I have been living in Quito now for about 5 months but have been preoccupied with my new job and learning my way around the city. Last weekend I decided to go out for the first time and try to meet some people at a popular gay bar here. (Tercer Mileneo).
I was approached by a very friendly, well-dressed, seemingly educated young man who was very sociable, attentive, polite, asked me to dance, etc. Toward the end of the evening he began sharing his drink with me (vodka and OJ). He asked if we should continue our conversation back at my place. I consented. After about 30 minutes of conversation there the next thing I realize is that it is about TEN HOURS LATER, I am waking up disoriented, the guy is gone and so is my laptop, ipod, camera, watch, alarm clock, etc. Obviously the drink he had so generously shared had been spiked with a knock-out drug.
OK, there are many lessons to be learned here : don´t accept drinks from strangers in a bar, don´t invite someone back to your place until you really get to know them. I don´t know how widespread this phenomenon is, but people should be aware that gringos can and are targeted in this country by thieves. I am living proof of this: the FIRST TIME I went out, this happened to me. Will it happen again? Who can I trust? It has not fostered good feelings between myself and Ecuadorians. I hope this will change in time.
If anyone out there knows more about this, please let me know. How widespread is this? Any further tips on avoiding becoming a victim? What kind of drugs are used and are they potentially dangerous?
Have fun out there but be careful! Don´t become paranoid but be aware that you very likely are being watched---and not in the way you would like. Don´t become another statistic!
I was approached by a very friendly, well-dressed, seemingly educated young man who was very sociable, attentive, polite, asked me to dance, etc. Toward the end of the evening he began sharing his drink with me (vodka and OJ). He asked if we should continue our conversation back at my place. I consented. After about 30 minutes of conversation there the next thing I realize is that it is about TEN HOURS LATER, I am waking up disoriented, the guy is gone and so is my laptop, ipod, camera, watch, alarm clock, etc. Obviously the drink he had so generously shared had been spiked with a knock-out drug.
OK, there are many lessons to be learned here : don´t accept drinks from strangers in a bar, don´t invite someone back to your place until you really get to know them. I don´t know how widespread this phenomenon is, but people should be aware that gringos can and are targeted in this country by thieves. I am living proof of this: the FIRST TIME I went out, this happened to me. Will it happen again? Who can I trust? It has not fostered good feelings between myself and Ecuadorians. I hope this will change in time.
If anyone out there knows more about this, please let me know. How widespread is this? Any further tips on avoiding becoming a victim? What kind of drugs are used and are they potentially dangerous?
Have fun out there but be careful! Don´t become paranoid but be aware that you very likely are being watched---and not in the way you would like. Don´t become another statistic!
