Be careful in Bonaire (Burglaries)

[BHB ScubaTroll]

Yes, they suspended my debit card after the first transaction on Curacao. My wife called her mother who happens to be an accountant for the local branch and she said Curacao was on their "bad list". Suspension was automatic and she was able to lift it. They also charg a fee on every transaction which was effectively insurance because of credit fraud risk. I don't know how they calculate it, but it must be a base fee plus a percentage of purchase prices because higher value charges were more, but not directly proportional to amount. I think they were usually around $2-3 dollars per charge. It was similar in Indonesia. However, they do not automatically suspend use in Indonesia, which seems to indicate that Curacao is considered higher risk.

Wow... My credit cards and the cards of all our group were accepted without issue on Bonaire

 

[DandyDon]

OK, well Curacao is not the same as Bonaire, and it is common for banks to suspend cards if you travel without telling them then use one. I had a card turned off in Florida once; I now let them know when I leave the state.

 

[jbtut]

Link for us to just one post saying this. After all, we all want to believe you and you obviously can support this claim. Just one saying that theft is OK.

See Post #22

Post # 12

There's two for you.

 

[jbtut]

And the thing is, we watched a guy case cars while we were exchanging tanks in the Lagun parking lot. He pulled up and parked out near the road in a dark blue 80's Toyota Carola, came over and sat under a tree for a bit. Then about 15 minutes later he started walking through the cars looking in windows. After spending longer than normal at a suv in the back the people from the suv got up and walked toward him. He walked away, got in his car and drove off. They checked through the car and then went back to the beach. They were noticeably agitated by it. As would I be.

There's very little question in my mind what was going on. And it was done in the middle of the day near a busy beach. There is very little threat to him of being caught or punished. Not once during our stay did I see a police car or any presence of any type of authority.


I had a good time there and nothing was stolen from me. I would not discourage travel to Curacao or Bonaire. But I am confident that they are losing a lot of potential income because of what appears to be general apathy by the local governments.

 

[ScubaSteve]

See Post #22

Post # 12

There's two for you.

The first link where you tell me to look at Post 22 is the same link as the second Post.....and that is a thread where there are currently only 16 posts.

As far as the second link provided......he did not say that theft was OK. I asked for links to confirm what you said (your words). That post does not confirm it.

 

[ScubaSteve]

And the thing is, we watched a guy case cars while we were exchanging tanks in the Lagun parking lot. He pulled up and parked out near the road in a dark blue 80's Toyota Carola, came over and sat under a tree for a bit. Then about 15 minutes later he started walking through the cars looking in windows. After spending longer than normal at a suv in the back the people from the suv got up and walked toward him. He walked away, got in his car and drove off. They checked through the car and then went back to the beach. They were noticeably agitated by it. As would I be.

There's very little question in my mind what was going on. And it was done in the middle of the day near a busy beach. There is very little threat to him of being caught or punished. Not once during our stay did I see a police car or any presence of any type of authority.


I had a good time there and nothing was stolen from me. I would not discourage travel to Curacao or Bonaire. But I am confident that they are losing a lot of potential income because of what appears to be general apathy by the local governments.

I am not blaming you here but if you stood and watched someone case cars and did nothing, then why are the police at fault?

 

[jbtut]

I am not blaming you here but if you stood and watched someone case cars and did nothing, then why are the police at fault?

What am I going to do go arrest him? Beat the **** out of him? Maybe go to jail in a foreign country. We were watching him, but he didn't actually break into a vehicle. I have no idea whether inchoate crimes are punishable in Curacao. We don't carry phones with us because they'd get stolen. And who would you call anyway? Police from the city? And wait for them to come out? The resort staff serving drinks saw him and didn't care. They probably know him. In fact they almost surely know him. It's a small island and a small community in Westpunt. They know what the game is. Everyone does. A tourist's method of dealing with it is to go somewhere else.

 

[BHB ScubaTroll]

I just wanted to keep all the information straight in line...

What surprises me most is the general apathy toward the whole thing. At All West they had installed security cameras and lights which is a step in the right direction. It also seemed like they honestly cared about it. But many responses on here seem to take the position that "its an island so theft is ok". That's exceedingly short sighted. When my banks says "that's on our bad list" I'm going to notice. It's costing real money right now. And a lot of it. Maybe the resorts don't realize it, but travelers are taking crime into account already and discounting the rate they are willing to pay to travel to the Bonaire and Curacao.

Link for us to just one post saying this. After all, we all want to believe you and you obviously can support this claim. Just one saying that theft is OK.

See Post #22

Post # 12

There's two for you.

Post #12

while I agree that it might be good to have some insight on which hotels have security issues, I have a feeling this isn't isolated to this particular hotel.

so I don't want to paint them in a picture of a place you're going to get robbed at. It appears to be a problem all across the island. (but more in don't leave stuff in your truck at dive sites than hotel invasions).

Post #22 (This post concerned the Robbery/Burgalery sematics)

Stuff was stolen. Semantics really make no difference at all. Robbery/burgulary, its all basically the same thing.

I've only been there once, but i definetly hope to go again. I didn't have any issues, but i've been reading about thefts on the island for what seems like ages now. And....most of those issues have been on Bonaire.

jbut, I don't see the connection with your statement of others taking the position: "its an island so theft is ok"


I'm not saying they don't exist (I don't remember anyone saying the attributed, or implying the attributed statement), I just don't think these are examples to support your claim... Heck, #22 was thanked by one, and only one person in this discussion... pilot fish

 

[jbtut]

The first link where you tell me to look at Post 22 is the same link as the second Post.....and that is a thread where there are currently only 16 posts.

As far as the second link provided......he did not say that theft was OK. I asked for links to confirm what you said (your words). That post does not confirm it.

Re-read what I wrote and see if you think, maybe, just maybe, I wasn't actually saying theft was condoned but rather theft is a part of life in the islands and should that be accepted.

 

[BHB ScubaTroll]

What am I going to do go arrest him? Beat the **** out of him? Maybe go to jail in a foreign country. We were watching him, but he didn't actually break into a vehicle. I have no idea whether inchoate crimes are punishable in Curacao. We don't carry phones with us because they'd get stolen. And who would you call anyway? Police from the city? And wait for them to come out? The resort staff serving drinks saw him and didn't care. They probably know him. In fact they almost surely know him. It's a small island and a small community in Westpunt. They know what the game is. Everyone does. A tourist's method of dealing with it is to go somewhere else.

I believe you did the right thing in observing. You were watching and, I am sure taking mental notes in case something happened. Good!