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SECURITY IN ST. MAARTEN
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.[More....]
Hey Barrie, thanks for posting your blog, I hope you don't mind if I promote it to the front page, your question is important, I'd like to hear what other people have to say about it.
Honestly I'm not sure what to suggest, because as much as I hate to admit it, the DS police are poorly managed and understaffed, robberies and breakins are becoming fairly common events, Dawn Beach no exception. But if there is reason to suspect this villa is targeted by repeat robbers whenever they notice new guests in there, then I would say take what you have to the police. If they have any sense they'll send some officers up there to play tourist.
I think a villa agent/owner has a responsibility to give security advice to guests, as much as I myself prefer fresh air and a breeze, sleeping with just a sliding screen door nowadays is not really advisable. Although there is only so much he can do about crime itself, what he should be doing if his villa is a target is to increase security measures, bars and gates on windows and doors, so that guests can still have just screens and be safe, extra lighting with motion sensors outside, things like that.
I'd be interested to hear more, if he has done any of these things and details on the robberies.
LH
the local police force on the dutch side has greatly beefed up their presence all over the island and some thieves have in fact been arrested.
The problem is all over the island and probably illegals who came here for work and then share a work card with relatives who are legit.
From what I understand now, the condo and house owners have banded together to create neighborhood security patrols with communications to a nearby checkpoint so there's been a lot fewer house robberies all of a sudden.
Be sure all doors have locks and those special security locks at night so sliders can't be forced open.
Now the French side is much worse than the Dutch according to the blogs on line.
I would suggest putting your post on TTOL as well. You will receive many replies. http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/ubbthreads.php
P.S. Did the villa have a/c and hurricane shutters?
Dude, hurricane shutters don't work at all! It's so disgustingly easy for a burglar to get those out of his way.
Bars, fences with razor wire, hungry doggies, US Security systems, that'll grace the house and scare the potential intruders off.
The situation's BAD here, we really need a better police force and no more political promises! Crime is climing high and fast on that list of 'escalated issues'. I know it exists...
haha, you may find the dump there as well. :P
XOXO
PS. RIP KING OF POP
I am sorry that these guests were robbed while on their vacation. I feel that guesthouses and hotels must upgrade their security in line with the reality of the increasing crime on St.Maarten/ St.Martin. They are responsible for the safety of their guests and the guests property, while these guests are staying there. They must clearly inform their guests about personal safety. To give the impression that sweet innocent St.Maarten is crime free and its safe to sleep with windows open is stupidly irresponsible, unrealistic and deceptive. We must all keep shouting for more police to stop the criminals and ways to motivate the young to stay out of trouble. But lets not hold our breath in the meantime eh!. Lets look to our own security. Us ordinary citizens have had to do so, more and more over the years. We have bars on every window and keep floodlights on all around the house all night. We even have our gas tank girdled and locked down. Some people have a big dog or two. but we never, never sleep with window wide open with just a screen. Sadly my friend, those days are long past.