After Grand Cayman, you would have to be a complete FOOL to even consider going there!!

We've been to the Grand Caymans and wouldn't trade it for the USVI in a New York minute. We have been vacationing in the USVI for the last 7 years and have never had a problem with crime. We don't even lock our villas nor our vehicles. Every so often, there is a theft like there is anywhere and it gets a lot of bad press. Truly, the USVI has it all over Grand Cayman IMHO. The beaches are better, the snorkeling better and it much less expensive than the Caymans. We always stay on St. John. Can't speak for St. Croix, and have spent time on STT, but prefer the incredible that St. John has to offer.

Good luck with your decision.

Hi, Liz -

Meant to say, Liz, wouldn't trade the USVI for Grand Cayman. Sorry about the slip.

Ed

Hard for me to compare to a place I've never been (the Cayman's) but there was a rash of bulguaries of villas in the Spring in one specific concentrated area on St. John with "break ins" when people weren't there or taking of valuables when they were left out. The police, the villa owners and the residents worked together and the "wave" seems to have stopped. However, it does behoove you where ever you travel to take some precautions and lock up valuables whether in the Cayman's or any island! Since you did not specify which island you were considering, I am assuming it is St. John you are looking at and are considering a villa there. Try www.stjohnlinks.com and www.cova.com for some pretty nice ones but there are lots of sites. I would not walk around Charlotte Amalie at nite on St. Thomas - and nothing is open anyway! (but I do drive there and all over the island at nite) and on St. Croix there are areas that one might want to stay away from just like on St. Thomas but these are areas that touists would not be in to begin with. I have never, with too many trips to the islands to count, been impacted by any crime nor have any of my on island friends. Whether with someone else or even alone, it has been quite awhile since I felt even the least bit uncomfortable being in the USVI which last was after Marilyn when it was a bit dicey with all the rednecks hanging out from the construction jobs!

Before my eFriend, Mike, jumps all over me ... LOL
I meant to say the last time I felt uncomfortable in the USVI's was right after Marilyn ... that was NOT the last time I was there ... in fact, I should be there right now and wish I were but ... soon, hopefully!

My opinion differs from Mike, I think both places are excellent. I prefer Cayman, but St. John is a pretty island that suits a lot of people.

My opinion also differs from Ed about beaches and snorkeling. Although the beaches in St. John are wonderful, I think Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman is in a class by itself. You can stay right on the beach in accomodations ranging from basic to palatial. And it is open to the public. To me the views on the island of St. John itself are prettier, but the flatness of Cayman means very little runoff into the sea, which is one reason it has world class diving snorkeling and incredibly pristine water. Cayman is a diving mecca.

Safety and crime is not an issue on Cayman since it has a very high standard of living. Rashes of burglaries are not something that occur there. But that does not mean that St. John is unsafe. However the other USVIs have crime issues, like so many islands.

Actually, Karen, I'm glad to see that you're okay and survived the terrible New York disaster! Besides, this board just would not be the same without your constant babbling -- on and On and ON!!!

Thanks, Mike! Lots of things have changed but glad to hear that I am still the same. Some days I'm not so sure!

Didn't the US Navy stop going to USVI for R & R because so many sailors were getting mugged?

Here's a thread about rape in STT:

http://www.caribline.com/cgi-bin/agnes.cgi?CaribbeanAgnes+CaribbeanAgnesHTMLArticle+archive+Up_to_February_23,_2001+3360

Let me put it this way. St. Thomas was my first vacation in the Caribbean. I loved it. I got engaged there. I later married my wife there.
Then...
we had a man break into our villa while we were in bed. We chased him out and, fortunately he had no gun.
Then...
on successive visits the people were increasingly rude to us. The Rastafarians in particular glare at you from their perches on just about every street corner. There's a resentment in these people.
Then...
two men from my home state were murdered there.
Then...
I decided we really didn't need to go back. I really didn't need to make excuses for the poor people there. If they burglarized me again and things didn't come out so well, my poor dead body would be unable to differentiate about the downtrodden vs. the merely criminal.
Also, on my last trip we took a day cruise over to the BVI. Very close by but a world apart. In the BVI I routinely pick up hitchhikers. No problems. There was a murder there a couple of years ago... an American killed another American. No problems, mon! Great people. So why would I go back to St. Thomas??????

Joel, I am certainly not minimizing your situation on STT but might be a good idea to say how many years ago those murders happened on BlueBeard's Beach and why the men were there! Also the Navy stops routinely now. Not to seem defensive because I too love the BVI, but there was a murder on Brewer's Bay just this year! But, all that aside ... STT can and does offer a great experience for travelers. The whole island and its people should not be painted with such a broad brush. No one denies there is "crime" but there are thousands of travelers every year that have wonderful stays in the USVI. It's certainly NOT my favorite island but even tiny Anguilla had its problems this year! I have never been bothered by the Rastas and never even noticed 'em other than some that I have sat and talked to and really found them very interesting to talk to. I don't make excuses for some of the "gangs" in the Estates and the problems nor for those who raped the young girls (all residents except one who chose to sunbathe nude on a deserted beach that is not frequented or known by the tourists). I just know that I enjoy the island and am not uncomfortable with it nor are many of my friends who live and work there.

Karen, though I respect your point of view, the list you just gave made my case, as far as I'm concerned. You're just a LOT more tolerant than me. As long as there are places with MUCH less crime, that's where you'll find me.

Hi Liz,

First let me answer your original question. Crime issues in the USVI tend to (IMO) become much larger than life because most americans head to the USVI thinking of it as 'Paradise'. Accordingly, in their minds it should be free of anything negative that one would normally encounter 'back home' such as crime, poverty, abandoned cars along the roadside and the like.

The USVI is also home to those who live and work there. As such it has the same type of issues as any of our own hometowns, including the negatives. Having said that, let me tell you that I have been visiting and staying in the USVI for more than fifteen years now and I have never personally encountered crime in any way. My friends who live on island have the same type of problems that we have here in the states. My own hometown this year one the 'best suburb' award here in Ohio and yet we have a police department and have issues with crime. But it is just a small part of what is going on here and if you use common sense, you will usually have no problems.

For a tourist who uses common sense, the USVI will be just as safe, or more safe depending upon where you are from, as being at home.

For the second part of my response let me remind you that when dealing in the caribbean basin region most governments are not like the US as far as 'freedom of information'. Most of the caribbean nations (not all) rely to a large extent on tourism to support the local economy. Because of this, negative stories about local crime that might discourage tourists from going to that island tend not to be made public.

Remember, just because you don't read a lot about crime in a certain location, doesn't mean that crime does not occur there, including the often espoused 'crime free' BVI's or Caymans. Both places have police forces and those are not funded because they serve no purpose. There is more drug money running through the Caymans than any other place in the world of similar size. If you want to talk about crime, that issue should be addressed......but it doesn't directly affect the average visitor to the island so the discussion really doesn't belong here.

Sorry my posting is so long, but it bothers me greatly when I read messages that make the USVI sound like 'crime central'. It isn't. In fifteen years I have always felt safer walking around St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix than I ever did in walking through downtown, Washington, Houston, Atlanta or Cleveland.

Schultz

Liz:
When I was considering vacation spots I looked at it this way. I spend a great deal of money to live in a safe neighborhood. I am also willing to pay extra money to be safe. If there is the slightest risk that any harm will come to me or my family, how can that be worth a beautiful sunset?
I decided on Cayman and was so glad I did. I had never felt like I needed to be afraid to leave the hotel and felt more then comfortable leaving my bag on the beach while I was in the water.
I am pretty sure that having a man come into my villa at night would scare me so much I would want to end my vacation immediatly, so why risk your life and a ruined vacation? Just my opinion

Agree with you 100% Juli!! Besides, St. Thomas certainly is NOT a very attractive place to vacation anyhow! Herr Schultz is living in a dream world!!

