robbed at costalunga

Posted By: gradgrind <gradgrind32@hotmail.com>
Date: 11/29/2001

Here's my entry for scariest TSM experience. Last Sunday I was robbed at gunpoint in my room at the Costalunga Hotel in Boca Chica. I was in my second story room (pool side) with my girl around 11:40PM, when a guy with a pistol (turned out to be a Glock with hollow point bullets) came in through the balcony door. He shot once into the ceiling to frighten us, and demanded money. I gave up my money, and he then started to rip the jewlery off my girl. She became very agitated, and he slapped her and put the gun to her head. She gave up some of her jewelry, and he then told me to lay down "boca abajo," meaning face down. I did not comply, and pretended not to understand what he meant. I sensed that he intended to kill me. My girl continued yelling at him, and, seeing that he was distracted by her, I grabbed him. I got my hands around his gun hand, and we struggled for the gun. He got off two more shots during the struggle, but they went harmlessly into the wall. He was able to briefly free his gun hand from my grip, and he hit me several times in the head with gun (I now have 15 stitches in my head). Finally I got the gun away from him, and he ran out the balcony door and jumped off the balcony. Unfortunately I was not able to get off a shot.

The thief is a young black guy, a bit darker than the average Dominican, about 22 years old, roughly 5 foot 8, medium build and in good shape. His most distinguishing feature is a tatoo on the inside of his left arm. It's some kind of red design -- possibly a heart -- with a green border. The location of the tatoo -- the inside part of the arm rather than the outside -- is also unusual. One witness said he landed on his side when he jumped off the balcony, so he may have a broken arm.

One of the most disappointing aspects of this incident was the conduct of the police, particularly their failure to take fingerprints. After the thief got away the first officer in the room picked up the gun with his bare hands, and several other officers handled it that night. The local captain was confident that they would find the guy, but I am skeptical. For those of you who have not been in the BC destacamento de policia, there is one phone, one old typewriter, no computer, and no files or books of mug shots. While I was in there they brought in the local deaf mute kid that you BC regulars probably all know. They found him with some kind of drugs, and slapped him around a bit in the room next to the one where I was giving my statement. Nothing serious, but still quite unnerving.

Mario and his wife were great. They did not charge me for my room, and paid for my medical expenses.

Moral of the story? Things happen everywhere! I will be back in BC sooner or later (probably later).

On a lighter note, I actually had a good time, apart from the attack. I was back in the sack about 15 hours after the incident occurred. Obviously BC is not Rio, but I did find some gems. I recommend passing by the Playa Vista bar on the beach -- you might get lucky.

I don't mind answering questions about the incident, if anybody wants more information.