Bad Ending to Otherwise Good Bonaire Trip

[stortecky]

Haha, you say that like that's an acceptable range...?! :silly:

LOL. I totally agree with that.

 

[dvrliz1]

Don,

I agree that there should be "no" acceptable range, ANYWHERE, but NOWHERE in the world is there NO crime that I am aware of. I'm not happy when we have the "waves" (for a better word), but to this day, as a woman, I feel safe walking ANYWHERE, ANYTIME on Bonaire, without fear for my life. Ok, I checked something. Your profiel says you live between Lubbock and Amarillo, as I don't have your exact town, I looked up the stats for these 2 towns. According to City-Data.com: (Latest reports are from 2007)

Lubbock, in 2007 15 Murders, 101 Rapes, 259 Robberies, 3136 Burglaries, and 7,942 Thefts. Amarillo for the same year, 19 Murders, 127 Rapes, 431 Robberies, 2,585 Burglaries and 7,554 Thefts. (I didn't include assaults and auto thefts).

NOW YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU, BUT....why do you NOT visit Bonaire???? I don't think I would want to visit Lobbock or Amarillo...(only kidding, I'd come visit you, just make sure you have guards with machine guns at my door....

 

[DandyDon]

Oh, I know that Bonaire is not known for violent crime - just burglaries and thefts. But when I go to Lubbock or Amarillo, I don't have to leave my pickup unlock to make it easier for the thieves to inspect contents without breaking windows, nor clean out everything.

Glad to see you taking positive action to prevent such at your property and to bug the local police. Set the best example...!

 

[herman]

Haha, you say that like that's an acceptable range...?! :silly:

Acceptable range, no of course not, zero would be great but considering the the fact that mad people are much more likely to post than happy it does start to put things into perspecitve. My main point is the gross over statement of the crime on Bonaire. Look at the number of people who post about the crime and have never been to the island. They post "reports" from a friend of a friend telling about the rampant crime but have no real idea of what it's like on the island. Contrast that with the thousands that go year after year with no problems.

 

[b1gcountry]

I agree with Don. 5% is still very high. To put it in perspective, if the average vacation is 1 week, that's the equivalent of getting robbed, etc every 20 weeks; a little more than twice a year. I lived in Chicago for 20 years, and was only ever robbed once.

I don't think the statistics are that high.

Tom

 

[DandyDon]

I agree with Don. 5% is still very high. To put it in perspective, if the average vacation is 1 week, that's the equivalent of getting robbed, etc every 20 weeks; a little more than twice a year. I lived in Chicago for 20 years, and was only ever robbed once.

I don't think the statistics are that high.

Tom

I think that was a speculative remark at best.

It just seems funny that locals would target tourists - the cash cow of the island; however...

So many tourists will put up with the risk, hassles, preventative actions that it doesn't hurt.

And they keep defending the scheme...?

I am temtped to go, leave many of my toys at home, not carry more than I can dive with, bury my shoes in a hiding place, etc - do without beverages while diving, do without first aid kit, do without land camera, do without - uh, nope I just typed myself out of that.

 

[herman]

Don, have you ever been to Bonaire?

 

[DandyDon]

Don, have you ever been to Bonaire?

I am temtped to go, leave many of my toys at home, not carry more than I can dive with, bury my shoes in a hiding place, etc - do without beverages while diving, do without first aid kit, do without land camera, do without - uh, nope I just typed myself out of that.

​

 

[DiveMaven]

I have to agree with Liz that I feel totally safe and comfortable on Bonaire (unlike many Caribbean locations), and will continue to return as often as possible. I did choose accommodations based on the fact that I'm guaranteed a 2nd or 3rd floor unit, but I try to do the same thing no matter where I vacation. I prefer to be able to open my windows and sliding glass door without fear of someone walking in, regardless of whether I'm on Maui, Bonaire, or somewhere in Florida.

I've been burglarized twice in two different apartments I've lived in, two different towns, and both considered very good/safe parts of town. My car has been broken into once in a mall parking lot, window shattered and change and CDs stolen. All in the United States....

Personally, I LIKE that I'm told to leave nothing in the truck with the windows down. To my way of thinking the rental car company is saving me the expense and hassle of potentially a broken window for no reason. I simply never leave anything in my rental cars no matter where I am and always believe my car will be broken into and stuff stolen, but on Bonaire feel a sense of freedom that I can simply leave the truck unlocked and windows down without worrying the truck itself will be stolen.

Don is totally free to believe what he likes about Bonaire (or anywhere else) and vote with his wallet, choosing not to go there because of his perception of the crime rate. There's no way to change his mind, and frankly I don't feel a need to. He's entitled to his opinion.

 

[rjchandler]

. The last one I remember involved a member running naked thru the parking lot to chase a guy, then sleeping in the vehicle to protect. ....

yeah , but i went back again.
and being reminded makes me miss the place.