Anyone know of a good source on the web for caribbean crime statistics? It would be interesting to see how they stack up against each other.

Guess that might be interesting to read IF some islands did not make a huge effort to hide and coverup tourist-related crimes and reported it.

What most people fail to realize, it the fact that crime is msot likely higher in their hometown than it is in a lot of the resort areas in the caribbean. The bottom line is to use common sense...period. If you are too afraid to go to the USVI because of a few publicized crime reports, then stay home, and leave it for the rest of us to enjoy. Problem solved!! Relax people, crime is EVERYWHERE....deal with it!!

I'm not sure I agree with the last poster's comments.

"stay home, and leave it for the rest of us to enjoy.....deal with it!!"

What kinds of comments are those???? They sound awfully aggressive.

Sorry to the previous poster....your comments are rude and inappropriate.

There seem to be two opposing "teams" on this thread: the "suck-it-up-and-get-used-to-crime-'cause-it's-everywhere" group, and the "don't-need-to-'cause-I-can-do-better" folks.
My two cents worth is that if you contrast the national groups in the Virgin Islands you have to the West the USVI and to the East, the BVI. Comparing these reveals a startling difference based on their histories, their demographics, and their "parent" nations and cultures.
My experience in St. Thomas has been pleasant, but in some ways I found I had to maintain the same sense of caution as if I was visiting a big American city in terms of it being a somewhat brusque and impersonal atmosphere. Note, I did not say unfriendly, but it seemed much like what I'd expect in an American city, as I said.
The BVI, where I have gone for the past 10 years after about 8 years on St. Thomas, is only a 40 min ferry ride away, but is light-years in terms of its people, their friendliness, their charm, etc. It's such a more relaxing place to be; the people are so gentle and friendly. The real teller here is that in the BVI I have to struggle to try to be even half as cordial as they, whereas on St. Thomas I might as well be in downtown Atlanta in terms of peoples' behavior.
So it depart from the whole crime thing for a bit, while that is a part of it, it is more so the demeanor of the people and the opportunity to experience something totally different and---in my opinion---much better.

Ah! there is a third group. One that recognizes that there is crime everywhere (yes, even in the BVI's) and that it is not a competition to see which island wins or is better. Some chose to realize that many can and do go to the USVI and can have a wonderful time despite those who set out to bash or promote an island at the expense of another. Or that everyone doesn't like and want the same thing. Each island offers unique opportunities - both good and not so good - but inflammatory posts that set visitors up so that they are paranoid and looking over their shoulder at every second does a disservice to the islands of the USVI and to the visitors who come home reporting that they were uncomfortable. Hell, of course they were. They were set up to expect that and told that's what they will get. You read it hear it enuf, you start to believe it. Then there are many who are familiar with the USVI find a wonderful retreat there! One of my most disappointing stays in the Caribb was a land-stay on Tortola, for many reasons, but there are many who enjoy and find Paradise there. The USVI are lovely islands that can and do present a wonderful opportunity for a stressfree trip that is different in many ways from the BVI and other islands. Each and every island is unique in every way! I recently "found" the Grenadines and Anguilla - both give me the feeling that I used to have in the BVI's and am eagerly anticipating my returns there as I find it's often hard to see the horizon with the numbers of boats blocking it as people find the BVI's. It's not a "secret" anymore and the times they are a changin' everywhere! There is plenty of competition out there for the tourist $$ but choices should be made on what best suits each individual travelers' wants and expectations. Better is a relative term. Sometimes I do think that if someone else chooses to stay home or even choses a different island, it leaves just a little bit more space on the beach for me!
Happy Travels - and right now I would settle for any warm wonderful beach no matter which island (except Tortola ... )

Right on Karen!! I couldn't agree more.

And to Linda: Rude & Inappropriate? Aggressive? Sorry Linda, I was stating cold hard facts, and the simple bottom line. As Karen said very clearly, "Sometimes I do think that if someone else chooses to stay home or even choses a different island, it leaves just a little bit more space on the beach for me! This is what I'm talking about. It's all very simple; some of us are not afraid to travel to these islands, and some of us are because of a few HIGHLY publicized reports of crime. If you are one of those folks that have been scared off by a few crime reports, I feel bad for you, but certainly won't lose any sleep over you leaving more space on the beach for me!!

