Friend a victim of villa break-in

[Connie]

Afternoon, y'all.
I know that plenty of you wonderful folks have been there a butt-load more than I have, but in my 14-15 visits to STJ, staying in a different villa each time, I've never had an issue.
That doesn't mean that I'm not concerned about it, though. Last year I asked the villa co. specifically for those "sliding glass door jam jobbers", and they appeased me with no problem.
I would definately be interested in any websites that provide the motion detectors/ door & window alarms; I think Splash from the forum sent me the info before, but I nerdily erased it... (maybe it was the motion activated camera...? -info on that would be groovy too...)
Like I said, I've (very thankfully) never had any issues, but it's always better safe than sorry. No pun intended.
Smiles-
MJ

You've been there many times Jim. I just think all the bad guys on Island get the word where you are and know to stay away

[mahojim]

Got that right, sister!!!
I'll beat the crap out of them with Amys cane!!! They're nothing a little titanium can't handle!
Love ya, and
Smiles-
Jimmy

[PA Girl]

Since we will have our infant with us on our next trip, I have written the villa owner to ask if they've experienced any break-ins and if so, if she can let me know of any entry points so we can take extra precautions, including bringing our own alarms. I'll be curious to see if/how they respond.

I don't care about my belongings at all - but it's my biggest fear to have my infant son in the room with us when we wake up and there's a stranger there. Things tend to go badly when mama bears' cub gets threatened.

I am concerned with the opposite, keeping people (specifically the 5 yo) IN our room but my method would apply to unwanted entry as well as exit.

I bought several door/window alarms at Wal-Mart. They come 2 to a pack and cost $10 per pack. They stick on with foam pads and remove without leaving a mark.

One side contains the alarm, which is VERY loud. The other side is the contact.

I have yet to come across a door, window or slider where I could not set the alarms.

At the very least, it would alert you to a door or window being openned.

[mahojim]

Thanks PA Girl.
I'll definately look into it next for next trip.
Smiles-
MJ

[rpplano]

Folks, don't count too much on laptop locks. They can be defeated in 2 seconds by anyone who is determined to get the computer and brought a cutter tool. It's happened to me in major hotel ballrooms before during business session breaks. The motion sensors are a very good upgrade idea for a villa at night. .... or just invite MahoJim to stay with you.

[stjohnjulie]

Just for the record, locals get broken into as well. You just aren't going to hear about it on a travel forum, or any other forum for that matter. For me, the best security I have is that big guy on my avatar. He weighs 100lbs and can be very intimidating to look at, not to mention, he barks every time someone walks by. There is only one way into my yard and there are only two people, other than the three of us who live in the house, that he will let by without barking.

Something that has been going on for the past year plus is stolen jewelry. St. Thomas does a Cash for Gold thing and that has made stealing jewelry a very lucrative business. They are trying to get a handle on regulating and monitoring the cash for gold business, but they aren't quite there yet. I've seen a HUGE shift in what kind of jewelry local people wear. I don't see people dripping in gold jewelry any more. It makes you a target...so people don't wear it. Something I'd suggest for visitors as well. Leave the fancy stuff at home.

[JJShaw]

Good Idea Julie, We never bring anything expensive with us. I even leave my engagement and wedding band at home. We have a cpl of cheap petrogylph bands we bought that we wear when we are here..No diamonds or gold at all. Only things that can be replaced fairly cheap..debated bringing the lap top this time but we had a few things we needed to keep check on or we wouldnt have brought it..

[petepie]

We've used the door/window alarms too (also to make sure kids stay inside more than burglars staying out). You can get them through amazon.com as well -- just search for window alarm. You can set them for chime as well, so they make a brief ding when the door is opened.

Read the description carefully -- the ones you're looking for should be about $5-$10 each. There are also wireless door/window alarm sensors for $20 each that are designed to work with an existing home security system (and are not the ones you want).

[XOXO]

Good Idea Julie, We never bring anything expensive with us. I even leave my engagement and wedding band at home. We have a cpl of cheap petrogylph bands we bought that we wear when we are here..No diamonds or gold at all. Only things that can be replaced fairly cheap..debated bringing the lap top this time but we had a few things we needed to keep check on or we wouldnt have brought it..

I leave the jewelry at home too. I am not really worried about someone taking it--more scared of losing it or forgetting it.

Even if we left all the goodies at home we still have to worry about our credit cards, cash, and passports.

What do you all do in terms of cash? Traveler's checks don't seem to be the preferred payment by the business' we offered them to. That would be the safest but certainly not the most convenient.

By the way . . . we left our hard drive in a condo in Kauai. I called them from the airport before the housekeeping got there. I told them exactly where it was (hidden) and they said they would call me if they found it. I called them a lot and they finally told me that they looked and it wasn't there. Please. My bad, I know, but come on. The thing is that it had very little value for them--so, I don't get it.

There wasn't anything on the hard drive that would be a problem (just movies and music were backed up).

Pete: thanks for the tips on the door and window alarms.

And rpplano, I am ignoring your post because I already ordered the laptop cables. I didn't really think of them cutting the cable as much as I figured, if they were really determined, they could disassemble and destroy the furniture.

xoxo

[PA Girl]

Something that has been going on for the past year plus is stolen jewelry. St. Thomas does a Cash for Gold thing and that has made stealing jewelry a very lucrative business. They are trying to get a handle on regulating and monitoring the cash for gold business, but they aren't quite there yet. I've seen a HUGE shift in what kind of jewelry local people wear. I don't see people dripping in gold jewelry any more. It makes you a target...so people don't wear it. Something I'd suggest for visitors as well. Leave the fancy stuff at home.

Very intersting that it changed habits so much.

The cash for gold places are popping up all over where we live. And break-ins are increasing as well. Friends of ours were victims of a break-in, two random guys were just driving around out in the country, breaking into houses, looking for jewelry. They were (admitted) drug addicts looking for quick money. They did a trip up the valley and went straight to the gold place. Given that I live in an area that is so safe that most people don't even lock their doors, it was very shocking.

[liamsaunt]

I've noticed that in our area too, PA Girl. There are big billboards on the roads advertising them also. Break ins have also gone up. The house across from mine was broken in to a couple of months ago in a truly bizarre incident--the robber pulled up in the middle of the day with a mini forklift and went inside and took their TV, computer, etc.! He ended up being caught because about half the town saw him driving down the road with the TV on the forklift. One for the "not the brightest bulb in the shed" files.

My sister's next door neighbor was also broken into--and he is a state trooper and his cruiser was parked outside the house! It seems to be a dash and grab type thing. Ipods, laptops, etc.

[BRY1105]

Something to keep in mind - safes are good and all, but if the safe itself isn't bolted to the floor, wall, ect... it doesnt do you any good! Nothing is going to keep the guy from taking it home and cutting it open.

[stjohnjulie]

The Cash for Gold businesses are hard to control. The recently placed some new regulations for the ones operating here. You have to show id, they are putting in cameras, they have to send a list of what they take in to the police. I'm in the jewelry biz, so just to give you an idea of why criminals are zoning in on it...

11 years ago, when I first started in the biz, gold was about $300 an oz.

Today, gold is $1,200 + an ounce.

Can you say OUCH! Gold jewelry is a tough sell these days. It's hard to explain to people why something they saw in our store 5 years ago (aprox $400/oz) is now 3 times the price. More and more of our designers are coming out with silver lines.

Not sure what the cash for gold people are giving per ounce, but even people who bought stuff 5 years ago and selling it today are coming out ahead.