Mexicans rob campers in the dunes...

[Outnumbered]

Found this on another forum:
Yuma Sun's story:
Returned soldier faces new danger here
BY JEFFREY GAUTREAUX, STAFF WRITER
Mar 29, 2005
A Yuman who came back from Iraq just two weeks ago was robbed at gunpoint Sunday night in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area.
Matthew Sharrar, 21, said he had a gun pointed at his head while thieves stole his 1997 Ford Explorer, $700 in cash and his cell phone.
The thieves are believed to have entered the country illegally and then fled back to Mexico. The robbery occurred at about 8:30 p.m. PST, according to the U.S. Border Patrol.
"I wasn't too scared. It was more upsetting," Sharrar said. "To be terrorized in my own country, it's more upsetting."
Sharrar said a Lincoln Navigator pulled into a camp that was 50 yards away from the one he was in. About five people from the Navigator began to "get rough" with the campers. Sharrar said the Navigator was used to ram the trailer twice and shots were fired into it.
Those in Sharrar's camp called 911 and tried to hide. The thieves found him and cleaned out his pockets.
"They took off in my car, and then 20 minutes later the police finally showed up," Sharrar said.
Sharrar, a specialist with the California Army National Guard, was in Iraq for a year before returning March 15. He had purchased the vehicle after returning to Yuma.
El Centro sector Border Patrol spokeswoman Danielle Suarez said agents responded as soon as they received a call from California Highway Patrol.
"I can understand (him) being upset," Suarez said. "We always have agents out there. (If it took 20 minutes to respond) I can assure him there were other things going on, not necessarily more important, but they were tied up."
Matthew's father, Flash Sharrar, said Border Patrol agents were only three miles from the incident but slow to respond. Flash Sharrar said a woman at the camp was making calls to 911 as the incident was occurring, and he made calls once he was notified.
"Where were these (agents)?" Flash Sharrar said. "It could have been prevented. I know their radios are tied together."
Matthew Sharrar contends that the incident occurred in the Buttercup campground. He said he could see the freeway from where they were camped and were not close to the border.
However, Suarez said that according to Border Patrol reports, the robbery occurred southwest of Swingle's Hill, which is only a quarter of a mile from the border.
She said it would take only about 15 seconds by vehicle to get back across the border after making the robbery. And after such a traumatic incident, Suarez said time can slow down and make even a short response time "seem like forever."
Officer Joe Miller, CHP spokesman, said their office, Imperial County Sheriff's Office and Border Patrol searched the area, but it was believed that the suspects had already fled south. Miller said Mexican authorities were notified of the robbery.
The official report of the robbery was taken by ICSO, Miller said. Messages left with ICSO's Off-Highway Vehicle unit Monday were not returned.
Flash Sharrar said border security failed and that agents should have been monitoring the Navigator's entry. "I told (Matthew) he should stay in Iraq, it's safer," he said.
Suarez said with thousands of campers on the weekends, and many driving very close to the border, it is hard to know who is whom. "We have agents in that area all the time," she said. "We keep this area pretty beefed up, but on the weekends this is like a town. It would be pretty hard to see everything."
Agents could also have been tied up by medical calls, Suarez said.
All agreed that an armed robbery was out of the ordinary for that section of the dunes. Suarez said Border Patrol knows of no other recent armed robberies in the area, which is generally considered safe.
Flash Sharrar had kind words for the Yuma Police Department. He said they came to his home after the incident and kept patrol nearby overnight. He said his son stood as armed guard at the house all night.
Matthew Sharrar spent Monday buying another car, which he will have today. He said if he goes back to the dunes it will be in an area farther to the north.
Flash Sharrar, who has been closely involved with Operation Troop Comfort for those overseas, acknowledged the irony in his son going to Iraq to fight a war on terrorism only to forced to guard his own home. "(People) know how much I care for our troops," he said. "But we don't have border security. The border will be my next issue."
Jeffrey Gautreaux can be reached at
jgautreaux@yumasun.com or 539-6858.

