Increasing crime in Bonaire

[Lorenzoid]

Having never been to Bonaire, this makes me wonder: are there parts of the island that tourists should not visit?. . . .

No, it's not like that. The thefts against visitors occur almost exclusively at either visitors' vehicles parked at the well-on-the-beaten-path dive sites or at visitors' lodging. As far as I know, there are no areas anywhere on the island that are especially what you might call "crime-ridden." To do their work, the thieves leave wherever they live and travel to where the tourists are.

 

[Doctorfish]

Agree with Lorenzoid. I have been all over this island, day and night, and have never felt less than safe.

Where I have stayed, Buddy Dive, Plaza, Divi, there has always been security at the gate after dark.
I tend not to leave regs and computers in the dive area or patio at night because I have a bit of concern ( perhaps unjustified ) about diver on diver crime.

 

[gbf]

Having never been to Bonaire....

There's the problem, right there.

 

[MikeT73]

There's the problem, right there.

Really?

 

[gypsyjim]

Agree with Lorenzoid. I have been all over this island, day and night, and have never felt less than safe.

Where I have stayed, Buddy Dive, Plaza, Divi, there has always been security at the gate after dark.
I tend not to leave regs and computers in the dive area or patio at night because I have a bit of concern ( perhaps unjustified ) about diver on diver crime.

Not unjustified, in my experience.
I do not think you're often going to get locals going after gear on the grounds of Buddy Dive, but I do know of two separate thefts from the gear room.
No locals involved in petty opportunity type truck thefts is going to even know the difference between bcd's, bp/w's.

I never leave any gear overnight in any common gear room, but my gf still had someone unscrew and steal the complete inflator assembly off her new Halcyon travel wing in the Buddy Dive gear room last year. That HAD to be one of our fellow divers!

The theft of another diver's computer the same day, from that same gear room points to the fact that besides theft by locals, we are facing theft by some of our fellow divers, which angers me far more than an occasional theft of krapp left in a truck by the impoverished locals.

 

[Allen Raphael]

My wife and I are currently down here in Bonaire and wish we didn't have to report this but...our rental villa was robbed last night. We were out to dinner and drinks with a local dive guide and came home to find that some POS thief had run up from the shore between Andrea 1 and 2. He (they) came in through the back sliding door, ripped off all the alarm units off the walls cracked the "safe" and stole about $6000 worth of jewelry and cash. My wife had literally purchased a new diamond ring at 5:00PM and it was stolen by 9:00PM. This is our fourth time to Bonaire and this will probably be our last for a long time. The Crown Ridge Villas are pricey and we figured that between their SS security (totally non-existent), locking every damn door and gate and setting the alarm, we'd be okay. The safe looked liked it took all of 2 minutes to open and unfortunately we will be contact the owners to see what renumeration options are. The security on this island leaves me wondering where is a safe place to stay in Bonaire?!? We had a great time diving but this experience has my wife and I thinking this is our last trip here...such a shame. We had considered actually buying a home here but that isn't going to happen. We wanted to contribute to the local economy and potentially move here closer to retirement but I've frankly sworn this place off. Such a shame. Luckily we leave with our health, safety and passports but our confidence in the safety here has been demolished. The owners of the unit will be hearing about this of course and hopefully take steps to ensure this does not happen again to future renters.

 

[boat sju]

Allen,

I hate to say this, and it will possibly irritate you and some others here, but I suspect you were targeted. I'd re-evaluate some of your local dive friends. My cynicism comes from my personal background growing up in Detroit. It can be hard to accept what "friends" will do to you.

boat

 

[KathyV]

My wife and I are currently down here in Bonaire and wish we didn't have to report this but...our rental villa was robbed last night. We were out to dinner and drinks with a local dive guide and came home to find that some POS thief had run up from the shore between Andrea 1 and 2. He (they) came in through the back sliding door, ripped off all the alarm units off the walls cracked the "safe" and stole about $6000 worth of jewelry and cash. My wife had literally purchased a new diamond ring at 5:00PM and it was stolen by 9:00PM...

I am so sorry to hear about your losses and I can understand why you would hesitate to return. Bonaire is a special place but there are many lovely places in the world to go diving and I am sure you will find another favorite.

We love the Caymans, of course there is some crime but the crime rates are low on the Cayman islands, and that is just one of the many things we love about visiting. We prefer to do boat dives while on the sister islands but we mostly go shore diving and snorkeling on Grand Cayman. We never have to make sure that the car is unlocked with the windows rolled down, or be careful not to take any valuables with us. I'm not saying that it can't happen - and it probably does on occasion - but it's just not a big issue there and that's nice.

I also wonder if you were targeted, perhaps when you purchased the ring - by someone connected to the shop - or who saw you make the purchase. They would know that you would have valuable jewelry and probably other valuables in your villa.

My father was targeted in that manner many years ago (not while on vacation but in our local neighborhood). Some guys watched him make a large cash withdrawal at the bank and then followed him to the car and robbed him. Happily he handed over the money and wasn't injured.

Again, I am sorry to hear that this has happened to you. I have always hesitated to rent a house or villa or cottage for vacation no matter where we go. I see some lovely properties, often at good prices on VRBO, but they just seem isolated to me - even when they claim to have great security. When we are on Bonaire we usually go for a one-bedroom apartment on the second floor at Den Laman or someplace similar because it feels safer, but I may just be kidding myself. If they want to break-in the thieves will probably find a way to get inside.

I have to admit that we are getting older now and I am afraid that may mean that we are perceived as easy targets; that is one of the reasons we have hesitated to go back to Bonaire, although we love the island and its culture of diving freedom.

I am glad that no one was hurt and I hope that the happy memories of your trip will eventually overshadow this disappointment, inconvenience, and unpleasantness. Have a safe trip home.

 

[RJP]

Allen,

I hate to say this, and it will possibly irritate you and some others here, but I suspect you were targeted.

Without a doubt.

Did the shop where the ring was purchased ask for a local address? That'd be a red flag right there.

Would have been easy enough for someone to follow you. Perhaps the shop has video of anyone else in the shop at the time of your purchase who left right after you? Or someone from the shop getting on the phone while/after you made your purchase?

Anyone else on-island know that you bought jewelry AND know you were out to dinner?

 

[Scared Silly]

I am going to throw a bit of fuel on the fire here. I have visited Bonaire, had nice time, left the windows down. Took the other usual precautions as I would any where else. Will probably go back at some point.

However, in traveling many other places in the world Bonaire is the first place I have visited where people are told to leave nothing in the vehicle and leave the windows down. Leaving the windows down goes beyond the typical home or travel precautions. And for that that, the island does deserve every bit of the bad rap they get. Regardless if this thread is the first or last.