The theft of foreigners’ passports one of the criminal incidents most affected by tourists. Robberies happen more often when they leave their backpacks in the car.
The head of Solidaridad’s National and International Affairs Directorate, Isabelle Cailloux, clarified that within the scope of her powers, her duty is to provide assistance to affected tourists by referring them to the Center for the Care and Protection of Tourists (CAPTA), so that their consulate can issue them with an emergency passport, with which they can identify themselves in the meantime.
The Solidaridad community worker reported this weekly she takes care of about ten people (two a day) who have been robbed.
“Many have their (passport) stolen, others say they can’t find it. They fly the next day or the same day and can’t find it, so they get in trouble and ask for a replacement,” she reported.
Who steals the document? Isabelle Cailloux replies: “In many cases that are reported to us, they leave their backpacks in the car, and that’s where it gets a bit complicated. The most important thing is that they can do all the paperwork in one place.”
The head of Solidaridad’s National and International Affairs Directorate added that affected tourists can also count on the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Specialized Tourism Service, in the same place, where they contact CAPTA, which is responsible for tourism, and with the Public Prosecution Service must report the loss of the document and attract the attention of the Directorate of National and International Affairs of the municipality to put them in touch with their consulate.
When asked how the crimes of theft of passports of foreign tourists are prosecuted, Isabelle Cailloux answers explained that this task is not within the purview of its administration. However, she pointed it out once the passport is reported stolen or lost, it can no longer be used, as the National and International Affairs Department staff will pass it on to the consulates so that it can be declared invalid.
On this subject, Isabelle Cailloux said she will ask the consulates if they have any information about the investigation into this crime against foreign tourists, “to collect all this circumstantial evidence and pass it on to the president so that we can see if there is any common point. ,” she said.
The official agreed that the passport is not only used to allow tourists to return to their country or travel to other destinations, but that throughout Mexico it is a document used for identification and required by various institutions.
However, there are places like Banco Santander that do not accept this document so that people can identify themselves. Here’s what happened to a citizen who claimed to be Hispanic, and after being attacked by bikers on the island of Cozumel, he lost his INE when they took his wallet.
