First appearance on Fox: The wait for three college students in Cancun, Mexico turned into a nightmare. They ran into each other at a seaside hotel and were robbed at gunpoint.
The father of a Florida State University student, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Fox News Digital that his 20-year-old daughter’s spring break at the Ocean Dream Cancun, a Guru Hotel, turned into a nightmare.
“I looked into it before they went there,” he said. “It was a safe place. They didn’t go into the city center.”
But on the first day of the trip, his daughter and two of her friends encountered four people with rifles on the beach.
Spring break danger: 5 Americans die after vacation
Ocean Dream Cancun, Guruhotel is located on the beach in Cancun’s Zona Hotelera neighborhood. The three college students said they had a confrontation on their first night at Cancun’s Ocean Dream Hotel. One parent told Fox News Digital that the teens went to the beach after dinner. (Google Maps)
The father said two of the children were wearing camouflage uniforms and the other two were wearing Mexican police uniforms.
The four men pointed rifles at the three girls, accused them of trespassing, and offered them three options.
“You can go to the airport and leave the country before you go to get your belongings. Or you can go to jail, but that’s not comfortable,” the father said his daughter told him. “Or you could give us $300 each.”
Ocean Dream Cancun, Guruhotel is located on the beach in Cancun’s Zona Hotelera neighborhood. (Google Maps)
The girls chose the third option and sold over $900.
The armed robbers allowed one of the girls to run back to her hotel room and take the money with her.
After being released, the girls were shaken by the experience.
“They were scared. They had rifles pointed at their faces.”
“They were scared,” he said. “They had rifles pointed at his face.”
Video shows bloodied suspect in Caribbean yacht hijacking of missing American thrown into truck during arrest
After the incident, the students spoke with other spring breakers who said they had similar experiences.
“I think that happens all the time there,” the father said. “They saw American kids checking in and knew they had money.”
People enjoy a day at Playa Delfines (Dolphin Beach) in the hotel zone in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico, November 8, 2022. (Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images)
“They saw American kids checking in and knew they had money.”
Former FBI special agent and FOX News contributor Nicole Parker told FOX News Digital that this is a story that many spring breakers and families who travel to Mexico’s white sand beaches and crystal blue waters can relate to. Ta.
“I think this is a classic story: The students just wanted to have fun, and then things change,” Parker said. “And the fact that other people at the hotel had similar experiences is worth remembering.”
Couple vacationing in Florida found unconscious on beach, arrested, children missing
“Just be very careful,” she added.
Tourists take a photo in front of the Cancun sign at Playa Delfines (Dolphin Beach) in the Hotel Zone in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico, November 8, 2022. (Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images)
Former FBI special agents advised Americans traveling to Mexico to take safety precautions in advance.
“My advice is to follow the travel advisories issued by the State Department at state.gov and register with State Department agencies. Smart Traveler Registration Program “When traveling outside of the continental United States, even if there is a strong travel advisory from the State Department that does not cross the ‘do not travel’ line, travelers should heed the warning and take various precautions,” Parker said. need to be understood.” This warning includes various elements. And if a travel advisory clearly says “Do not travel” or “Consider traveling,” don’t travel. If you travel without heeding warnings, don’t expect anyone to come to your rescue and make sure you’re safe. Travel insurance including emergency medical evacuation. ”
Parker said people traveling to Mexico should research the resort or hotel they are staying at and identify the nearest U.S. consulate.
“If you are a U.S. citizen and are the victim of a crime abroad, be sure to contact your local U.S. consulate immediately. Also, report the incident to the FBI. fbi.gov Or 800-CALL-FBI. The FBI has extraterritorial units that can assist with host country investigations. Additionally, the FBI has Legats around the world who coordinate efforts with local authorities in host countries,” she said.
“When you go to these places, you are actually traveling at your own risk,” Parker said. “I always advise people to research where they’re going.”
Tourists hang out at Gaviota Azul Beach in Cancun, Mexico on March 2. (AP Photo/Israel Real, File)
In February, the U.S. embassy and consulates in Mexico issued a stern warning to spring breakers.
Click here to download the FOX News app
The warning, issued Feb. 26, noted that “violent crimes such as murder, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery are widespread and common in Mexico.”
The warning also details 10 potential threats and dangers, some of which are unrelated to violence., But drownings, immigration, and medical emergencies are things Americans may never think about.
Specific travel advisories issued by the U.S. Department of State for Mexican states and cities include: can be found here.
FOX News has reached out to the U.S. State Department, the Embassy of Mexico in the U.S., and the Ocean Dream Cancun by Guru Hotel for comment.
