Friday, July 18, 2025

Google Maps offers crime zone warnings for drivers in Puebla

Google Maps is warning drivers about danger spots in the state of Puebla on the Mexico City-Puebla highway by indicating them as zona de asaltos (robbery zones) or asaltos expréss (express robberies).

The one labeled “robbery zone (danger)” is located in Santa María Moyotzingo, San Martín Texmelucan, Puebla, notorious for its high level of criminal activity. Robberies against motorists have occurred on the highway but in addition a location near the highway has become famous for robberies, killings and assaults. The crimes committed here are often against buyers or sellers of various products contacted through social media networks and asked to meet at this point for the exchange of goods for money.

The second, bearing the designation “express robberies,” is in the municipality of San Salvador El Verde, where drivers have reported flat tires caused by traffic spikes placed by thieves to force vehicles to stop.

Google Maps has added several safety features to its platform over the years, including alerting users to natural disasters, car accidents, and even the risk of gunfire. The communities of Santa María Moyozingo have witnessed an excessive rise in violence over the past years, with local authorities seemingly unable to control it. Most of the cases have involved members of organized crime gangs.

With reports from Puebla en Línea

Have something to say? Paid Subscribers get all access to make & read comments.
A man stands by an open suitcase in an airport revision area

Foreign national caught with over a million pesos of ketamine in Cancún airport

0
Officials confiscated 2 kilograms of ketamine, a controlled substance in Mexico.
two people walkin gby a for rent sign

Can rent control stop gentrification? Mexico City officials plan to find out

9
Political leaders in the nation's capital have reached into their anti-gentrification toolkit and come up with an approach that goes straight to the heart of the problem.
cell phone with Uber

Mexican authorities slam Uber’s price hike: ‘Unilateral and irresponsible’

2
The ride-hailing app insists that the rise is necessary after recent labor reforms gave its drivers full employee rights, including IMSS membership.
BETA Version - Powered by Perplexity