BARRIE's blog

MY FAMILY AND I RENTED A VILLA AT DAWN BEACH IN ST. MAARTEN IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR. WE HAD A VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE ON THE LAST DAY OF OUR VISIT. OUR VILLA WAS BROKEN INTO. THE INTRUDERS WENT INTO MY ONE DAUGHTERS ROOM, WHILE SHE AND HER FIANCEE' WERE SLEEPING AND TOOK HER PURSE AND ALL OF HER EXPENSIVE CAMERA EQUIPMENT. MY OTHER DAUGHTER AND HER FIANCEE' WERE AWAKENED MY AN INTRUDER WHO HAD JUST CUT THE WINDOW SCREEN AND TOOK HER PURSE. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT. THE POLICE WERE SUMMONED, POLICE REPORTS WERE MADE OUT THE NEXT DAY AND THE OWNER OF THE VILLA WAS CONTACTED.

WE RETURNED BACK TO OUR HOME IN NEW JERSEY, USA. IN TALKING TO FRIENDS WE BECAME AWARE OF A WEBSITE CALLED "TRIP ADVISER". THIS WEBSITE HAD NUMEROUS ENTRIES OF SIMULAR EXPERIENCES THAT WE ENCOUNTERED INCLUDING SOME THAT WERE ACCOSTED. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE VILLA OWNER BUT HE CLAIMS NO RESPONSIBILITY. THERE IS A LOT MORE BACKGROUND ON THIS SITUATION THAT CAN BE DISCUSSED IN THE FUTURE.

MY QUESTION IS: WHAT RECOURSE WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THAT WE TAKE TO PREVENT FUTURE RENTERS FROM HAVING THE SAME EXPERIENCE THAT WE AND SEVERAL OTHER RENTERS HAVE HAD THAT PREVIOUSLY RENTED THIS VILLA.