Is there a theft risk at Buddy Dive???

[ScubaSteve]

Bonaire has a petty theft problem. Disputed but widely reported by many divers.

Who exactly is making the claim that there is no petty theft on Bonaire? Perhaps links to posts will help so that we can know who is making which claims. I personally have never made that claim. I HAVE said over and over that an ounce of intelligence will prevent almost all crimes on Bonaire. What am I missing here?

 

[ncchuck]

GymsyJim Says "Yes, there is petty crime on Bonaire, and it can be a real PITA for the unwary visitor."
I think all agree.

The problem comes with your prevention methods. Some are just not practical and attempts to make jokes or make fun about real concerns just doesn't make sense.

If someone steal my glasses and my buddies glasses so we have no driver, that's a problem. We can't wear contacts.
I still haven't seen any real way to stop the theft of gasoline from our trucks. That could easily ruin an otherwise great day of diving.
I still haven't seen any real way to stop the theft of tires from our trucks. That would really ruin an otherwise great day of diving.
I happen to be highly senstive to the sun and it's pretty sunny in Bonaire. I must take long sleeve shirts and a hat with me at all times. Sometimes I even need long pants. What am I to do with that stuff? This isn't a joke to me.
I'm not sure what we are to do when we want to make multiple dives across the island and we have extra tanks. How do we protect those tanks.
I'm really happy you enjoy divnig in Bonaire and I sincerely hope you never have any problems. I've not had any either but many people have according to the many reports on this forum. Many of those people have taken all the precautions you've outlined. Some have not. I'm sure they didn't care if they were getting ripped off by a 15 year old boy or a 40 year old man. They are still getting ripped off. I can't honestly say if the police are attempting to correct this problem. You are correct, the article is complaining about officials and laws and not the police themselves. I can honestly say the problem is still there based on ongoing reports by divers.
Please don't tell us again that it occurs everywhere. We all know that and no one is denying it. I still can't find nearly as many reports about petty theft on all the forums combined (that's a lot of divers) as on Bonaire. I certainly can't find a tourism agency pleading for the government to do something about petty crime.
And please remember that what's petty to you may not be petty to someone who's vacation has been ruined by this petty act.
Maybe the best thing that can happen at this point is for you to list all the precautions we should take on Bonaire that will protect as much as possible but add the list of things that we can't protect against that do happen on Bonaire because the diving methods there are unique. Do that in an honest and up front manner and I'm done posting about this. Go ahead and mock my comments again but please use a separate and clear post for the warnings.

 

[Papa_Bear]

You know lug locks are cheap! A cable and a lock are cheap! Think I will take both next trip and that will send the lazy thief to the next car! Even a locking gas cap is cheap insurance! Just contact the place your going and find out the model of the truck and take what you need! Simple to the point and puts ME in control! Then on checkout I put them in my dive bag and bring them home for the next trip! The time spent here arguing with fools is much more expensive!

 

[Waterskier1]

Who exactly is making the claim that there is no petty theft on Bonaire? Perhaps links to posts will help so that we can know who is making which claims. I personally have never made that claim. I HAVE said over and over that an ounce of intelligence will prevent almost all crimes on Bonaire. What am I missing here?

Steve, I totally agree with you, but maybe a better way of stating the over is "at an ounce of intelligence will prevent you from becoming a VICTIM of crimes on Bonaire" We (divers) won't prevent crimes, but if we remain informed and practice common sense, we can certainly mitigate being the victim of a crime.

GymsyJim Says "Yes, there is petty crime on Bonaire, and it can be a real PITA for the unwary visitor."
I think all agree.

The problem comes with your prevention methods. Some are just not practical and attempts to make jokes or make fun about real concerns just doesn't make sense.

If someone steal my glasses and my buddies glasses so we have no driver, that's a problem. We can't wear contacts. Since I was the one who first brought the prescription sunglasses up, let me reinforce the fact that I leave mine in the truck, and they have never been stolen. Prescription sunglasses are of little value to anyone other than the one for whom the prescription works.
I still haven't seen any real way to stop the theft of gasoline from our trucks. That could easily ruin an otherwise great day of diving. Again, I fear something I wrote earlier is being misinterpreted. I stated that the rental companies checked for missing GAS CAPS. I have not heard anyone reporting theft of gasoline, but I'm sure it has happened. But the likelihood is so small, and the consequence so minor, that I don't even have a risk mitigation plan for this.
I still haven't seen any real way to stop the theft of tires from our trucks. That would really ruin an otherwise great day of diving.
I happen to be highly senstive to the sun and it's pretty sunny in Bonaire. I must take long sleeve shirts and a hat with me at all times. Sometimes I even need long pants. What am I to do with that stuff? This isn't a joke to me. I too, have this problem. But, I take old shirts, pants and even hats, that have little value to me or anyone else. If they should be stolen, I'm not out a lot, other than the inconvenience of having to return to my room for another pair. Most of this petty theft is for resale, and who's going to pay for an old shirt or pair of pants. On the other hand, if you insisted on tempting someone with quality designer clothes on the seat of the truck, you are asking for problems.
I'm not sure what we are to do when we want to make multiple dives across the island and we have extra tanks. How do we protect those tanks. Stolen tanks are not a big problem, that I've heard of. First (selfishly) they are not yours! Second, they are all marked, and how do you smuggle a bunch of tanks in your carry-on?
I'm really happy you enjoy divnig in Bonaire and I sincerely hope you never have any problems. I've not had any either but many people have according to the many reports on this forum. Many of those people have taken all the precautions you've outlined. Some have not. I'm sure they didn't care if they were getting ripped off by a 15 year old boy or a 40 year old man. They are still getting ripped off. I can't honestly say if the police are attempting to correct this problem. You are correct, the article is complaining about officials and laws and not the police themselves. I can honestly say the problem is still there based on ongoing reports by divers.
Please don't tell us again that it occurs everywhere. We all know that and no one is denying it. I still can't find nearly as many reports about petty theft on all the forums combined (that's a lot of divers) as on Bonaire. I certainly can't find a tourism agency pleading for the government to do something about petty crime.
And please remember that what's petty to you may not be petty to someone who's vacation has been ruined by this petty act.
Maybe the best thing that can happen at this point is for you to list all the precautions we should take on Bonaire that will protect as much as possible but add the list of things that we can't protect against that do happen on Bonaire because the diving methods there are unique. Do that in an honest and up front manner and I'm done posting about this. Go ahead and mock my comments again but please use a separate and clear post for the warnings.

A couple other things: I don't carry my passport any time, except when doing business that requires it (visit to consulate, bank, embassy, etc.). Someone stated that in some countries one must travel with it on their person at all times. That my be true there. I've been on tours where I checked my passport with the tour company at the beginning of the tour and it was kept by them for the duration. I'm not sure if that was to ensure I returned or why...just relating that different countries have different (and not only one correct) way of doing thing.

Also, I don't carry a copy of my driver's license either. I was told by the rental agency and also local police, that they rental agency must transcribe all my driver's license info onto the rental agreement. I need only show them the rental agreement, and if further identification is required, I will be allowed or escorted to my room to retrieve it. I'm not sure what a legal compliance a photocopy of a license would be. Other than proof that you have a real one somewhere...which the rental agreement also shows. In some cases copying an official government document and laminating it could be a violation of the law.

I don't carry my wallet either. I put a $20 or two in my thigh pocket on my wetsuit. I comes in handy if we decide to have lunch somewhere instead of returning to our room. It also came in handy when we had a flat tire. The rental car company delivered a jack, tire iron, and the "key" to lower the spare, but told us it would be US$60 to have them repair the tire. We took it to the local gas station (not the old Lisa's, which was closed, but the other one on the north side of town), and they repaired it for US$7.00. I ran over a bolt. It was far less than the deductible on the insurance to have it repaired.

 

[pilot fish]

Chuck, it is more than a PITA, it's crime that should not occur and it is a vacation destroyer, to most folks. There is a galactic distance between the Bonaire fanatics and reality, that much is real clear.

As a former police officer said, about crime on Bonaire, the island is so interrelated that it's hard to arrrest your cousin or neighbors son so the crime will not end. And you fanatics will contuinue to get ripped off. Go figure.

