Be careful in Bonaire (Burglaries)

[Cave Diver]

Additional Details (I wanted to add this to the initial post, but I can't seem to edit it anymore. Perhaps a mod can do it for me.):

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A ScubaBoard Staff Message...

Done.

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[shortcuts]

How exactly did I misunderstand your post? You chose not to go which is OK (is it not?) and that frees up spots for other divers (does it not?). What part of this is unacceptable? Or are you not happy with the fact that I am alright with you changing your plans and not visiting Bonaire?

Just your attitude my friend. I was VERY much looking forward to coming but for stumbling across this thread!

If your "it frees up two spaces" attitude is common amongst the operators also then perhaps we can now see why this situation has been allowed to get to the stage that it has. How many people such as me can the area sustain before something is done to make visiting divers feel safe to come and dive Bonaire I wonder!

 

[ScubaSteve]

Just your attitude my friend. I was VERY much looking forward to coming but for stumbling across this thread!

If your "it frees up two spaces" attitude is common amongst the operators also then perhaps we can now see why this situation has been allowed to get to the stage that it has. How many people such as me can the area sustain before something is done to make visiting divers feel safe to come and dive Bonaire I wonder!

Fair enough. It is too bad that I cannot fill those 2 spots this time. I am fairly certain that you will enjoy your crime free life vacationing elsewhere.

Or are you not happy with the fact that I am alright with you changing your plans and not visiting Bonaire?

Looks like this was the case after all.

 

[Indian Valley Scuba]

We'll try to do our part to make up for the economic impact - we have 48 going on our trip to Bonaire in June.

 

[ncchuck]

You know, there really was a time before the Internet. They actually had diving back then. We got information by calling and writing resorts. We believed the things they sent us. I suppose if we were really worried about some place we contacted the state department to see if there were any warnings. I'm not sure these measures weren't better than all the crap that gets posted here by people with special interest at stake as well as others on some sort of crusade.
If resorts need to post security measures they take in a particular place, that's just a place I don't need to visit. Pretty soon some people will be asking owners to post criminal background checks they have done on employees. Then they'll ask for armed security guards at each room. If a place needs all this stuff, something is wrong somewhere.

 

[pilot fish]

It is a sad fact that some divers are rethinking Bonaire. I think, at this point, it might be the wise move, until the police and Bonaire Gov get a better handle on crime. As you correctly say, the condo owner and resort have a reasonale duty to care for thier guest. They don't? then sorry. I go elsewhere.:shocked2:

You have expressed yourself well. Be safe, not sorry.

Guys I have been monitoring this thread for a while now and have to say that I'm really quite dissappointed. My wife and I were planning to make our first trip to Bonaire this year. We have travelled and dived all over the world (literally) and so know how to be aware and look out for our own safety whilst travelling. The operative phrase being "whilst travelling".

My concern here is that when staying somewhere (particularly a resort) it is my opinion that the resort owners/management staff have a "Duty of Care" toward their clients in terms of security of the clients and their belongings whilst on the complex. This responsibility seems to be becoming largely ignored by the resorts. (From what I'm reading here).

Unfortunately, totally as a result of reading this thread, I am going to have to rethink my plans and take my dive holiday elsewhere.
I regard that as sad because I have been looking forward to experiencing what I am assured is excellent diving available in Bonaire.

It isn't just the thought of my property going missing even though I have taken all reasonable precautions but we have all heard of tourists getting up in the night for whatever reason and inadvertantly stumbling in to somebody who has found his way into your accommadation. Now the resort owners surely should be able to stop ANY undesirable from entering the complex area 24/7. Not too much to ask for is it.

I wanted to say more but I'm struggling to express myself fully and don't want to leave too many avenues for my thoughts to be misconstrued and thereby misunderstood.

Have fun people. Travel and dive safely. Good luck.

 

[shortcuts]

It is a sad fact that some divers are rethinking Bonaire. I think, at this point, it might be the wise move, until the police and Bonaire Gov get a better handle on crime. As you correctly say, the condo owner and resort have a reasonale duty to care for thier guest. They don't? then sorry. I go elsewhere.:shocked2:

You have expressed yourself well. Be safe, not sorry.

