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Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:14 am
by bayer40601
Now that's funny.
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 10:44 am
by California Girl
I've just caught up on this thread and I have a few comments/opinions.
1. Shit happens. Everywhere.
2. I was born & raised in Southern California and we have ALWAYS locked our doors...both house & car. And shit still happens.
3. I think a lot of the opinions on this thread are based in where we live & were brought up. Teresa Rae, please post that picture of where you live that you posted a while back. It's absolutely beautiful where you live...but very rural.
4. Lex, please post a picture of where you live/work so we can see the comparison to where Teresa Rae lives. I'm only picking on you two because you seem to live at opposite ends of the Earth and it's very telling in your opinions.
5. No one (at least I don't think anyone has mentioned this) has mentioned that the West Indians & white locals on STJ grow up on a small island and many of the kids don't move on. What is there for them to do? Clean rich people's villas? Wash dishes? Lots of people on this forum mention how they wouldn't move to STJ because they don't want to have to work 2 jobs to survive. Some (not all) of the crime situation could be remedied by having some sort of local government program in place to keep these people in the loop, busy and doing something positive with their lives.
6. You are not a tourist. You are a target to the n'er do wells. You rent a home for a week that costs more than a lot of people make in 6 months. It's probably a nicer home than theirs. You bring all your jewelry and electronics. Either do a good job of hiding your stuff, rent a villa that doesn't have an easy "getaway", or rent a villa that's not so fancy. Those are the only things I can think of that might do a better job of protecting you.
Me? I'm not the least bit worried about being robbed in the Virgin Islands. At least no more concerned than I am at home. Just this morning on TV, while I've been writing this, there was "another home invasion robbery" reported on the news. This seems to be a daily occurrence in the Los Angeles area.
If going to STJ scares you and you're re-thinking going there, then that leaves that much more island for me! 
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 11:24 am
by bayer40601
Now that you mention it, LA does scare me.
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 3:22 pm
by papabou
one last post from the guy who began this string (on this board anyway):
1. bad things happen to innocent people but more bad stuff happens to those who are not vigilent.
2. crime is on the rise just about everywhere and i've seen no real evidence serious crime on stj has increased any faster than in my home town since my first stay in 2004.
3. i strongly believe strong law enforcement deters crime and crime increases disportionately where there is little risk of being caught and prosecuted.
4. based on the numbers of crimes and succesful prosecutions posted here, the usvi and stj must have the worse prosecution rate in the us and her territories. there is little deterent except you provide yourself.
5. just as basic locks will not deter the harden criminal, success at petty crimes will breed more crimes and more serious ones because the risk reward starts looking good.
6. while crime on stj is not currently out of control, unless better law enforcement is forthcoming, it will be.
7. as a tourist it is impossible to take even half the safety precaution on stj you do at home.
8. the bride and i will not be visiting stj alone for a villa stay in the near future (see pt 1) but i will continue to monitor the situation in the hope there will be a turn around of the current situation.
why do i care? in just 4+ years and dozens of vacations, stj has provided 9 of our 10 best vacations and i am anxious to come back when i feel the risks merit it.
papabou
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 10:05 pm
by RickG
papabou wrote:why do i care? in just 4+ years and dozens of vacations, stj has provided 9 of our 10 best vacations and i am anxious to come back when i feel the risks merit it.
papabou
Bro, I've got your back. See ya on the island.
Cheers, RickG
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 10:19 pm
by papabou
rick,
you're my idol of the island visitors. you've helped so many in need and added a kindred spirit to this and the ta board that i believe is a blessing to all who read. if any one can get stj fixed, i would expect it to be you. i just hope in fixing it you don't have to enter the witness protection program cause you'd have to go some place far away from stj, your face is too familar there!
if i get another turn in this life, i hope it is as you.
papabou
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 10:29 pm
by RickG
papabou wrote:if i get another turn in this life...
papabou
<hug> see ya soon.
Cheers, RickG
Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 4:49 am
by JT
Ok, It's getting a little thick here.
This horse has been beaten so many times over the years. There has been crime in the islands since the beginning of time. As California Girl said, Sometimes $hit happens. I for one, don't think a greater police presence would accomplish squat on STJ, especially the way the VI's run their police departments. It seems that the only thing less effective then the cops are the prosecuters and judges. And to see a cop everywhere I turn on STJ would not enhance my island experience.