[dc96819]

(Mexican authorities were notified of the robbery)They might be the ones that did it.Dont most off roaders carry guns.

[RitcheyRch]

This has been happening for years. I know of a few people that were robbed and everything was taken as they were driving near the Salton Sea.

[RiverN00B]

Hardcore offroaders MIGHT carry a gun... Myself and my group of friends usually have a rifle or two with us as well as a shotgun...but the last thing we wanna do is get into a gunfight.... All, in all, losses aside...its a good thing no one got hurt in his group... Ironic though...he was overseas ensuring our freedoms...only to come home to having his questioned...Evil ppl anger me..

[THOR]

(Mexican authorities were notified of the robbery)They might be the ones that did it.Dont most off roaders carry guns.
Never.

[schiada96]

get that fence up now

[burtandnancy]

Hope Lou Dobbs of CNN get ahold of this. He's been on a tirade for weeks on this subject...

[bigd1]

The AR-15 is always useful in a sutiation such as this.

[Her454]

And people think Im crazy for traveling with a gun. :( I hope they find those bastards.

[cdog]

When I travel, i'm packin. Always. It's hard to say if that would have even helped in their situation. It's sad how out goverment has let us down. They should sue the border patrol for not doing their job. Mabey this will raise more attention to this issue. I know I was just talking smack about johnny cockring, and suing peeps but this is the kind of thing people should be suing for.

[Her454]

They should sue the border patrol for not doing their job. Mabey this will raise more attention to this issue.
I lived in Yuma for 15 years and the Border Patrol is extremely understaffed. There are several miles of river &/or dunes to patrol and the fact that the dunes become increasingly popular each year only adds to the difficulty. I have several friends in the Border Patrol stationed in the El Centro Sector and also friends within the Yuma County Sheriff's Office and alot of the internal policies/operating boundaries actually inhibit their ability to perform their jobs efficiently. This is sad, but is being addressed within each agency.
Im not justifying the Border Patrol inadequacy in some cases, just trying to point out the working conditions/restrictions they face at times.
Its sad that this family had to endure that terror while trying to spend family time in a recreational setting.

[cdog]

I lived in Yuma for 15 years and the Border Patrol is extremely understaffed. There are several miles of river &/or dunes to patrol and the fact that the dunes become increasingly popular each year only adds to the difficulty. I have several friends in the Border Patrol stationed in the El Centro Sector and also friends within the Yuma County Sheriff's Office and alot of the internal policies/operating boundaries actually inhibit their ability to perform their jobs efficiently. This is sad, but is being addressed within each agency.
Im not justifying the Border Patrol inadequacy in some cases, just trying to point out the working conditions/restrictions they face at times.
Its sad that this family had to endure that terror while trying to spend family time in a recreational setting.
This is exacly why this needs more attention. I don't blame it on the agents themselfs. I know one in Tucson. They are under staffed. Their management and the big wigs are the one dropping the soap. My point is that Law enforsement always pushes the fact that" if you have a problem you can call them, their for guns for protection are unnessary". Bull shit. Where were they then.

[barbigrl]

They need to put up a huge electrical fence that zaps anyone that goes near it!! Sorry I am not one for illigal immigrants....especially from down south

[Her454]

They need to put up a huge electrical fence that zaps anyone that goes near it!! Sorry I am not one for illigal immigrants....especially from down south
I totally agree with you. However, the first time some pregnant illegal with a few children try to cross it and get fried, the sentimentalists will be all over the Government, etc to try and get it stopped. That sounds harsh but its true. The percentage of women and children crossing, or attempting to cross the borders is very high. Sadly, a high percentage of them don't make it and die in the desert already. I am all for keeping them out - I just dont see what it will take to discourage them if 130+ temps, no water, and coyotes with promises of a better life that rob and leave them to die in the desert do not already.

[mirvin]

Never.
Uh huh....... :notam: Of course not cuz that would be agin the law :cool:
mirvin :cool:

[AZmike]

That's A Shitty Story...carry A Gun And Even The Odds. The Border Patrol Agency Needs To Get There Shit Together.

