Car dealer and wife actually held up and robbed in Mexico

ian whitaker

But while the story ends well for the Mariano’s, Martin Rodriguez, and friends, two weeks ago it was a scary situation for one car dealer and his wife who were actually held up and robbed at gunpoint on a Mexican expressway.  Ian Whitaker recounted his horrifying experience to News Five.

Ian Whitaker, Robbed and Assaulted on Mexican Expressway

“I crossed border late the night and I decided that I mi want goh to wah certain point eena Mexico fi sleep but after like a hundred and twenty-five to a hundred and fifty miles I get tired so I decided that I wah stop dah wah hotel and sleep.  This is like fifty miles from Soto de la Marina and when I got there the hotel was full so I went back to where there were like four or five Salvadorans at the gas station sleeping in their vehicle.  I decided to get an hour or two rest and then go over to Soto de la Marina to get a good night’s sleep in a hotel.  After about an hour and a half sleep I was awoken by four guys with guns.  They took me out the vehicle, asked me for my money, when I gave them some they asked me for all of my money.  So when I went back into my pocket to give them the rest of money one of the guys hit me with the gun across my face saying they want all of my money.  After that I see that it was very serious so I gave them all of my money.  The Salvadorans that were there with me, there were four of them and robbed them also and after that they just spread off into the bushes.  It’s like fifty miles from one point before you get to a town where you could have somewhere to sleep so there’s not police patrols or anything like that on that piece of the road.  So it’s kinda easy for bandits or anybody to decide if they want to do a road block or anything before you could get to a major town so you could make a report on the incident.  So people need to be careful.  There’s a way around that but it’s much longer.  That’s why we tend to use that piece of the expressway.”

Marion Ali

“And these attacks usually happen during the night?”

Ian Whitaker

“I’ve heard about it happening during the day but mine was in the night.”

Marion Ali

“In terms of what you do, you’re a car dealer.  Does that in any way discourage you from carrying on with your work?”

Ian Whitaker

“Honestly, a little but this is how I put food on the table so I’ll go ahead and do it.”

Marion Ali

“Was anybody with you and were they assaulted as well?”

Ian Whitaker

“Yes, my wife was with me.  She wasn’t really assaulted but they point the gun at her and I decided it doesn’t make sense so I gave them all my money.  I had to call on one of my friends in Houston for him to Western Union money to me in order for me to continue travel, cause they literally took all of my money.”