[PUP] Thefts in St. Martin

[Patrik Kinander]

On 8/15/07, Dave Cooper <swansong at gmn-usa.com> wrote:
> <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
>

Hi Dave and Nancy (and the list)
I recognize your boat name, and have seen the boat and heard you on the radio.

It's sad to here about your experience in St.Martin/Maarten, even
sadder that it apparently doesn't reach the public here. As I said, I
have never during my stay here since 2002 heard about any break-ins to
boat at anchor just a couple boats the got visit on the hard. Most of
my friends are live abords and no one has reported any problems.   If
what you say is true, and I believe you, then something should be done
about it!

St.M is still a friendly island, lot safer then most places in both US
and EU. Me and my girlfriend go out a lot. And offen walk back home or
to are dingy at night. Never had any problem.

As I said in my previous mail,  we been three times to Grenada - there
where break-ins every night specially in St.George lagun.

In Venezuela several of our friends have been robbed under gun point,
one shoot at and one even shoot in the belly (2003). This year one of
the Managers for one of the yards in Venezuela and his wife got shoot
died at the entrance to the yard. Several other cruisers shoot or/and
badly beaten.
(remember the france cruiser who in Mars got shoot 3 times and AFTER
that beaten. He survived but just)

In St.Lucia the crime rate has sky rocked the last 2 years. English
friends got badly beaten and tied up in Marigot bay last year, on
there boat at night. This was repeated several times this year but
mostly in Rodney Bay.

Not to mention Trinidad. Who this year has night patrols in the bay.

My point is that most of these crime doesn't even exist in St.M (yet).

I'm the Net Controller of the Scandinavian Net (8.182 8.00am local
time) down here in the Caribbean and hear all  about the security on
the Island and I still claim that St. Martin is one of the safest
island to stay on. Thats why we are here.

There is still a lot of crime on this Island too BUT most other
islands have far more and worse crime.


-- 
Patrik Kinander