Thank you.

 

[BHB ScubaTroll]

As posted in response to questions prior...

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It is recommended that you leave nothing of value in your vehicle and leave the windows open. That is a pretty good indicator to possible thieves that there is nothing of value in the vehicle. If it is the rental vehicle that is stolen, you can be sure the rental company will have police looking for the vehicle.


No one has stated that having your room broken into and the safe cracked is common sense or even a common experience. Just like your home can be broken into, your vacation unit can be broken into... There are however, common sense rules that will help keep you and your gear safer. Things like (But, not limited to):

• keeping your gear in the designated areas recommended by the resort (not on a table or balcony) when not in use. I don't even keep mine in my driveway at home to dry in case someone should come by with sticky fingers
• Stay situationally aware of your surroundings (just like I do at home)
• Park in well lit areas at night and visible areas during daylight (just like I do at home)
• Travel as a couple or group at night and/or in areas where you are unfamiliar. You are in an area that is unfamiliar. When you are at home, you can readily avoid areas you know to be unsavory. It can be a little tricky when you don't know the area
• Lock your doors and windows when you leave your villa and at night when sleeping (This doesn't completely stop crime, just like it doesn't completely stop crime at home, but it is a deterrent)
• Just like any vacation spot, don't leave valuables, money or any expensive items out in the open... I don't trust the room staff at Holiday Inn in the US, so I certainly won't trust the house staff anywhere else.
• If you stop in an area and you are not comfortable, leave the area immediately (Just like at home)
• Another deterrent is to add those travel alarms for doors and windows to your vacation spot. I use them in the US as well as when travelling abroad.

I don't care where I go on vacation... I do some research and find the areas I want to visit and the areas I am sure I don't want to be stranded (Watts, areas of Washington DC, etc). To me, this includes housing in compound areas that offer a little (read that as "a little") more security

What I can't understand is where some people responding on this thread use these "common sense" measures at home to stay safer, but believe it is completely unrealistic to think anyone should do the same thing on Bonaire. OR, that authorities on Bonaire should be doing it ALL for everyone

Again, following these measures does not guarantee that your valuables, room and person will remain safe and unharmed. Just like at home, there are times when these measures don't work, and chit happens.

Reports of B/E and burglary seem less at home, but that is because we have a much larger violent crime issue here... Are these crimes minimized by me? No! They are not good, but I put them into some type of perspective with the norm of things (no, I don't call them normal... only in perspective of "the norm" of things). Some posts on this thread have given them no "norm" in the perspective of the world and blow them to proportions equivalent to "Manson murders", and I feel that is doing real harm to the discussion

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Guys I have been monitoring this thread for a while now and have to say that I'm really quite dissappointed. My wife and I were planning to make our first trip to Bonaire this year. We have travelled and dived all over the world (literally) and so know how to be aware and look out for our own safety whilst travelling. The operative phrase being "whilst travelling".

My concern here is that when staying somewhere (particularly a resort) it is my opinion that the resort owners/management staff have a "Duty of Care" toward their clients in terms of security of the clients and their belongings whilst on the complex. This responsibility seems to be becoming largely ignored by the resorts. (From what I'm reading here).

Unfortunately, totally as a result of reading this thread, I am going to have to rethink my plans and take my dive holiday elsewhere.
I regard that as sad because I have been looking forward to experiencing what I am assured is excellent diving available in Bonaire.

It isn't just the thought of my property going missing even though I have taken all reasonable precautions but we have all heard of tourists getting up in the night for whatever reason and inadvertantly stumbling in to somebody who has found his way into your accommadation. Now the resort owners surely should be able to stop ANY undesirable from entering the complex area 24/7. Not too much to ask for is it.

I wanted to say more but I'm struggling to express myself fully and don't want to leave too many avenues for my thoughts to be misconstrued and thereby misunderstood.

Have fun people. Travel and dive safely. Good luck.

Without getting into a "p!%%ing match" I would like to ask if you will be following most/all the items listed in my previous post to lessen your chances of being a victim in the choice of taking your "dive holiday elsewhere"?

If you are planning to follow those items listed, I believe your possibility of being a victim in Bonaire is roughly the same as being a victim anywhere in the world.

