I believe I was targeted for a very specific method of car jacking in Mexico.
Last night I was called in to work swing shift since 2 of my coworkers called out and on my way to cross from Mexico to United States I was sitting in traffic when a car drove next to me and shattered my window on the passenger side with some unknown object. This is a style of car jacking known as “monta choques” it’s more common in central Mexico but lately has been seen in border towns. How it works is that they either go in groups and purposely crash/cause damage onto cars to get the driver to leave the line and follow them and as they’re assessing the damage the friends of the criminal roll up behind you and rob you of your car and your belongings. Sometimes or most times the police are also involved in this method, I believe I was targeted cause they smashed only my window and by sheer coincidence a “guardia nacional” national guard was behind the car and flashed his lights at the guy who smashed my window. I saw them roll into a very dark and secluded area and every instinct in me told me not to go, the stories of this happening have been recently on the news and social media. Also the way the “national guard” and the grey car where talking seemed less good guy catching bad guy and more friendly. They where both motioning me over and every instinct told me to stay away, there’s a moment when you realize you’re the target…you’re prey. It’s a very vulnerable and unsettling feeling. I motioned over another police officer and he just ignored me as he looked over to the national guard and grey car. That’s when I knew, they want to get me. I just stayed in line despite them waving me over and calling me over and refusing to come towards me. They wanted/needed me to go into that dark section that’s between two huge buildings, once I got to the side of the border where there’s a bridge and it’s known as the point of no return cause you can’t U turn off the bridge, I noticed on my rear view that the national guard and grey car where talking and just go into their cars and left. Further convincing me that I was a target, I’m left without a passenger side window on one of the rainiest days in Southern California, i recently replaced the radiator, hoses and thermostat plus I bought my monthly subscriptions of medications for my conditions so I’m strapped hard. But I won’t let this get in the way of me loving the car, it’s been therapeutic for me and a great bonding experience for me and my son building the car and getting parts and installing them together. I won’t trade that for anything, my son knows this car is his so he’s heartbroken just as me cause of this. But I’ve survived and fought through worse these past 2 years and this is just another hurdle. I’ll be back on me feet and soon me and my son would be back on the road enjoying our road trips. I appreciate you for reading this far and it’s been super fun being apart of this community, my only advice after all this is if it feels wrong it is wrong, trust your gut, stay vigilant and please stay safe out there.