[pixilatedpussy]

That totally SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :yuk:

[Racer277]

That took some kind of balls on those mexicans.
If we had seen that from a nearby camp, they would have had some problems.
Hate the thought of a gun fight in the dezert with kids around though, and the following lawsuits.
Maybe this is a good reason to camp with all of the crowds on Gecko...

[riverroyal]

i spent my childhood in glamis,buttercup,gordons well,all those places,,I remember when my dad said we werent gonna go anymore cause it wasnt the same,,,,now im older with kids,we just bought 4 ATVs last year and a trailer,mainly for my 2 boys,its fun for them,I went to Glamis one time this season,ocotillo wells 4 times,,,,I gotta say it does kinda suck,this kinda crap happens,plus EVERYONE is drunk,there are punks in shit pre-runner trucks driving like idiots,I will keep goin,but maybe with a gun,I dont have one and dont want one,but i gotta do what i gotta do,,,its bad enough Im in constuction and no one speaks english anymore,i dont wanna deal with that on my weekends.......Id sell all the desert toys to keep my boat and summer fun,,,,,there easily could have been a bullet im someones head with help 20 minutes away,the mexicans could have been home by then,richer and not a care of what they did,,,,,,,,,,,my .02$

[Boat Loan Guy]

Can someone clarify were this happen. Is buttercup in Glamis?

[Her454]

Can someone clarify were this happen. Is buttercup in Glamis?
Buttercup is near Glamis, closer to Yuma - right off the rest stop area.

[barbigrl]

I totally agree with you. However, the first time some pregnant illegal with a few children try to cross it and get fried, the sentimentalists will be all over the Government, etc to try and get it stopped. That sounds harsh but its true. The percentage of women and children crossing, or attempting to cross the borders is very high. Sadly, a high percentage of them don't make it and die in the desert already. I am all for keeping them out - I just dont see what it will take to discourage them if 130+ temps, no water, and coyotes with promises of a better life that rob and leave them to die in the desert do not already.
If we dont do something California is going to turn into Mexifornia!! Half of everything is already in Spanish!! I have zero sympathy for them....The pregnant moms want to come over here because if they have their kids here they become American citizens.... I think we should set up a big wall with snipers on it.....yeah I know I sound horrible but I am tired of it. I am half spanish I have relitives in Mexico City...so I am not racist. Just tired of us having to take care of Mexico's problems. :boxingguy

[Her454]

If we dont do something California is going to turn into Mexifornia!! Half of everything is already in Spanish!! I have zero sympathy for them....The pregnant moms want to come over here because if they have their kids here they become American citizens.... I think we should set up a big wall with snipers on it.....yeah I know I sound horrible but I am tired of it. I am half spanish I have relitives in Mexico City...so I am not racist. Just tired of us having to take care of Mexico's problems. :boxingguy
Its already Mexifornia. I went to purchase a camera in Yuma and couldn't get ANYONE that spoke English to help me, AND the only literature they had on the counter was in Spanish. I was infuriated! Needless to say, they didnt get my business.
I've been through the "sniper" thing with Forkin Crazy in another thread so I wont be redundant but I just dont see that as humane or ever happening in the US. I dont know the right answer either but I do agree Im tired of the US taking care of illegals at our expense.

[barbigrl]

Its already Mexifornia. I went to purchase a camera in Yuma and couldn't get ANYONE that spoke English to help me, AND the only literature they had on the counter was in Spanish. I was infuriated! Needless to say, they didnt get my business.
I've been through the "sniper" thing with Forkin Crazy in another thread so I wont be redundant but I just dont see that as humane or ever happening in the US. I dont know the right answer either but I do agree Im tired of the US taking care of illegals at our expense.
I know that the sniper thing is inhumane....and WOULD NEVER happen...but just think after a couple....I bet they would not attempt to come here.
Also us CATERING to them is not going to help anything.........Mexico should foot the bill on their educatin and medical here....such BS!!! They dont pay taxes either.....

