Robbery

[dvrliz1]

Ok, let me chime in a bit....

Regarding some of the previous statements. We moved to Bonaire almost 6 years ago. We were robbed in a rental house (we stayed there while our house was being renovated) and I was actually sleeping on the couch. We are still here. If we were in the states, I wouldn't sell my house and move if I was broken into, so I didn't do it here. We have owned our home here on Bonaire since 2003 and have NEVER had an incident (knock wood..lol). In fact, I remember a time about 4 years ago at 2am when I had a knock at the door a 4 cops said there was a call that someone was breaking into a house in our area, and the cops were going door to door to make sure everything was ok.

Now regarding tourist/tourist areas. Like DiverVince said, Bonaire is realitively very safe compared to other islands. As a female, I still feel safe to walk around where I want, when I want. I am however cautious, the same as I would be in the US.

A lot of you have asked "where does the stuff go". Well let me tell you, the majority of the locals who are the "petty thieves" are usually druggies who are "hired" by people who "fence" the stuff over to Curacao or Venezuela. These "ring leaders" are normally not Bonairean (the last big bust a couple of years ago was a women from a Caribbean Island who was here illegally and they got her and her fence in Curacao, from what I understand, she was deported and blacklisted (better than putting her in jail IMHO). Also, they like to take things they can carry easily (small cameras, ipods, cell phones) that they can "carry on" and take to Curacao.

As far as Jupiter's comment, yes I would have to agree. I'm not saying it is right, but you have to understand the "traditions or the way of life on Bonaire". Basically everyone knows everyone or is some how related to each other. The way it used to be is if someone got caught stealing, using drugs, etc, the police would turn the person (normally the "opportunists" are between 13 and 18) back over the parents (usually a relative) and the problem was definitely handled. This way cannot work anymore, and it is slow to change 100's of years of way of life...BUT...

Things are changing. The police department is working on "weeding" out the good and bad cops, with difficulty and resistance, but it is happening. They are also getting more modern with tools and techniques. This is all still happening on island time, but it IS happening.

Hotels, dive operators, etc are pressuring the government to address the problem. They are also doing things like installling upgraded security measures, etc. The local hotel association here was recently successful in getting the government to upgrade the lighting along the water front, away from town to deter theft. It is working!

I think with that no matter where you go in the world you will ALWAYS find crime, especially in the Caribbean, it will never be irradicated. I also think that with the age of Internet, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter...communication is much easier, and lets face it...we all tend to speak out when something ISN'T right, rather, then when it is. The internet is a GREAT way to vent!

I hope this helps with some of the questions or comments. If I can be of any further help, please feel free to let me know.

 

[DiverVince]

Excellent posting Liz and you're right on the money!

 

[keithdiver]

Liz , Ed i stand behing you guys 100% Keith &Kyle, i am totally supportive of your post, Hope all is well. And Happy Belated New Year !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DandyDon]

Liz's explanation is a very comprehensive one at that, and her efforts are the kind that are needed there I am sure.

The tourists who shrug off the problem as an accepted irritation are part of the problem, and we've seen some post here.

I'd like to go there sometime, even tho it's a headache to fly to from Lubbock, but this problem is the deal breaker.

 

[Adaveke]

Maybe I have a stupid question.
Some people advise to keep the windows of your truck down and have the doors unlocked.
Where do you put your cloths while diving?

 

[Jupiter31]

Maybe I have a stupid question.
Some people advise to keep the windows of your truck down and have the doors unlocked.
Where do you put your cloths while diving?

Theory is to show that there is nothing of value to take and keep the criminals from breaking the glass to get in - assuming they can't get a good look from the raised windows! Keeps them from breaking the window(s) - or so the theory goes.

They are looking for cameras, I Pods, dive gear (small stuff like a computer), and of course, money - not your sh__t stained underwear and pitted out T shirt (Yuck). (KIDDING!!)

If you put your clothes onder the seat, or even on the seat - you are probably OK - unless you get a thief w/ some strange fetishes'!!

 

[DandyDon]

Maybe I have a stupid question.
Some people advise to keep the windows of your truck down and have the doors unlocked.
Where do you put your cloths while diving?

I think you have to wear old clothes that no thief would want to handle.

I'd kinda hate to dive where no one carries a first aid kit, etc.

 

[jd950]

The only clothes we leave behind are T shirts and sandals, with the hope that they will be there when we get back. So far, so good, but we usually make sure they are not particularly nice T shirts or sandals. I have heard of people who take their sandals with them on the dive so they don't get taken. I know one guy who take a little cable lock thing with him and locks shirts and sandals to the truck seat.

If you need first aid stuff, you are mostly out of luck until you get somewhere with supplies.

It is a shame that we have to do this, but if you want to shore dive that's how it is, and any changes will have to come from people who live on the islands or at least own property there. As tourists we have no real voice, and for every diver who says they won't go somewhere or won't return due to the crime, there are others who don't know or don't care.

At least on Curacao there are a number of dive sites where one pays to get in and there are lots of non-diving people around, so the risk may be less there and if you were concerned enough about the theft thing, you could keep occupied diving only at places with onsite dive shops, lockers, etc.

 

[handben]

If you guys care about reef conservation then all this petty crime and more importantly the talk about it is a good thing. It is pretty obvious that the more tourists/divers an area has, the more infrastructure support and consequent environmental degradation will occur to handle them. I'm sure we can all think of islands that have been ravaged by over-development. If the crime situation is putting a governor on this over-development then at least there is one favorable element for the reef and all its critters.

In November I was on a dive trip in Domica with a big group of folks many of which were way into photography. This one guy went on and on about how he'd never go to Bonaire because of the crime. Knowing what I do about him, I kept my mouth shut. I didn't want to dissuade him from staying away from that beautiful island.

I hope that all the folks who have incidents scream loudly on these boards. Maybe then there won't be more resorts built destroying the natural setting of the coasts, there will be less sewage snuffing out the coral life, there will be fewer rental trucks zig zagging all over the island and so on. The less impact we have environmentally the more likely there will still be something worth seeing in Bonaire 20 or 30 years from now. I say keep the crime rants coming and scare away the fair weather divers. Leave the island for the die-hards willing to run the gauntlet and brave all the petty criminals.

 

[DandyDon]

There goes part of the problem again.