Rental Truck Vandalized

[Mike]

Wonder whether the desired interventions would do more hard than good?

Richard.

I'm sure if you're one of the thieves who gets caught, prosecuted and pays the consequences they would wholeheartedly agree with you.

If you were a victim of the crime or a diver that could now bring a cooler with lunch and cold drinks to a dive site and enjoy a nice picnic lunch at the beach instead of having to drive back to your hotel or a restaurant,a diver that was able to bring your save a dive items and avoid having to drive all the way back to your hotel or dive shop, or just be able to actually not have to figure out how to bring everything of value with you underwater, or a local who benefited from the trickle down effect of the crime rate on locals dropping, I'd say they would all disagree with you.

 

[jimw]

I forsee rental vehicles with little triangular yellow signs saying "IED Onboard" might deter SOME criminality! /_\

But, OH MY; the insurance issues!! Am Ex would drop the truck insurance faster than a grenade rolling down a steep roof!

 

[T.C.]

If you were a victim of the crime or a diver that could now bring a cooler with lunch and cold drinks to a dive site and enjoy a nice picnic lunch at the beach instead of having to drive back to your hotel or a restaurant, a diver that was able to bring your save a dive items and avoid having to drive all the way back to your hotel or dive shop, or just be able to actually not have to figure out how to bring everything of value with you underwater, or a local who benefited from the trickle down effect of the crime rate on locals dropping, I'd say they would all disagree with you.

See, this is the mentality of some people. "Why can't I bring my expensive toys and good stuff and leave it unattended for hours?" "Oh, why, oh why can't people just leave me alone?"

Give me a break.

You don't bring your expensive junk with you and leave it unattended. Is that so hard to do? It's just common sense.

Common Sense means you won't need a big save a dive kit. Test your tank and gear before you leave. Then you know you won't need o-rings and a pick. Change your batteries before the trip, Inspect your fin straps and mask before you leave. Simple, Common Sense means. I have never had to call a dive in Bonaire, because I inspect my gear first.

If you really, really, really want to bring your save a dive kit, get a heavy, tough strap, and secure your kit to upper inside frame members right behind the driver's side door. It won't move, and no thief will take the time to run their hands up on top of the frame all around your vehicle.

Do this in your parking lot, not at the dive site. I shouldn't have to say that....but it for those who stubbornly refuse to listen to their common sense.

To be frank, you have unrealistic expectations. "...just be able to actually not have to figure out how to bring everything of value with you underwater". Really? You want to leave valuable items unattended for hours on a remote beach in an area inhabited with lower-income people? Common Sense says that this isn't a good idea, in Bonaire, or anywhere in the world.

Sorry, but your expectations are just unrealistic. People are people. Accept this. Use common sense means to protect your stuff and you will be fine. Don't, and you might be a crime victim. Just don't come crying here expecting sympathy for going against your common sense and against the simple rules you were told to follow.

I forsee rental vehicles with little triangular yellow signs saying "IED Onboard" might deter SOME criminality!

Ah, yes! The RoadWarrior Solution!

 

[drrich2]

If you were a victim of the crime or a diver that could now bring a cooler with lunch and cold drinks to a dive site and enjoy a nice picnic lunch at the beach instead of having to drive back to your hotel or a restaurant,a diver that was able to bring your save a dive items and avoid having to drive all the way back to your hotel or dive shop, or just be able to actually not have to figure out how to bring everything of value with you underwater, or a local who benefited from the trickle down effect of the crime rate on locals dropping, I'd say they would all disagree with you.

Bold emphasis mine.

1.) Nobody likes being the victim of crime. This especially true if it's a tire, battery, etc..., and leaves you stranded somewhere, even though you followed the recommendations to leave nothing personal of value & doors were unlocked and windows down. That sort of crime seems a good deal less common, or so is the impression I get. I think we'd all agree that's bad news, and not something the diver can practically avoid.

2.) But I think what I bolded above is the real crux here. Bonaire is not a place to leave stuff like that in the truck unattended unless you don't mind losing it occasionally to thieves. The dive vacationer has the option to not make him subject to this crime by not leaving the stuff in the truck while diving. There seems to be a sentiment that Bonaire should go to the trouble, expense, whatever, to 'secure' west coast shore diving to enable those people to bring this stuff and leave it unattended, even though it's unnecessary and provides an incentive for the crime.

I imagine the government would believe the simplest, least expensive option would be for the divers to do what they're advised to do now. It would be like me complaining that if the police in the U.S. would do their job, I could leave our house door unlocked & keep more of my stuff out in the front yard in plain sight. Yes. But I don't think the local government is going to prioritize that.

I get that human beings want to do what they want to do. Sure, I'd like to bring a pocket camera & leave it in the truck to take snap shots on land, separate from my camera in a housing used on dives. But I know not to. If I do want to bring drinks and a few PB&J sandwiches or a few apples, I can freeze a couple of plastic jugs of water the night before, stick the sandwiches in a bag under the seat, and go. If someone happens to take the sandwiches (nobody's bothered our water yet), it's annoying, but not that huge a deal.

I would imagine the government might also decide that those who are determined that 'something should be done' could go as a group, and at each site, one person sits the dive out and hangs out at the truck. Instead of hoping random police patrols, sting operations, etc...deter crime from your truck, you know your truck is safe.

3.) I imagine the trickle down effect may be best served under the current system. While the grocery stores might like the cooler/picnic idea, the restaurants and gas stations probably don't mind hungry divers away from the hotel, but close to their businesses, or just driving around burning a bit more gas. And the dive resorts might like you doing your relaxing siesta back at the resort, preferably at their bar.

And the price of gas on Bonaire? Now there's a robbery situation I suspect we could agree on...

Richard.

 

[T.C.]

Thanks. That was much more eloquent and concise than my brain can organize.

What IS the price of gas on Bonaire? I seem to recall that it was 1.59 last year...per liter.

I also don't get why it's so high, when it Venezuelan fuel, and is unloaded right there in bulk. There's always a ship at the petrol docks, and usually one on the horizon.

 

[dfx]

Thanks. That was much more eloquent and concise than my brain can organize.

What IS the price of gas on Bonaire? I seem to recall that it was 1.59 last year...per liter.

I also don't get why it's so high, when it Venezuelan fuel, and is unloaded right there in bulk. There's always a ship at the petrol docks, and usually one on the horizon.

That's still cheap compared to what you'd pay in the Netherlands. Over there, it's around $2.50 per litre.

 

[T.C.]

That's still cheap compared to what you'd pay in the Netherlands. Over there, it's around $2.50 per litre.

Yeah, $10 a gallon is too much. Of course, there are some fools who pay that much for a liquid that come out for nearly free from your faucet.

 

[DiverVince]

See, this is the mentality of some people. "Why can't I bring my expensive toys and good stuff and leave it unattended for hours?" "Oh, why, oh why can't people just leave me alone?"

Give me a break.

You don't bring your expensive junk with you and leave it unattended. Is that so hard to do? It's just common sense.

Common Sense means you won't need a big save a dive kit. Test your tank and gear before you leave. Then you know you won't need o-rings and a pick. Change your batteries before the trip, Inspect your fin straps and mask before you leave. Simple, Common Sense means. I have never had to call a dive in Bonaire, because I inspect my gear first.

I've been a keen observer of the human scene and do agree with the age old adage that when it comes to human behavior; "There's nothing common about common sense".

 

[T.C.]

I've been a keen observer of the human scene and do agree with the age old adage that when it comes to human behavior; "There's nothing common about common sense".

Oh, I know. I'm in an occupation where common sense often deserts the most important people. (See Good Idea Fairy, above).

I believe that everyone has common sense. It's that gut instinct telling you, "don't bring your $500 camera on this remote shore dive". But it's just that many people refuse to listen to it, or think they have better ideas.

"Nah, the low income locals who live nearby won't bother my expensive stuff while I'm gone for at least an hour. I'll just hide it under a seat, they'll never look there..."

---------- Post added April 27th, 2014 at 07:38 AM ----------

DiverVince, read your signature, and visited your link. Read this,"...has been in the field of world-wide insurance and risk management for over 30 years. He looks forward to the day when he can retire and spend even more time in his beautiful apartment on the lovely island of Bonaire."

As a property owner, long term guest, Caribbean visitor, and expert in risk management and insurance, I think you'd have the most informed and informational opinion on this. What's your opinion of the crime rates on Bonaire, both against rentals at dive sites, and against properties on the island? And what's the best way to prevent and deal with this?

 

[DiverVince]

Oh, I know. I'm in an occupation where common sense often deserts the most important people. (See Good Idea Fairy, above).




---------- Post added April 27th, 2014 at 07:38 AM ----------

DiverVince, read your signature, and visited your link. Read this,"...has been in the field of world-wide insurance and risk management for over 30 years. He looks forward to the day when he can retire and spend even more time in his beautiful apartment on the lovely island of Bonaire."

As a property owner, long term guest, Caribbean visitor, and expert in risk management and insurance, I think you'd have the most informed and informational opinion on this. What's your opinion of the crime rates on Bonaire, both against rentals at dive sites, and against properties on the island? And what's the best way to prevent and deal with this?

Well I've got to change that copy on my website since now I AM retired and do spend 3 months a year on Bonaire. Indeed, I've observed many many things over the years we've been visiting Bonaire and other locales in the Caribbean. Regarding the crime rates, as the island has matured indubitably the crime has increased. This is caused by a multitude of factors, more people, more immigrants coming on island for construction work, more drugs which is probably the biggest factor. These are just some of the variables.

My thoughts, are that you should ALWAYS (no matter where you are in the world) be on the look out to protect yourself and your property. Some practices I use on Bonaire:
1.when storing equipment in a gated dive locker do not leave masks or regulators hanging from a peg where some 12 year old can simple reach in and grab it through the bars. We leave general equipment in a mesh bag so it can not be pulled through and NEVER leave expensive regulators or computers in a dive locker.
2. I always put a lock on the spare tire on the vehicle we rent. And guess what? Never had one stolen
3. When you leave premises at night for dinner be aware that you should leave a light on and perhaps the radio playing. It also pays to bring an alarm that will trip if someone does try to enter
4. Remember that thieves LOVE low lying fruit. Always make it difficult for them.
5. As an aside, when folks do not abide by the long established rules of leave nothing at public dive sites and they get vandalized, remember psychology 101, operant conditioning and how it affects human behavior. By giving the perps a positive reinforcement with that IPAD, cash or some other "valuable", you perpetuate their behavior and thereby make it worse for all of us. Simply put, abide by the rules. If everyone did this, you would see a dramatic drop in the petty incidences at dive sites.
6. Understand psychology, perceptions and human behavior. We have the innate ability to rationalize almost anything.The wages on Bonaire (and in many locales throughout the world) are low. The populace doesn't have expensive cameras, wads of cash and visit expensive restaurants. Don't make yourself a target no matter where you are. Always be cognizant of your surroundings. Don't say dumb things at bars if you don't know all the folks who may be listening. And when I make reservations at restaurants, I never tell them where I'm staying, or just tell them inaccurate information.

Just some simple things to keep in mind. By the way, in visiting this island for over 25 years I have never had anything taken, but again I seldom let my guard down. My recommendation is to be pro active and do not be lulled into the fallacy that you're in paradise. Most folks are here to enjoy the water and the climate, but there will always be a segment of the population who try to enrich themselves at others expense.