Be careful in Bonaire (Burglaries)

[pilot fish]

Oh, all that was their fault? :shocked2:You blame them for not using an ounce of prevention? You do know the guy was a police Captian, right?

Man a simple door alarm for 12.95 would have saved so much! Too bad people don't learn to protect themselves! An once of protection is worth a pound of cure! Had a friend that almost the same thing happened to him in PR! It is the old Carib Boss Voodoo Hoodoo and all kind of wired ****! If it is going to happen it will happen out there! Hey PR might be our 51st state and that can happen in the US?????

 

[Papa_Bear]

Who forgot everything he learned! Didn't have his gun and left his brain at home, because his badge meant nothing in a foreign land! And yes I take full responsibility for my safety and refuse to be a victim!

 

[DandyDon]

... Steve, are you saying it is a rumor? A story not to be believed until it can be proved? Where have I heard that line of thought?

For whatever it might be worth, it seems to have come from a forum known to not allow such without substantial documentation: Bonaire Talk: Burglarized and Robbed, Vehicle Stolen and Aftermath

That discussion went on somewhat like many here, with a few references to the employee claiming "that it was believed the burglars, when entering rooms where people were sleeping, were using some kind of spray that would put them into a sedated state and actually keep them from waking up," which I personally doubt and am kind of surprised the Captain repeated. It could be true tho? There was one first-hand report of a lady subdued here on SB once, one who said she still goes back to the island. I have used spray can ether on motors but have no experience in using it to assault anyone so don't know how well it might work.

 

[gypsyjim]

Sorry but how do you know that that was an actual event? The same way you know the culprits from the latest thefts are in fact not in police custody?

I at least was able to confirm that the fellow named in the story did exist and was a Captain in that GA county sheriff's dept before his retirement on '05. No source for the story was listed, so I can confirm nothing else, but nothing in the story is so unbelievable that it should be dismissed out of hand.
It took this poster a few years to track down a real crime example to post, and then still only second or third hand, 6 years old, be seemingly credible story with no source listed. If sources were posted then the credibility would have been higher, but I see no reason to believe that this was a fabricated story, and such an incident probably did happen.

As with the recent rash of burglaries, this seems to have been a stand alone rental unit, and not on one of the more controlled access resorts. This is exactly the sort of place I usually stay at, although a bit above of my pay grade. While this new series of burglaries is being sorted out I intend to use resort facilities for a while, but other than that I have always followed the simple shore diving precautions particular to this island and see no reason to change.

It is also not such a different crime story than has happened elsewhere, right up to the corporate greed of the rental agency, and indifference of some 3rd world authorities, to the plight of foreign Yankees (or maybe in this case Rebs?). hate to hear such @#%&* happening to anyone or any where!

Only 135 days plus a few hours, till I get back on Bonaire!

 

[gypsyjim]

For whatever it might be worth, it seems to have come from a forum known to not allow such without substantial documentation: Bonaire Talk: Burglarized and Robbed, Vehicle Stolen and Aftermath

That discussion went on somewhat like many here, with a few references to the employee claiming "that it was believed the burglars, when entering rooms where people were sleeping, were using some kind of spray that would put them into a sedated state and actually keep them from waking up," which I personally doubt and am kind of surprised the Captain repeated. It could be true tho? There was one first-hand report of a lady subdued here on SB once, one who said she still goes back to the island. I have used spray can ether on motors but have no experience in using it to assault anyone so don't know how well it might work.

Ether, I believe wouldn't be terribly effective, sprayed into a room. Placing a rag soaked in ether over a person's mouth and nose will quickly drop them, but leaves most people very sick for quite a while afterwards, which is partially why it is seldom used these days. Not a likely agent for this crime. Probably after days of diving everyone just tends to sleep quite a bit more deeply than normally?

 

[gypsyjim]

Thanks Don, for supplying the source. I failed to locate that.

Because of their TOS, such a posting on Bonaire Talk does have credibility that many other postings lack.

 

[BHB ScubaTroll]

I at least was able to confirm that the fellow named in the story did exist and was a Captain in that GA county sheriff's dept before his retirement on '05. No source for the story was listed, so I can confirm nothing else, but nothing in the story is so unbelievable that it should be dismissed out of hand.
It took this poster a few years to track down a real crime example to post, and then still only second or third hand, 6 years old, be seemingly credible story with no source listed. If sources were posted then the credibility would have been higher, but I see no reason to believe that this was a fabricated story, and such an incident probably did happen.

