What are the police doing to end the crime on Bonaire? - thread split

[Mossman]

Lets see I have been a lot of places in the old Caribbean and only a couple of them offer self guided shore diving! Most other countries require you to have a local DM and to let you go off on your own is unique to only a few Caribbean state islands!

What countries are these? I've done self-guided shore diving in the Cayman Islands (Grand Cayman), Honduras (Roatan), and Mexico (Cozumel). Along with the Netherlands Antilles, that's at least twice a couple. I'm also under the impression there aren't any rules against it in Belize or the U.S. (Florida Keys), though I've admittedly never done shore dives in the latter two, only self-guided boat dives.

Though I agree that Bonaire (and Curacao) are unique in that renting a vehicle to park in some isolated spot to go shore diving is more the norm than the exception, and the sheer number of dive sites (50+) combined with a small population (14,000?) make it difficult for the small police force to be everywhere at once. Of course there aren't more incidents of rental car theft at shore dive sites in Roatan or Cozumel or many other places in the Caribbean because no one is driving themselves and parking to do a shore dive.

Now the U.S., that's another story. Talk about a country where theft is rampant. Why don't those silly Americans do anything about it?

From Time Magazine: (When Your Rental Car Gets Robbed - TIME)
"According to the Honolulu Police Department, 10,605 cars were broken into in 2007, the latest year for which statistics are available. The numbers don't distinguish between rental cars and privately owned vehicles, but police department spokesperson Michelle Yu says that thieves most often target cars parked near popular tourist attractions, knowing that visitors often carry cameras, money, jewelry and other things worth stealing. . . .
"That's no surprise if you've been to Hawaii and seen the ubiquitous signs warning tourists to lock their cars and remove any valuables. And many travel books and online message boards carry specific warnings for Hawaii about break-ins. One useful piece of advice: If you see broken glass in a parking lot, don't park there. That glass probably means it's a prime hunting ground for thieves."

At least on Bonaire you don't have worry about broken glass on the ground. Most driver-tourists there are polite enough to leave their doors unlocked and windows rolled down.

 

[Papa_Bear]

In Cozumel I am pretty sure you need a DM to dive the park???? Also in Belize you are supposed to have a DM on every dive! Roatan no problem shore diving done hundreds, but would not park a truck in an isolated spot and dive out of it leaving anything in it or locked! West end, a resort, or parking lot, maybe but would still take my stuff with me! GC is cool with SD and I have parked many places without worry! (Not a Third World Island) The DM rule is in more places than you would think, but is not always enforced! My point was Bonaire is a different way of diving, not so boat oriented, and with all the people diving remote locations many don't think and offer up an opportunity some can't pass up!

 

[herman]

Let me try it again to see if I can finaly get a serious answer. Maybe someone can answer this question: why is there so much talk of crime, and reports of crime: condo break-ins and theft on rental vehicles, on Bonaire, that you don't hear about on other Caribe island, with the exceptions of Jamaica and Curacao? Where there's smoke there's fire? All these reports can't be people just making stuff up, and why would they do that in the first place?

Will you actually listen or will just accuse me of having an economic interest on the island or start calling names?
It's fairly simple. First, there is no place, I repeat NO place where you rent a car, go to remote places and dive. Not Coz, not the Bahamas, not Roatan or anywhere else in the Caribbean so there is no place where vehicle breakings can occur. No driving to and diving at remotes sites means no break ins at remote sites. Its not really a good idea to even rent a car and drive in some places which is the norm on Bonaire. When I go to Roatan, a place I would not even consider driving at, I am picked up at the resort and never leave the resort until time to go home. Add to that the shear numbers of DIVERS that go to Bonaire . I am talking about folks who actually go diving. Not like Coz where you dive once in the morning and do the tourist thing the rest of the day all while being overseen by the dive op. If you really look at the number of complaints you will see there is really not that many, lets face it, 90% of the complaints posted on this board are you or others restating second or third hand hearsay, not first hand reports. The number of actual first person accounts is small compared to the number of first person accounts of great trips. Add to that the FACT that happy people do not go around posting everwhere they can think of telling how great a time they had...Have you seen a happy trip report from DeputyDan or myself lately?? We just got back from a great 10 day trip, guess we need to post a bunch of times saying how great the trip was and then get several others to post telling how good a time they HEARD we had...not going to happen. And then you instantly discount the actual experience of those of us who actually go to the island but at the same time take any 2nd or 3rd hand crime post as gospel truth. If it's as bad as you imagine, how on earth have I had absolutely zero problems in over 500 person days on the island? I am defining person days as days on the island that myself and those directly with me have been on the island, no second or third hand reports. I have stayed at large resorts, small resorts and even a private home…where the door and windows were never closed or locked, just as the owner does and I do almost exclusively shore diving so my exposure to the possibility of crime is high . On the trip I just returned form, I even went so far as to bait my truck just to see if anything would happen. I put a pair of pants in plain sight in the bed of the truck, arranged them to ensure I would know if they had been search and even went a step farther, leaving several guilders in the pockets. We did 20 dive ranging form Nucove in the north, which is about as remote as it gets and by a local fishing shacks where I saw several locals, to Vista Blue in the south where there were several vehicles with locals in them fishing. Our dives averaged over an hour so there was plenty of time for anyone wanting to search our truck to do so. They were never touched. How is that possible?? Would you mind answering that? And while you are answering questions will you please tell us your ACTUAL Bonaire experience? When were you last on the island, how many times have you been there, where did you stay, did you have any issues and how many shore dives did you do that were not at the resort?? If you care to answer these questions honestly, please do so. If you are going to do what you normally do and avoid the questions , choosing instead to complain about the police or quote 2nd or 3rd hand post don’t waste my time.

 

[gypsyjim]

I heard on the Internet, somewhere, that Herman and DeputyDan from Scubaboard, had an awesome time on Bonaire recently, but that was probably propaganda being planted by local police or resort operators, just trying to suck in another unsuspecting victim!

 

[DiverVince]

Herman...Nice post and I agree with it 100%; BUT between you & me, you're wasting your time and effort with PF. No matter who posts, nor how many posts are made which are contrary to his "agenda", he will not accept it. He has his own laser focused point of view, and will not be swayed by anyone. I accept that; it's his right to think whatever he wants. His loss, not ours.

PF..I can tell you first hand of my 25 years experience with Bonaire, and also supply you with the many e mails from our guests who can't wait to return, but that will not make a difference to you. . Several posts back someone made a suggestion that you quit your normal job (if you are employed), move to Bonaire & become a police/security officer. I for one would second this suggestion.

Step away from your keyboard (if you can) and get down to Bonaire and get some REAL experience as to what life there is like. Otherwise your postings are mere musings from someone who is quite ill informed about Bonaire and (I suspect) has a bit too much time on his hands.

 

[pilot fish]

Lets see I have been a lot of places in the old Caribbean and only a couple of them offer self guided shore diving! Most other countries require you to have a local DM and to let you go off on your own is unique to only a few Caribbean state islands!

That's exactly why they should offer more protection for the diver, both in the rental vehicle and at their rented condo. If that's what makes Bonaire different, what is their main draw over other islands, then do something that makes it safer. Do smething to lessen the crime.

Bonaire is a very special place that we can't let some small minded people steal it from us either her on the island! Use common sense and don't be a victim! The people who had things stolen should not have had those things with them in the first place! You can do what a friend of mine did, he dumped in a donuts box and put it in an open truck in the bed! When he got back it was gone!

Ah, yes, there we go again, blame the victim. -"it was her fault she got raped. Her skirt was short." Deficating in doughnut boxes is your method of holding down crime? Brilliant!

 

[pilot fish]

moss, that really makes my point: at least in Hawaii you are amply warned, in travel books, posted signs, message boards etc. You don't see a concerted effort by a small, fanatical group trying to persuade people to ignore the problem and still others trying to convince people there is nothing to worry about, as you do on Bonaire. The truth protects people.

What countries are these? I've done self-guided shore diving in the Cayman Islands (Grand Cayman), Honduras (Roatan), and Mexico (Cozumel). Along with the Netherlands Antilles, that's at least twice a couple. I'm also under the impression there aren't any rules against it in Belize or the U.S. (Florida Keys), though I've admittedly never done shore dives in the latter two, only self-guided boat dives.

Though I agree that Bonaire (and Curacao) are unique in that renting a vehicle to park in some isolated spot to go shore diving is more the norm than the exception, and the sheer number of dive sites (50+) combined with a small population (14,000?) make it difficult for the small police force to be everywhere at once. Of course there aren't more incidents of rental car theft at shore dive sites in Roatan or Cozumel or many other places in the Caribbean because no one is driving themselves and parking to do a shore dive.

Now the U.S., that's another story. Talk about a country where theft is rampant. Why don't those silly Americans do anything about it?

From Time Magazine: (When Your Rental Car Gets Robbed - TIME)
"According to the Honolulu Police Department, 10,605 cars were broken into in 2007, the latest year for which statistics are available. The numbers don't distinguish between rental cars and privately owned vehicles, but police department spokesperson Michelle Yu says that thieves most often target cars parked near popular tourist attractions, knowing that visitors often carry cameras, money, jewelry and other things worth stealing. . . .
"That's no surprise if you've been to Hawaii and seen the ubiquitous signs warning tourists to lock their cars and remove any valuables. And many travel books and online message boards carry specific warnings for Hawaii about break-ins. One useful piece of advice: If you see broken glass in a parking lot, don't park there. That glass probably means it's a prime hunting ground for thieves."
At least on Bonaire you don't have worry about broken glass on the ground. Most driver-tourists there are polite enough to leave their doors unlocked and windows rolled down.

 

[pilot fish]

And that is why they need to make it safer. hello? If that is what draws divers there, what Bonaire has to offer that makes it different, don't you think they should at least make it safer and protect you from crime?

In Cozumel I am pretty sure you need a DM to dive the park???? Also in Belize you are supposed to have a DM on every dive! Roatan no problem shore diving done hundreds, but would not park a truck in an isolated spot and dive out of it leaving anything in it or locked! West end, a resort, or parking lot, maybe but would still take my stuff with me! GC is cool with SD and I have parked many places without worry! (Not a Third World Island) The DM rule is in more places than you would think, but is not always enforced! My point was Bonaire is a different way of diving, not so boat oriented, and with all the people diving remote locations many don't think and offer up an opportunity some can't pass up!

 

[pilot fish]

Anything is possible, right? Maybe they were safe because they took PB's advice and went to the bathroom in Dunkin Doughnut boxes?

I heard on the Internet, somewhere, that Herman and DeputyDan from Scubaboard, had an awesome time on Bonaire recently, but that was probably propaganda being planted by local police or resort operators, just trying to suck in another unsuspecting victim!

 

[ScubaSteve]

moss, that really makes my point: at least in Hawaii you are amply warned, in travel books, posted signs, message boards etc. You don't see a concerted effort by a small, fanatical group trying to persuade people to ignore the problem and still others trying to convince people there is nothing to worry about, as you do on Bonaire. The truth protects people.

PiFi, there really are not that many people that the supposed "fanatical group" as you call us even bother to discuss Bonaire theft with. We reserve such conversations for the terribly annoying idiots who don't know when to shut up. The rest of the civil individuals we accept that they have an opinion.

OH look at me, I am taking you away from arguing with the fanatical group. You can go back now