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.
I think 'it's the 1st place I've visited where…' is a big factor. Consider a couple of vaguely analogous situations.
1.) Someone in the country, who never worries about locking his doors or leaving possessions laying around the yard, moves to the suburbs. Suddenly it's necessary to lock the doors, not leave valuables (e.g.: push mower, kid's bicycle) out in the yard, etc… And he hears of occasional neighborhood break ins.
2.) A friend of mine who spent time in New York City mentioned a habit of some people carrying 2 wallets; one's got some money but no credit cards, driver's license, etc…, so if you get mugged, you give the mugger the one with just money. I think he got mugged once.
To people who live in these areas, or travel to them often, it's 'just the way things are.' If you're not used to having to comport yourself in accordance with these precautions, they seem onerous and indicative of a dangerous environment. What is wrong with those people? That sort of thing.
The usual petty theft from vehicles is what is seen as common and fairly easily prevented with the usual recommended measures. For many of us, not a big deal.
The unusual crime, such as stealing & burning a truck or breaking into a residence & stealing from a safe, that's far & away another story, but it happens everywhere, so do you have any reason to believe these, oh, let's call them 'major' crimes are higher risk on Bonaire?
'Cause you can find hair raising stories in a lot of places. I've read some spooky stuff about St. Thomas, Nassau & I think Roatan, yet nobody seems to post lots of threads about how scary those places are.
Richard.
