Robbery

[Just another Cinderella]

Curacao I am sure has more crime because of its large population relative to Bonaire and its "large city". I do not hear about petty crime against tourists though, but there has to be some. Yes everybody is warned about car break ins. I do not think law enforcement is that much better either. There may be more chances for employment though again because of Curacao's size.
Somebody who lives on Bonaire is going to have to answer about the standard of living. I just think tourists are an easy mark with little chance of prosecution. I too wonder where the stolen items end up.

If somebody has a D3 stolen let me know.....

 

[WarmWaterDiver]

Now I'm wondering if I need to buy a welding rig or a flashlight depending on whose trip packing list you look at before our upcoming Curacao trip.

"underwater torch"?

Do the Netherlands Antilles go by American verbiage or proper British English?

I use mangled Texican myself.

 

[slushmaker]

My family was renting a 3 bedroom house a couple of miles down from the Bonaire airport in Jan 07. My daughter was sleeping on the couch & thought I was outside by the window since our son & his girlfriend had to leave at 4:30 a.m. to get to the airport. When whoever was outside started removing the panes of glass form the window, she realized it wasn't her mom out there & screamed. The guy took off and dropped a box of cheap jewelry in the carport on his way out. Seems like he had broken into 5 other houses before attempting to break into ours. The police came and filed a report. It seemed they thought they knew who it might be but hadn't caught him in the act or with the goods yet. Our gear was in a locked building by the carport which he didn't bother. It sure scared my daughter. The ironic thing was, the sliding door to the patio was open with just a screen door so we got a breeze thru the house but he tried to get in the window instead. We had no problems the rest of the time we were there. The diving was still the best I have experienced.

 

[DandyDon]

Now I'm wondering if I need to buy a welding rig or a flashlight depending on whose trip packing list you look at before our upcoming Curacao trip.

"underwater torch"?

Do the Netherlands Antilles go by American verbiage or proper British English?

I use mangled Texican myself.

You learn various, alternate terms in diving.

 

[rlskill1]

And what's going to happen when some quick footed tourist catches and beats the crap out of a would be burgler/robber? I sleep light and might have a fish-billy or a big stick near by to "do unto others before they do unto you". That will probably create an "International Incident" of the "ugly American tourist" assaulting a poor islander.

And I agree with an earlier post: Where do the stolen goods go? Is there a big flea market for these items to be sold? Do they get shipped to SA or the US? Can I go somewhere and buy my stuff back?? Or get a really good deal on a camera/IPod etc??

If dive shops started boycotting Bonaire for other "safer" destinations, the Island would start to clean-up it's act.

And while we're at it, Airlines don't make it very easy to get to Bonaire!!!

 

[DandyDon]

And what's going to happen when some quick footed tourist catches and beats the crap out of a would be burgler/robber? I sleep light and might have a fish-billy or a big stick near by to "do unto others before they do unto you". That will probably create an "International Incident" of the "ugly American tourist" assaulting a poor islander.

And I agree with an earlier post: Where do the stolen goods go? Is there a big flea market for these items to be sold? Do they get shipped to SA or the US? Can I go somewhere and buy my stuff back?? Or get a really good deal on a camera/IPod etc??

If dive shops started boycotting Bonaire for other "safer" destinations, the Island would start to clean-up it's act.

And while we're at it, Airlines don't make it very easy to get to Bonaire!!!

I think the airlines are simply supplying to meet demand, which must be much less than some other destinations. If you suggestions were to be implemented, supply could be reduced further. Indeed, maybe some divers are boycotting Bonaire for other "safer" destinations already.

We don't know really just how common the thefts are do we? Maybe selling the goods is easy in small numbers? US Passports are always in demand. I don't know; facts seem to be hidden and questions repressed.

The lack of Netherlands law to deal with the criminals better may well be rooted in the Netherlands if they use the same standards in both places, since the Netherlands has such a very low crime rate, many of our unlawful vices legal and accepted there, plus their approach to many challenges can be quite different from the usual in the US. One example - exceprting...

nrc.nl - International - Less is more in debate about prison population

The Netherlands may be closing eight prisons, but not because of any lack of criminals, says researcher Ben Vollaard. There are plenty of criminals; they just don't end up in prison as much. Not everybody thinks this is a bad thing.

(continued at above link)

 

[WarmWaterDiver]

You learn various, alternate terms in diving.

Just in diving? :amazed:

 

[DandyDon]

Just in diving? :amazed:

Well, and in travels, any communications with other cultures. To answer your previous questions - take Dive Lights. Just don't lay one down anywhere.

 

[Just another Cinderella]

"underwater torch"?
In Curacao bring your fleshlait.

When I read that people are being robbed while they are at "home", it can only be a matter of time before somebody gets badly hurt.

It is time for the diving community to speak with their feet/fins.

 

[Dive California]

It may be to late to rescue this topic, but there is an answer to the theft problem on Bonaire.
Don't go.
Yes Bonaire is now part of Holland, and the Dutch law can be very frustrating but these crimes are not investigated simply because they know the victim will be leaving the island in a matter of days, so no need to bother.
People really only go to Bonaire to dive, so stop going and post that on as many dive forums as possible. The dive shops will get the message as will the tourism board. If Bonaire/Holland looses the tourist dollar/euro/gilder something will get done.
Find another destination because divers have been complaining about Bonaire for years and the crimes have certainly increased in number and it sounds like the crooks are getting bolder. I don't think one can call these isolated instances anymore.

SMB...great idea, but would never work with Americans. If you pick up any dive magazine...You'll see lots of ads for Bonaire, with dirt cheap (compared to other destinations around the world) prices. And most Americans will pick the destination that is cheapest.

So the crooks on Bonaire will always have Americans to target.

I do agree with your assessment that many crimes don't go further because the victim is gone. I understand that after a few weeks you will see computer and dive equipment (stolen from tourist) for sale on the island.

:sad: