Be careful in Bonaire (Burglaries)

[pilot fish]

True, but you are forgetting one thing, you don't get to chose. If they want you, and they need your stuff, they will get you. You can't be in four places at once, so they have more options than you, especially if you're off for a day of diving under the water. When they know you dive, you are broadcasting you will not be in your unit for long periods of time while you are off diving. good luck

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!

 

[ScubaSteve]

.....you should not go out of your way to flirt with danger and put yourself and family in harms way......

I expect you have the satistics to support your claim that when travelling to Bonaire you are in physical danger ("in harms way")? Exactly how many people have been physically hurt during any kind of crime involving a local?

 

[Mike]

I take it since it wasn't answered, that resorts on Bonaire do not have armed security on the grounds 24 hrs? Nothing at Buddy Dive or the Plaza?

 

[mike_s]

I take it since it wasn't answered, that resorts on Bonaire do not have armed security on the grounds 24 hrs? Nothing at Buddy Dive or the Plaza?

I think that all depends on the resort.

they all set their own policy (budget) for how much security they have.


and just because there is security there, doesn't mean that they are "armed" and going to do something about it. I mean for example, what can a "Mall Security guard" really do to you at the mall? (they are just a deterent and an reduction of insurance liability).

 

[ScubaSteve]

I take it since it wasn't answered, that resorts on Bonaire do not have armed security on the grounds 24 hrs? Nothing at Buddy Dive or the Plaza?

I do not know if they are armed (and this is an attempt at recalling accounts from 2 years ago or so) but as I recall there were building security guards that either saw something or were involved (again I am trying to recall) when the dutch girl was murdered there 2 years ago. I cannot say if the guards were resort guards or not. Maybe someone can step in that recalls this better than I.

IIRC there is a resort which is one the way to the salt pier (after the airport) that has guards on site. I have never satyed there but do recall seeing them standing by the road at the driveway.

Neither of these notes is meant to imply that said guards walk the perimeter or anything like that to stop break ins (even though they may very welkl do that.....I simply do not know)

 

[diversteve]

I take it since it wasn't answered, that resorts on Bonaire do not have armed security on the grounds 24 hrs? Nothing at Buddy Dive or the Plaza?

I've read somewhere that Buddy's has guards at night. And BelMar has Butchie - or at least used to. He watches cars, gear lockers, patrols and helps people park at night. It's a really compressed property in a quiet area so probably all that's needed. He carries a knife, we used it to cut oranges open one night...

Or maybe it was limes...I could've been drinking that night.

 

[ScubaSteve]

I do know for fact that the last two times I have stayed at Den Laman they had a guard at night. I do not feel they would be overly effective if someone wanted to break into somethinghowever and they were definitely not armed......I believe there were there to protect the BD&A equipment more than the guests.

 

[DandyDon]

I expect you have the satistics to support your claim that when travelling to Bonaire you are in physical danger ("in harms way")? Exactly how many people have been physically hurt during any kind of crime involving a local?

Uh, the island of about 14,000 has had 2 or 3 of murders in the last decade, one last year I think it was. Lower rate than the US, but not immune, but then neither is Cozumel - which I consider the safest island in the Caribbean, but had a quadruple hit last year.

Even if all burglaries that were committed with occupants asleep on premises were accomplished without personl injury, I still wouldn't consider that a safe situation. Exaggerations in discussions cause problems don't you think...?

 

[ScubaSteve]

Uh, the island of about 14,000 has had 2 or 3 of murders in the last decade, one last year I think it was. Lower rate than the US, but not immune, but then not is Cozumel - which I consider the safest island in the Caribbean, but had a quadruple hit last year.

Was it 2 or was it three? Was it a decade or 15 years? I ask because it is important if we are going to play chicken little. It is also very important to look at the situation surrounding each of those murders as well? Were the locals or were they tourists? I am fairly certain the one (it was before I went last in October 2008) in 2008 was a dutch girl (living there but from the Netherlands IIRC). How many tourists have been killed or hurt? How many of those were during a room invasion. I agree that 2 (maybe 3) murders is a terrible number but that alone does not mean you are putting yourself in harms way every time you land on the island.

Again I ask if there are actual statistics to support that claim.

Even if all burglaries that were committed with occupants asleep on premises were accomplished without personl injury, I still wouldn't consider that a safe situation. Exaggerations in discussions cause problems don't you think...?

Yes I do agree. That is why some people are trying to avoid the chicken little theory. How many room invasions happened with people in the room? Again, it is relevant IMO if we want everybody to accept that by landing on the island you are putting yourself in harms way. The dramatics to do not add credibility. Facts do (or at least reasonable scenarios) which is why your quote above is truly relevant to the discussion.

 

[Boat Chick]

I take it since it wasn't answered, that resorts on Bonaire do not have armed security on the grounds 24 hrs? Nothing at Buddy Dive or the Plaza?

Guns are illegal on Bonaire, so security guards cannot carry guns.