to do his thing.

mike

... in response to Re: be careful in bogota!, posted by denvermike on Jun 3, 2003

My wife went to college and worked in Bogota. She
said that a thief will arm himself with something
as simple as a bottle with a jagged edge, or a
shard of glass. They prey on people alone at bus
stops in particular. The type of criminal that
would prey on foreigners would not be out on the
street with a piece of glass. He would work in a
team, and have a practiced routine. There were
some posts a while back about a scam around the
U.S. embassy. That would seem to me to be the
kind of crime to look out for.

... in response to be careful in bogota!, posted by mudd on Jun 2, 2003

Just curious Mudd, do you know the name of the bar and the section of town?
I was in Bogota last November. I stayed in a hostal on Calle 69 and several nights I walked to and from the Zona Rosa, a healthy walk.

... in response to Re: be careful in bogota!, posted by Wasp on Jun 2, 2003

i think it was called "gato negro" or black cat, near park 9. it was familar to me when he told me the name, and that name sticks in my head. ill ask him again, but im pretty sure that's it. i had a guy try to rip off my carry-on at the airport in bogota when i was there, but nothing like what happened to my friend.

... in response to Re: Re: be careful in bogota!, posted by mudd on Jun 2, 2003

[This message has been edited by bogota vet1]

Its called Gato Negro  black cat , an upscale restauarant, in the upscale Park93 block

Park93 is a square block of high end cafe and restaurants.

I always seemed safe, it appears he was a victim of random street crime.

... in response to Re: Re: Re: be careful in bogota!, posted by bogota vet1 on Jun 2, 2003

yep, thats the place.  i have been there a few times and felt very safe, but always aware of whats around me. i myself like bogota, but you got to be careful, walking around can be very dangerous.