Tijuana municipal police arrested a 39-year-old man on the morning of May 7 after he robbed a California woman at gunpoint on Vía Rápida Alamar, one of the city’s major east-west thoroughfares. The suspect used a plastic replica pistol during the crime.
The man, identified as Paúl Ramón and originally from Santa Rosalía in Baja California Sur, confronted the woman near Universidad Xochicalco in the Chapultepec Alamar neighborhood. He threatened her with what appeared to be a firearm and took 150 pesos (roughly $7.50 USD) before fleeing on foot.
Victim Flagged Down Patrol Officers Nearby
The victim, described as a California native, spotted a passing municipal patrol unit shortly after the robbery. She flagged down the officers and gave them a description of the suspect’s clothing.
Police located Paúl Ramón just meters from the scene. Officers recovered the 150 pesos and the plastic replica pistol he had used to threaten the woman. He was taken into custody and turned over to the Ministerio Público for processing.
A Busy Corridor Near a University Campus
Vía Rápida Alamar runs through eastern Tijuana and connects several residential and commercial zones. The stretch near Universidad Xochicalco sees heavy foot and vehicle traffic during morning hours. The university campus is a well-known landmark in the area, located roughly 15 minutes east of the San Ysidro border crossing by car.
The use of replica firearms in street robberies is a recurring problem in Tijuana. Mexican law treats armed robbery with a replica weapon as a serious offense, though sentencing can differ from cases involving real firearms. Suspects caught with imitation guns still face robbery charges that carry potential prison time.
Paúl Ramón’s case will be handled by state prosecutors, who will determine formal charges. The victim was not reported injured during the incident.
This story was first reported by Punto Norte on May 9.