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There is typically little crime in Cancun’s tourist areas, but a recent uptick has led authorities to take several actions to address the situation.
In addition to increasing Navy personnel on the beaches, Cancun has also deployed jet ski patrols to reduce crime.
This is all part of a new security plan that will help ensure the safety of tourists visiting the destination.
Jet Ski Patrols On Cancun’s Beaches
According to reports, the Navy has obtained four jet skis to patrol the waters along Cancun’s coastline, about 15 miles long.
The jet skis are military-type vehicles that will be manned by Naval personnel.
Along with the jet skis, the Navy will also operate four marina boats to patrol the sea in the Cancun Hotel Zone as well.
Why Jet Ski Patrols Are Needed
There are two main reasons why jet skis are used to patrol Cancun’s beaches.
One is that more crimes are being committed by criminals riding up to the beach on jet skis, and with the Navy having their own they’ll be more likely to catch criminals before they get to the beaches.
The other reason is that these criminals are able to escape more easily on jet skis after committing crimes, and having their own jet skis will give the Navy a better shot at catching criminals fleeing on them.
Beaches In Cancun Being Patrolled By The Navy
In addition to patrolling the waters around Cancun, the Navy also has patrols on land as well.
It was just recently announced that 600 naval sailors arrived in Cancun to be part of this larger security operation.
They will patrol not only the beaches but also other busy tourist areas.
Other Security Measures Being Implemented In Cancun
In addition to enhancing security in response to an uptick in crime, Cancun has several ongoing security operations to help protect tourists.
Hundreds of cameras were recently installed in restaurants, in tourist areas, and around town and are connected to Cancun’s main command center.
Additionally, a total of 70 surveillance points, each with four cameras, are being installed in various parts of the city as well.
Overall Security In Cancun
Cancun officials have pointed out that these last few crimes that have unfolded on the beaches of the destination are isolated incidents.
They usually involve criminals and rival gangs, and that is who crimes are directed towards.
Tourists are not typically the intended targets, but on rare occasions, they do get caught in the crossfire.
Should You Be Worried About Your Safety In Cancun?
Cancun is generally pretty safe, especially in the tourist areas, and crimes that do occur in such areas are generally few and far between.
This is why you should still feel safe in Cancun, at the very least, no less safe than you would feel in most other big tourist cities around the world.
Especially now that Cancun is enhancing security and patrols on such a large scale, criminals will find it hard to commit crimes in busy, well-patrolled tourist areas.
Safety Tips For Visiting Cancun
Regardless of how safe Cancun may be, following some general safety tips when visiting is always good.
Some of the most important are:
- Stay in designated tourist areas.
- Don’t walk around alone at night.
- Be careful interacting with strangers.
- Don’t accept drinks from people you don’t know.
- Only use legitimate transportation.
If you follow these guidelines, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll be the victim of a crime when visiting Cancun.
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