GymsyJim Says "Yes, there is petty crime on Bonaire, and it can be a real PITA for the unwary visitor."
I think all agree.

The problem comes with your prevention methods. Some are just not practical and attempts to make jokes or make fun about real concerns just doesn't make sense.

If someone steal my glasses and my buddies glasses so we have no driver, that's a problem. We can't wear contacts.
I still haven't seen any real way to stop the theft of gasoline from our trucks. That could easily ruin an otherwise great day of diving.
I still haven't seen any real way to stop the theft of tires from our trucks. That would really ruin an otherwise great day of diving.
I happen to be highly senstive to the sun and it's pretty sunny in Bonaire. I must take long sleeve shirts and a hat with me at all times. Sometimes I even need long pants. What am I to do with that stuff? This isn't a joke to me.
I'm not sure what we are to do when we want to make multiple dives across the island and we have extra tanks. How do we protect those tanks.
I'm really happy you enjoy divnig in Bonaire and I sincerely hope you never have any problems. I've not had any either but many people have according to the many reports on this forum. Many of those people have taken all the precautions you've outlined. Some have not. I'm sure they didn't care if they were getting ripped off by a 15 year old boy or a 40 year old man. They are still getting ripped off. I can't honestly say if the police are attempting to correct this problem. You are correct, the article is complaining about officials and laws and not the police themselves. I can honestly say the problem is still there based on ongoing reports by divers.
Please don't tell us again that it occurs everywhere. We all know that and no one is denying it. I still can't find nearly as many reports about petty theft on all the forums combined (that's a lot of divers) as on Bonaire. I certainly can't find a tourism agency pleading for the government to do something about petty crime.
And please remember that what's petty to you may not be petty to someone who's vacation has been ruined by this petty act.
Maybe the best thing that can happen at this point is for you to list all the precautions we should take on Bonaire that will protect as much as possible but add the list of things that we can't protect against that do happen on Bonaire because the diving methods there are unique. Do that in an honest and up front manner and I'm done posting about this. Go ahead and mock my comments again but please use a separate and clear post for the warnings.

 

[pilot fish]

That's ridiculous. You must love jumping through hoops?

You know lug locks are cheap! A cable and a lock are cheap! Think I will take both next trip and that will send the lazy thief to the next car! Even a locking gas cap is cheap insurance! Just contact the place your going and find out the model of the truck and take what you need! Simple to the point and puts ME in control! Then on checkout I put them in my dive bag and bring them home for the next trip! The time spent here arguing with fools is much more expensive!

 

[Papa_Bear]

That's what the thieves would say as well! It is cheap and easy! If that is all I have too do to feel save then NO BIG DEAL! Simple precautions! BTW I have all those things on my vehicles here in California! LMAO!:mooner:

 

[pilot fish]

Do us a favor, if you would, tell us the actual cost of all that theift preventative gear you have to bring along to Bonaire and what is the combined weight of it? Would it not be easier to head for a safer place? It's not like you MUST go there, right?

That's what the thieves would say as well! It is cheap and easy! If that is all I have too do to feel save then NO BIG DEAL! Simple precautions! BTW I have all those things on my vehicles here in California! LMAO!:mooner:

 

[pilot fish]

Rick Murchison, why do you suppose there are no detailed reports of crime on Bonaire, like you found for Charlotte? Does that trouble you that not one entry is kept to give the visitor a clue as to what to expect? You must realize, not all divers worldwide read these boards so they' re heading into the unknown. Is that fair and right?

 

[pilot fish]

The info below was obtained by a USA policeman from conversations he had with Bonaire policemen. It indicates to me that the crime situation will not end any time soon on Bonaire. You fanatics might have a different interpretation of course.

There are 12k folks on that island; most are related to one another by some degree of consanguinity. It is difficult to arrest cousin Bob knowing that the rest of the family will shun you. Family generally means a lot on small islands where you cannot get away from them.

....the court system creates enforcement problems also; again it is difficult to sentence cousin Ed to a couple of years in the can when your wife is cousin Ed's sister; who will make life even more miserable for you than she already has....the mainland criminals from Venezuela, prosecuting them is a nightmare, they are foreign nationals after all...