[PUP] Thefts in St. Martin

[Dave Cooper]

<Patrick wrote: ...My point is that St.Martin/Maarten is still in my humble
opinion one of the safest islands to visit. I still think that the crimes
that is happening is not taken seriously  enough by the authority and it's
good to bring it up.>

We can only report what we saw over the last six months of visiting every
island from Venezuela to the British Virgin Islands.
St Martin had the highest amount of boat break-ins and theft while we were
there. Most were on the Dutch side and three within sight of the new coast
guard station and within 2 to 300 meters of where we were anchored. Two more
were in front of Island Water World. Another was just over the line on the
French side....all in the Lagoon. St Maarten had the only advisory that we
ran into posted on the wall at immigration re traveling alone, hitchhiking
or using fake taxies.
The BVI was second with several dinghies.
Isla Margarita was third with one dinghy/with motor and one outboard.

Nothing else in the ~2100 miles in six months to report. Tho there are a lot
of rather old stories we discount reports more than six month old. The perps
have either been captured or hit the mother lode and retired. If they were
still on the scene then you'd hear reports from "yesterday or last week" not
a year ago or whatever.

As always YMMV.......

Dave & Nancy
Swan Song
Roughwater 58