It could very well be a plot device, but remember that Armando is from a very small town. It is not uncommon for people from rural areas to be jumpy about cities.
Also, don’t forget that there was a period of time (early 2000s) when LOTS of people were moving from DF to other places like Cancun for two main factors: more job opportunities and safety. Granted, Cancun is now pretty dicey itself. But pretty much every person I know who moved out of the city had at least one very personal experience with crime.
It could very well be a plot device, but remember that Armando is from a very small town. It is not uncommon for people from rural areas to be jumpy about cities.
Also, don’t forget that there was a period of time (early 2000s) when LOTS of people were moving from DF to other places like Cancun for two main factors: more job opportunities and safety. Granted, Cancun is now pretty dicey itself. But pretty much every person I know who moved out of the city had at least one very personal experience with crime.