Be careful in Bonaire (Burglaries)

[BHB ScubaTroll]

I agree with PB!

It will soon become your favorite dive destination!

 

[DandyDon]

I still marvel at heidilotus' story, amazed that she stuck it out and kept going back after being rendered unconscious by the burglar. She was not here to cause problems; have no reason to disbelieve...?

 

[BHB ScubaTroll]

That should indicate the type of diving available on Bonaire to every diver...

 

[Mike]

Originally Posted by heidilotus
I woke with a man in my room who then put a hand over my mouth and I don't remember anything until I woke in the morning and found my room had been ransacked and my door left wide open.

Sounds like ether or chloroform to me, either of which can easily lead to accidental death, she's very lucky in a number of ways.

That's the 3rd reference from 3 different sources referring to being anesthetized by the invader. Disturbing to say the least.

 

[Mike]

Well, I started doing some digging into all this tonight. The ether and chloroform thing got me started, so I started digging on the net to see if there was any recordings of connections of ether and chloroform and Bonaire. There are some interesting links that come up that seem to indicated that there is a plant on the island that one of these can be derived from. While the link verbiage indicate this when you click on the links the documents are unrelated. So it's totally un-confirmed. There are mixed references to Aloe being commercially harvested on the island mixed in with these links, so it may be more about the aloe then anything else.

Anyways it started my digging and I turned up some interesting information. I found and constructed sort of a lose timeline of the crime reports on Bonaire.

From what I found there are indications that prior to 1998 things were a bit different. Around 1999 the first reports of crack cocaine start appearing with regularity on Bonaire, along with crack came the beginnings of petty theft. Around 1998 you start to see reports of larger dive gear thefts being reported from shore divers, indicating that prior to that time many divers routinely left valuable dive gear in their rental vehicles. Indicating a much different dive experience then is common today. Appearing that prior to 1999 many divers felt safe leaving dive gear in rental vehicles. Of course today we are at the point that no diver would even think of leaving expensive BCD or computers in a locked or unlocked rental car.

Around 1999 you start getting more and more warnings about break ins at dive sites. You also start getting the first reports from people indicating that the police are ambivalent to the situation and indicate that you are insured, so there is no crime. Around 2001 and growing through 2003 there are more and more reports about condo and rental house break ins becoming a problem. Around 2004 you start getting more articles about the drug trade to the Netherlands as being from Latin America through the ABCs to the Netherlands. There is a german article about the drug cartels in 2004 using the airport on Curacao as their main artery after bringing the drugs over on speed boats from the main land and discusses the increase in crime over the last few years and the climbing murder rate on Curacao.

Anyways a lot of it is disseminated through out a lot of different places throughout many links to documents found on the internet.

This was an interesting read - Bonaire E-News July 1998

 

[DiverVince]

DD..I for one hope you do get a chance to experience the real Bonaire.. It isn't by chance that I've traveled extensively in the Carib, have seen a lot of things throughout my travels but always return to Bonaire. Not to belittle the terrible experience of the OP, but unfortunately crap happens in life, even at times on Bonaire.

 

[pilot fish]

If she had become a victim again, after several subsequent visits, would anyone have sympathy for her? I would not. She went back after that serious crime and took a chance. She was, it appears, lucky on her return visits, but not everyone is. She was fully informed on the situation there and was willing to take that gamble. She knew the risks and was willing to take them, not once but a few times. Not what I would advise

Originally Posted by heidilotus
Darren,
I empathize greatly with you and am so sorry your great diving experience ended this way. I too was a victim of "Petty Crime" in Bonaire in Ocotober 2007. The first night I was there, traveling alone, I woke with a man in my room who then put a hand over my mouth and I don't remember anything until I woke in the morning and found my room had been ransacked and my door left wide open. All my credit cards and passport were left behind. I found my pocketbook and wallet-money taken- outside. The intruder climbed on a chair and in my window while I was sleeping. The police were called and responded about an hour or so later and were VERY rude to me. A day later 13 or so people were arrested for such crimes. (This happened 1 1/2 years ago NOT 2 1/2 years.) I went to the police station to look for my property and there was a large room FULL of phones, cameras, laptops, foreign money etc. My items were not there. I was helped by a WONDERFUL victims advocate who works with the police since I was traumatized by this experience. I do not publicize where this happened because I feel the owner was a victim as well. They were very helpful to me.
This experience has not kept me from going to Bonaire. I have returned a few more times and even bought timeshare there since. I LOVE Bonaire. The diving can not be beat! I am just more careful about my actions and bring nothing valuable that is not neccesary. On our last trip my husband's cell phone was stolen from the open truck while we dove. (Never lock your truck or they will break the windows) It was important to have it with us and we took that risk. ON this occassion the police were very nice but still nothing recovered.
I know there are folks who try to shush victims about the crime on Bonaire but it is important for travelers to be aware. Some locals suggested putting empty glass bottle on your window sills and in front of the door to alarm you of an intruder. I met many locals who have been victims of burglars on Bonaire. I am thankful to live in a very small town with very little crime and now I just make more adjustments for traveling.

 

[Reef Tank]

I looked for another post that came up once on a Bonaire burglary thread that really struck me as very odd. She only posted once here which could make me suspicious, except she was not here to bash Bonaire as you will see. She just found the discussion after searching the net I suppse and shared from her experiences. From this post....

Scubaboard's server logs would probably tell if the poster's IP address was also used to log in with other user names.

 

[ncchuck]

I agree with PB!

It will soon become your favorite dive destination!

Now that's a personal opinion if I ever saw one. Where else have you been diving that makes you say Bonaire is your favorite? I like Bonaire a lot but I'd chose Raja Ampat, Lembeh, Fiji and Roatan before Bonaire in a heartbeat as my favorites.
Everyone to their own opinion however so don't get offended.

 

[BHB ScubaTroll]

Now that's a personal opinion if I ever saw one. Where else have you been diving that makes you say Bonaire is your favorite? I like Bonaire a lot but I'd chose Raja Ampat, Lembeh, Fiji and Roatan before Bonaire in a heartbeat as my favorites.
Everyone to their own opinion however so don't get offended.

Yes, yes it is my opinion... I knew that when I posted it. But, I also know Don has been traveling the Caribbean, so I am speaking to Caribbean destinations. If you care to look at where I've been diving you can simply look at my profile