As with the recent rash of burglaries, this seems to have been a stand alone rental unit, and not on one of the more controlled access resorts. This is exactly the sort of place I usually stay at, although a bit above of my pay grade. While this new series of burglaries is being sorted out I intend to use resort facilities for a while, but other than that I have always followed the simple shore diving precautions particular to this island and see no reason to change.

It is also not such a different crime story than has happened elsewhere, right up to the corporate greed of the rental agency, and indifference of some 3rd world authorities, to the plight of foreign Yankees (or maybe in this case Rebs?). hate to hear such @#%&* happening to anyone or any where!

Only 135 days plus a few hours, till I get back on Bonaire!

If you look back it is the same line used by another who believes that the statement made about the criminals being in custody and awaiting trial is a rumor. That person continues to state that the criminals being in custody and awaiting trial is a rumor and should not be believed until it is proved.

Steve is simply using that person's own logic and is asking for proof that this incident happened. So far, that proof has been the same type of proof that person refuses to believe when someone else makes a statement, but we are all expected to believe every word when that person makes a statement

 

[Papa_Bear]

If I chose not to be a victim it has very little to do with luck! Victims chose themselves in 95% of the cases! Stay aware of your surroundings, don't act like a "Rich Tourist" showing off your Camera and Bling. Take standard precautions in your room! Stay in groups with numbers, if given a choice don't take the far off unit (Without more precautions) stick with the close to the others! It is like schooling fish and how they find protection in numbers! Don't get drunk out in public and bring trouble home! Why do we think we can go anywhere in the world and expect Beverly Hills type policing and the world to be at our standards? Well it is not and you have to be responsible for yourself to ensure your reasonable safety!

 

[Mike]

Man a simple door alarm for 12.95 would have saved so much! Too bad people don't learn to protect themselves! An once of protection is worth a pound of cure!

I am guessing you are referring to a door wedge type?

How do you use that when you leave your room for the day?

And I find that rather humorous myself . Glad you took the time to share such valuable information .

Bonaire is not for everyone. Feel free to extricate yourself from this conversation that so obviously upsets you. Nobody needs that hassel. In fact, for health reasons, why not stay out of this forum altogether. I am just thinking of your health. The rest of us who are capable of carrying on a reasonably civil conversation (plus a couple of additional people that are only interested in spreading the same BS post in and post out) will stay and discuss an island that has a lot of discuss.

Thanks for the advice. I'd tell you ditto, since out of 15,000 posts it appears the last 300 are in direct response to one other poster on here in a month long tit for tat online internet beer muscle flexing contest.

Since I have already booked 2 rooms and bought 4 airline tickets I think I'm vested without an extrication. But thanks for your concern. I will be following along with all ears to see you set the continued example of "civil conversation" as you continue with your internet sissy slap fight.

What I will say is that this thread has been posted and the follow-up information indicates that a ring of burglars is awaiting trial for this crime and others on Bonaire. That is not complacency that is action

You are correct. I truly hope this becomes the end of it. I hope the convictions stick and this gang disappears for good.

It's one thing to not take any valuables with you shore diving.

It's another to have to deal with somebody breaking into your room while you are gone for the day and prying your safe open.

It's another to have to deal with somebody breaking into your room while you and your kids are sleeping in it.

I hope this is a turning point for the island and it becomes safer for everyone.

 

[Mossman]

If I chose not to be a victim it has very little to do with luck! Victims chose themselves in 95% of the cases! Stay aware of your surroundings, don't act like a "Rich Tourist" showing off your Camera and Bling. Take standard precautions in your room! Stay in groups with numbers, if given a choice don't take the far off unit (Without more precautions) stick with the close to the others! It is like schooling fish and how they find protection in numbers! Don't get drunk out in public and bring trouble home! Why do we think we can go anywhere in the world and expect Beverly Hills type policing and the world to be at our standards? Well it is not and you have to be responsible for yourself to ensure your reasonable safety!

Sorry, but I can't see anything in your "warning" that applies to Bonaire. Maybe you meant to post this in another group?