If you are not planning to follow those items listed, I believe you possibility of being a victim are increased no matter where you choose to take your "dive holiday"
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I honestly believe previous answers to your post are pretty much based on the premise of the last two sentences above.

With that in mind, can you point me to direct posts (past the original post) that have changed your mind about a dive holiday in Bonaire? I would really like to see what has persuaded you to change your mind (honestly... I would really like to see those posts that have changed your mind).

Thanks,
Jim

 

[DandyDon]

You see, whenever anyone wants to discuss real, personal dismay and reluctance, they are told that it's great that they are not going to be in the way of those who will still go. Some island fans make it impossible to have objective discussions here. There are possibly others not logged in who are reading this thread thinking "I am not going to register and ask questions about my concerns then have to put up with those people."

Deadbolts pried from door frames, safes breached, and some want to scream that it's only a petty crime problem - no biggie. "I just got hit for about 6k, no insurance."

Oh, and I am labeled anti-island too. So those who want to discuss the real problems withou absurd ridicule are having to resort to PMs and emails to avoid the riff raff here. Sad.

 

[pilot fish]

This saddens me greatly.:depressed: I just can't, for the life of me, understand why some posters on this board, in this thread, can't see how bad things are on Bonaire What is it going to take to get your attention?? When is enough enough???

That's a real bit loss. Sorry to hear it.

Update as of 2/12/2010:
Called the Bonaire Police today. They said they recovered some items, but none of our stuff. (I doubt they recovered anything significant because they were quick to say none of our stuff was recovered.) They had a few people in custody, but we heard there were more burglaries after the arrest. They confirmed this. The groups committing the burglaries may be part of a 'ring', but there seems to be no direct connections that led to more arrests or recovery of any of our stuff.

Additional Details (I wanted to add this to the initial post, but I can't seem to edit it anymore. Perhaps a mod can do it for me.):

Our plane from JFK to BON landed at 4:35pm on 1/30/2010 (a little late because of weather). By the time we got our bags and got to our rooms it was about 6:00pm. There were 5 in our group spread between two adjacent rooms (3 in one, 2 in the other). We unpacked some of our stuff and put the important things into the safe. Then, we made a run to the supermarket to get some essentials (Amstel Brights). At about 7:30pm, we decided that we would go out to dinner instead of cooking (big mistake). We locked all the doors and headed out. I should note that only 1 out of the 5 rooms in the immediate area was vacant.

We got back from dinner at about 9:00pm. We decided to have a few beers together, so we walked together to one room. We noticed the door was open and the room was ransacked. I immediately ran to the other (my) room and it was also completely ransacked. The door had a deadbolt, but it appeared that a crowbar was used to break in. The door frame was destroyed to point where it would no longer close. The safe was also broken into. I started screaming obscenities and got the neighbors' attention. (I just got hit for about 6k, no insurance.) Nobody saw anything, and nobody heard anything.

All of our phones were taken, so 2 people drove off to get the police. I ran around the area to see if I saw anyone, but they were long gone. When the police arrived, I finally took a good look at what was taken (I already knew all the stuff I cared about would be gone). They unfolded every piece of underwear, every pair of socks, and opened every zipper. They must have filled our carry-on bags with our stuff because those were gone. To make matters worse, my passport and my wife's passport were taken. The thieves seemed to be smart enough to take only the (slightly) older US passports w/o the chip. The passports were in the safe in a pouch. Unfortunately, in that pouch were the photocopies of the passports.

The police had us write down the things that were taken. They said there had been a lot of burglaries lately. I was angry when I heard that because if I would have known I would have brought my passport, laptop and video camera with me to dinner. (Some people may find that odd, but those items are always on my person when I travel to Europe.) The police believed that the thieves were following people from the airport. Well, some of them definitely followed us to dinner because they were able to take their time and go through all of our stuff carefully and quietly.


IF YOU ARE ONE OF THE RECENT VICTIMS IN BONAIRE OR KNOW SOMEBODY WHO IS PLEASE MESSAGE ME YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS. I did get email addresses for a couple of people, but I would like to get as many as possible. I am already getting the feeling that very little is being done. I think we will need to keep them motivated.