usvi-on-line
Friend a victim of villa break-in
Friend a victim of villa break-in
Hi forumites! I haven't been around in a while due to a new job and a very demanding 8 month old, but wanted to make travelers aware to be on alert when staying in villas/condos. It seems that this has been discussed recently, but thought I'd share what an acquaintance told my husband this weekend.
Our friend went to St. John at the end of June. We haven't seen him since then, until my husband went out with some friends this weekend. When my husband inquired how his trip was (he and his fiancee got engaged at Caneel), he said "Awesome, except for 24 hours."
He and his fiancee stayed at Caneel the first three days. They then moved in to a villa somewhere on the Cruz Bay/Chocolate Hole part of the island. The first night they had the villa to themselves, before more friends arrived the next day. When the woke in the morning, they found that the villa had been entered in the night and a laptop and iPhone stolen.
They had been good little renters and locked the doors as instructed, complete with putting safety bars in place. The best guess was that the intruders got in through a door/window that seemed inaccessible. I think the take-home lesson here is to lock your valuables in the safe or keep them in your room with you at night. The intruders hit several other houses that night and didn't seem to want to bother anyone, just take stuff. Common areas were the only areas the crooks ventured into during this series on break-ins.
Still scary. We'll be on guard next month.
Our friend went to St. John at the end of June. We haven't seen him since then, until my husband went out with some friends this weekend. When my husband inquired how his trip was (he and his fiancee got engaged at Caneel), he said "Awesome, except for 24 hours."
He and his fiancee stayed at Caneel the first three days. They then moved in to a villa somewhere on the Cruz Bay/Chocolate Hole part of the island. The first night they had the villa to themselves, before more friends arrived the next day. When the woke in the morning, they found that the villa had been entered in the night and a laptop and iPhone stolen.
They had been good little renters and locked the doors as instructed, complete with putting safety bars in place. The best guess was that the intruders got in through a door/window that seemed inaccessible. I think the take-home lesson here is to lock your valuables in the safe or keep them in your room with you at night. The intruders hit several other houses that night and didn't seem to want to bother anyone, just take stuff. Common areas were the only areas the crooks ventured into during this series on break-ins.
Still scary. We'll be on guard next month.
If a thief has success in a certain villa then the chances of a return "visit" are high I would think, especially if it is known to be a vacation rental where the guests may not be aware of the history.
When booking a villa do you all ask about break ins? I admit I hadn't thought to ask that when recently booking for our next trip, Are the companies required to disclose if there have been break ins if asked?
When booking a villa do you all ask about break ins? I admit I hadn't thought to ask that when recently booking for our next trip, Are the companies required to disclose if there have been break ins if asked?
Trip report 2009
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Trip report 2008
So good, so good, so good!
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Trip report 2008
So good, so good, so good!
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susan & herb
- Posts: 450
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 5:02 pm
- Location: northern nj
Well, Jim, the upside is that you knew and probably were more careful, right?
Susan & Herb, I bring the alarms on all of my trips. They don't work for sliding glass doors though--but normally people have jams for those types of doors. So, no worries. We haven't ever needed them but I sleep better knowing that they are there. The little bumps in the night don't bother me--unless I hear an obnoxious buzzing sound I know we are alone.
ALW, was there a safe? I feel really bad for them. I know my iPhone and laptop are something I use constantly and don't want to live without. Do you ever think about how spoiled we are??
XOXO
Susan & Herb, I bring the alarms on all of my trips. They don't work for sliding glass doors though--but normally people have jams for those types of doors. So, no worries. We haven't ever needed them but I sleep better knowing that they are there. The little bumps in the night don't bother me--unless I hear an obnoxious buzzing sound I know we are alone.
ALW, was there a safe? I feel really bad for them. I know my iPhone and laptop are something I use constantly and don't want to live without. Do you ever think about how spoiled we are??
XOXO
Me either. That is why I was asking. My kids get a little annoyed with me when I tell them to put everything in the safe. It is so easy--so why not, right?alw1977 wrote:I believe there was a safe, but they didn't think to use the safe while they were in the house. In the past, I haven't always locked up my belongings at night, just when I'm out during the day or evening. That will change on this next trip.
xoxo
For us, if laptops were not in the safe (when we left the house), they were cable-locked to furniture. The thinking being: we'd notice someone trying to drag a couch or big wrought-iron table out of the house more readily than just a laptop. Actually, the thought of someone doing that made us laugh.
For what it's worth, I think the management companies MAY be more attuned to this and may make safety a part of their spiel. That could help people remember to take precautions.
For what it's worth, I think the management companies MAY be more attuned to this and may make safety a part of their spiel. That could help people remember to take precautions.
A couple of years ago we were staying in a villa called Paloma Blanco in the Gift Hill area. We locked up tight before bed, but woke up about 1:00 am by someone in the bedroom going through our stuff! He ran when I yelled at him and jumped up. He had defeated the little "j" type lock on the sliding doors.
Luckily, he didn't find much to steal except my wife's backpack and a little prescription medication. (and a pocket Bible which he really did need!!)
Destination St John was our rental agent and they put us in another villa for the rest of our trip.
I think the owners have changed the name of the villa now, so just be aware.
Luckily, he didn't find much to steal except my wife's backpack and a little prescription medication. (and a pocket Bible which he really did need!!)
Destination St John was our rental agent and they put us in another villa for the rest of our trip.
I think the owners have changed the name of the villa now, so just be aware.
All the talk about break ins over the past couple months has made me a little worried about renting villas from here on out. I think someone has mentioned this in the past in another topic, but it would be really nice to know which ones have gotten broken into, and are there trends such as: location, management company, ect... I just dont want choosing a villa to be "luck of the draw" as to whether or not it is going to get broken into.
Bryan
[quote="pipanale"]For us, if laptops were not in the safe (when we left the house), they were cable-locked to furniture. The thinking being: we'd notice someone trying to drag a couch or big wrought-iron table out of the house more readily than just a laptop. Actually, the thought of someone doing that made us laugh.
quote]
I think you provided a link for the cable locks before. Edited to say that I found the cable locks. I think there was something else that someone provided the link--maybe Gromit? It was more of a safe and cable.
xoxo
quote]
I think you provided a link for the cable locks before. Edited to say that I found the cable locks. I think there was something else that someone provided the link--maybe Gromit? It was more of a safe and cable.
xoxo
Those lap top locks sound like a good idea because at some places we've stayed the safe isn't big enough for the laptop. Susan and Herb is there a particular portable alarm that you've found that you've heard is good? There seem to be qite a few on the market.
Trip report 2009
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... highlight=
Trip report 2008
So good, so good, so good!
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... highlight=
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... highlight=
Trip report 2008
So good, so good, so good!
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... highlight=
Those lap top locks sound like a good idea because at some places we've stayed the safe isn't big enough for the laptop. Susan and Herb is there a particular portable alarm that you've found that you've heard is good? There seem to be qite a few on the market.
Trip report 2009
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... highlight=
Trip report 2008
So good, so good, so good!
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... highlight=
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... highlight=
Trip report 2008
So good, so good, so good!
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... highlight=
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gymnastika
- Posts: 291
- Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:01 pm
- Location: texas
Ohmygod! That made me laugh out loud!gymnastika wrote:For safety reasons, cough, I take my iphone to bed with me and I literally sleep on top of it--or under my pillow. Sigh--the love of my life.
I think I found the little box with a cable lock on amazon. I already ordered the laptop cable lock. It was reviewed really well and was only $24. Well worth it!
xoxo