USVI-On-Line

With all this talk of crime and theft on island I was reminded of a shocking incident that occurred on one of our many trips to STJ several years ago.

We had stopped by Deli Grotto on the way to the beach and picked up lunch for later.

We found a quiet little spot on Jumbie and proceeded to head out for a snorkel. Little did we know what would happen if we left our lunch unprotected on the beach.

According to eye-witnesses, the bastard had a look-out and they tag teamed, taking turns stealing our food and snacks while we snorkeled innocently in the water.

The onlookers did NOTHING to stop this horrendous and senseless act.

One eyewitness said, "He gave us an evil, wild-eyed look and we were too scared to do anything. He was just too fast!"

I tried to file a report with the park ranger (after all a Deli Grotto sandwich will run you around $8-$10 bucks or so and the cookies are like $2!) at the National Park Service (NPS)offices on island, but they just laughed at me and gave me "attitude" so I decided to just let the whole issue go and try to enjoy the rest of my vacation.

Apparently, I was not his first victim. According to recent reports, and subsequent on-line research after I returned from vacation, this sort of crime is rampant on island but repeatedly ignored by the authorities.

If left unchecked the problem will only get worse! And given the high cost of food on island, it's clear that tourists are losing hundreds of dollars daily with this kind of thievery.

Luckily I was able to find a picture of him on-line.
So if you see this sonofabitch: http://www.seestjohn.com/images/fauna/m ... e_main.jpg

Tell the little sh!t that I want my Deli Grotto cookie back!

I hear machetes are a good deterrent...

@jmhouse- Why do you think we started bringing it?

I saw the topic and my first thought was: "God help the SOB who steals my deli grotto sandwich."

Depending on what kind I got (and if I got one of those coconut cookie bar things), I might rather lose my iPod...

Those little stinkers! They hit at Lameshur once too. Took my whole bag of Dorritos! I was fuming.....

(and hungry for a salty snack to go with my beer......)

While at Caneel, we ordered room service one day for lunch.

Mr. PA put the tray at the bottom of the stairs. A few minutes later, we heard an insane clattering and banging.

A mongoose was going crazy all over the tray, knocked over the china and wine bucket, it sounded like a wild party was in progress.

I will post the picture once I get it uploaded.

The Caneel mongoose dem look very healthy, all plump and shiny.

Yes! I completely agree that we tourists must unite to combat this horrible crime of snack food theft. In fact, just today John and I were victims. There we were, sitting quietly on our balcony with cheese and crackers when this bad dude showed up:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/4815855305/" title="laughing gull by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/481 ... 528b55.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="laughing gull"></a>

See that tounge hanging out? He was literally salivating over our (admitedly delicious) crackers and cheese. Back and forth he went on the balcony, biding his time, laughing at our attempts to prevent the inevitable:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/4815855715/" title="laughing gull 2 by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4115/481 ... 62bcd9.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="laughing gull 2"></a>


Until the final, decisive attack:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/4815856969/" title="laughing gull 5 by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4077/481 ... 2b2b67.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="laughing gull 5"></a>

No doubt, yet another branch of the island's ever- increasing criminal cartel.

This is WAY out of hand. Something MUST be done.

spraying DDT & agent orange would work wonders

Save the mongoose! I think they are becoming extinct, at least over here on STT. They were previously responsible to curb the iguana and chicken population. Now we are up to our ears in chickens and iguanas. Best theory is that the feral cats are eating the baby mongooses!

Solution:
Put lunch in a cooler and on a floaty. Attach floaty to one's ankle and tote around while enjoying your snorkeling trip.

Gormit

You figured it out!!

I bet the little dude was jamming to some groovy ipod tunes!!!

Folks STJ is not STT, it is still a safe place to be. Much more so than many of the other islands we haved travel to over the years!!

Ted

I would love to see pictures of these little thieves
committing the crime.
AH

That guy stole my lunch on Cinnamon Bay several years ago as well! What a coincidence.