[Her454]

...but just think after a couple....I bet they would not attempt to come here.
LOL, Im sure your right, or they'd start shooting back.
BTW, nor do they pay for school books that US students must purchase on their own either.

[WYRD]

Its already Mexifornia. I went to purchase a camera in Yuma and couldn't get ANYONE that spoke English to help me, AND the only literature they had on the counter was in Spanish. I was infuriated! Needless to say, they didnt get my business.
I've been through the "sniper" thing with Forkin Crazy in another thread so I wont be redundant but I just dont see that as humane or ever happening in the US. I dont know the right answer either but I do agree Im tired of the US taking care of illegals at our expense.
All I know is that you would never see our gangs going over to Mexico and pulling this sheit cause their police are armed with automatic assult rifles and don't get sued like our cops here in the US. The Mexicans are starting to pull crap like this cause they know we will do nothing about it! We need to draw a line (preferably on the Mexican border) and say if you cross it you loose NO EXCEPTIONS! just my input :idea:

[barbigrl]

BTW, nor do they pay for school books that US students must purchase on their own either.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? OMG....They are making kids buy there own books now?? WTF??? I never had too...this topic just infuriates me to no END!! :mad:
WYRD...I agree with ya too

[Her454]

All I know is that you would never see our gangs going over to Mexico and pulling this sheit cause their police are armed with automatic assult rifles and don't get sued like our cops here in the US. The Mexicans are starting to pull crap like this cause they know we will do nothing about it! We need to draw a line (preferably on the Mexican border) and say if you cross it you loose NO EXCEPTIONS! just my input :idea:
I am not arguing this point, I think you are 100% correct. Sometimes the very strength & morality the US stands for can be its own weakness.

[Her454]

ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? OMG....They are making kids buy there own books now?? WTF??? I never had too...this topic just infuriates me to no END!! :mad:
WYRD...I agree with ya too
I went to Kofa High School from 77-80 in Yuma and my parents had to purchase our books BACK THEN...... however, some of the illegals books were purchased on some type of grant from the county to enable them to "learn" English.
My mom flipped out over this and took it to the school board, it was a huge issue.

[Seadog]

I have to agree with those who do not want a fence.......It should be a ditch, 1/4 mile across and 100 ft deep with concrete walls that slope in to the water. Sharks or barracuda wouldn't hurt either.

[dc96819]

camp pendleton should be moved to the boarder :D

[spectras only]

Sharks or barracuda wouldn't hurt either.[/QUOTE]
I think piranhas would be happy campers in those ditches :wink:

[USMC1812]

Great idea dc96819!

[Sleek-Jet]

camp pendleton should be moved to the boarder :D
We were talking about that the other day and I mentioned that half the Marines in the US are in Pendleton, why not have the patrol the border??
As far as the immigration goes, there has been a shift. No longer are these people wanting to become "Americans", they want to stay "Mexican" and live here. Spanish signs and placards are everywhere in the Southwest now. I-19 from Tucson south is delliniated in Kilometers instead of miles. I have people call me all the time on the phone and ask, before I can even get my name out, "Speaka spanish??"... those are the considerate ones. The others just start yammering on... Even the goddamn Kirby salesman won't talk to you now if you can't speak spanish (now there is a catch 22).
I've grown up around people of spanish decent (ohhh... that was PC), and most if not all dislike the illegels as much as the rest of us.

[Seadog]

The military does not scare these people. Fort Huachuca is on the border next to the area that 51% of the illegals use to get in. I have pulled guard on the main roads on the border there and it is a farce. There is no effective way to cover that area with the few people available. There are ways in and out which a person could pass within yards of an alert guard and not be seen. And I suspect that some of the caves that I used to explore could also provide a route.

[Ziggy]

They need to put up a huge electrical fence that zaps anyone that goes near it!! Sorry I am not one for illigal immigrants....especially from down south
Should have transplanted the Berlin Wall, inclusive of the well armed gaurd towers... :burningm: