Who has NEVER had something stolen in Bonaire?

[ShakaZulu]

I've never had anything stolen in Bonaire, but I've never been there.
I read somewhere that it was full of thieves!

That's why the pole is going to be skewed...I wanted to se the results and clicked yes


Add another option, "Never been there, but want to see the results"

 

[ronscuba]

There are some types of thefts more disturbing than others.

Leaving valuables in your car while you go shore diving just doesn't make sense. Not saying you deserve to be robbed, but you should not be surprised.

The thefts than disturb me are getting robbed in your resort hotel room while you are sleeping or having dinner at the resort restaurant, having the safe stolen off the hotel room wall, having your wheels stolen off the rental car while shore diving with car parked in a lot with security.

These types of thefts are not just in Bonaire, but no matter where they happen, this type of robbery is a clear step up and IMHO, the local authorities are not doing their jobs. If these types of thefts continue, tourism will take a big hit.

 

[Natasha]

My SCUBABoard "handle" might be RoatanMan, and I have regretted that seemingly innocent monnicker I selected many times over. We dive all over the world and travel 5~7 weeks per year just to dive

We can change your name anytime you want~~ you will still keep your PMs..and such..you can even write "formally known as RoatanMan" under your new name.
It's very easy just let me know..

 

[Tomeck]

I didn't know that Bonaire is a very popular destination for American divers.

 

[Doc]

We can change your name anytime you want~~ you will still keep your PMs..and such..you can even write "formally known as RoatanMan" under your new name.

Hmm. Maybe. But then I would lose my true descriptor: Curmudgeon

 

[diversteve]

The way to deal with this, or any misperception, is NOT to begin threads. The best way to handle an ongoing trail of misinformation is to post follow ups to anything that comes up.

Despite all the Bonaire theft "voyeurs" there are legitimate stories of actual thefts that occurred there being posted. The Safe Stolen off Wall post the most recent example. So there is really no follow-up to counter the misperception when in fact it did happen.

My point here is to show that there are far more people who go there without incident.

Stick to the facts, write coherently and never ever ignore it.

I try to write at least legibly, and the hope is that this poll will be self-sustaining at some point so we can ignore it. Or at least allow rational people to decide for themselves.

...Bonaire deserves better treatment than hype and scare stories.

It does but that's what people like to read about. As witnessed by the fact that the "Safe" post already has exceeded this one in views. Over a single incident...

Nobody likes the good TV news...

 

[diversteve]

That's why the pole is going to be skewed...I wanted to se the results and clicked yes

Why didn't you pick No? Although it doesn't matter as the Yes option is only there so I can feign objectivity. I had a 50/50 chance of getting your vote...

Add another option, "Never been there, but want to see the results"

Too late, at least without Mod assistance. Easier just to miscount your vote later...

 

[Paavo Nurmi]

To those thinking about not going because of the crime, look at it this way. If you go hiking any place in the Western U.S. the trailheads have more car break-ins than Bonaire. Would this stop you from hiking in the good ol' safe U.S.A. ? Probably not, you just leave nothing of value in your vehicle. Do hotels in the U.S. get broken into and things stolen ? Of course they do, Bonaire is not any worse than a million other places in the world, including many at home. I've found the locals to be very nice and friendly, I even picked up a hitchhiker who was a teacher and drove him right to the school, super nice and friendly guy, just like 99.9 percent of the locals.
Don't let that .1 percent scare you off, it's happens all over the world.

 

[Bonairetrip]

Nothing stolen in ten plus trips (average trip length is probably about 17 days). That said, it can/does happen -- in Bonaire (to a friend) and elsewhere in the world (to me, more than once).

 

[SusanWH20]

Only been once for a few days. However, the divemaster who took us to Town Pier warned us that things happen while you're in the water so we packed accordingly (bare minimum of things that could be shoved behind the seat of the pick up truck).

Theft is a sad fact of life. I lock the doors of my car when it's parked in my buidling's garage. Only stands to reason I should be that careful when I travel.