Is reality a bit scary? Maybe it is. But it will never keep me from enjoying my vacation in the caribbean.

Karen, you recommended www.cova.com in your discussion. I get a MetLife Investors site when I click on that link. What's up with that?

Darlene,
Try www.cvoa.com

Caribbean Villa Owners Assoc.

Thanks, Shari!

So the CVOA is the Caribbean Villa Owners Association! I guess people who belong to that organization might get very defensive about reports of crime that might affect their livelyhood.

Funny you should mention that! I have several friends who do belong as owners and I have found those who own and rent villas in the islands probably the best source for factual information, where to go and what to avoid and can tell you what is happening now - now 10 years ago! I understand that cova also tie in pretty good air with their villas too. I have never used them but they do come highly recommended by people who do. Our home away from home is just that - not a rental or income property. And I never refer or comment on properties or villas in the USVI other than resorts. I have not one bit of investment in the travel industry other than as a consumer. Nice try tho! LOL

Darlene,
Well, I suppose that's a plausible theory. Although I tend to agree with most of the sentiment that says, if you are nervous about going, you probably shouldn't go. And I don't own any Caribbean real estate (not yet, anyway. Hey, a girl can dream, can't she?)

After all, people often try to make reality fit their expectations when possible.

I am fortunate in that I have had opportunity to visit many different islands. Never felt unsafe, and a few times I went places that weren't really recommended (except as a "don't GO there" recommendation). But I also don't expect to find paradise on my travels. Now I won't say that crime doesn't exist in the islands, but I won't avoid them because it DOES.

Hi Liz. We visited Grand Cayman on our vacation last year and returned just yesterday from the USVI. Although I originally had concerns about villa break-ins as well, we thought St. John was absolutely fabulous and we *much* preferred it to the Caymans. The scenery is gorgeous, with another breathtaking view at almost every turn on the winding highways, and the beaches are picture postcard-perfect. I find it difficult to imagine a more idyllic place. St. Thomas was also nice, but we preferred the quiet beauty of St. John. Feel free to e-mail me if you have questions. Have a great vacation!

www.vinow.com just updated their web site with a St. John guide and there are some great shots of some of the many many beaches! Made me want to get on the plane tonite!

Congrats to the original poster "Liz" who (inadvertantly?) managed to weave a web that ensnared the "USVI-Or-Die" crowd, compelling them to provide amusement repeatedly with their angst-filled responses.

Perhaps the high (or low?) point of the thread was someone's need, for some strange reason, to point out that the girls who were raped were "all residents except one who chose to sunbathe nude on a deserted beach". The person's need to disassociate from the villa owners assoc was precious. Also fun was the one who raged: "deal with it!!" and even proclaimed "Right On!!" to his cohort.

The icing on the cake could be the ones who felt the need to claim they had been to both the Cayman Islands and USVI, but (surprise, surprise!) prefer USVI. It looks like adding the word "Cayman" to the original post "Crime in USVI" really payed-off, big time!

Jeff,
No angst, no "love it or die" but happy to provide for your amusement. Seems the "nay sayers" to the USVI can say all they want, truth or die, but those who have differing experiences are taken to task and credibility attacked. Whatever floats your boat! Sure wish I could compare the two - maybe someday but I will continue to give accurate current information as long as I see the opposite. I don't promote the USVI but try to enlighten that its not the crime ridden horrid place that others try to paint it when promoting other islands. Not sure what the agenda is of those who love to bash it! Maybe they are part of the tourism industry on the other islands or have their own financial intersts. Who knows. Who cares? Not me!

Right on Karen!! I couldn't agree more!!

Here's what Frommer's 2002 guide says about USVI:

"The U.S. Virgin Islands have more than their share of crime. St. John is safer than St. Thomas or St. Croix. But even on St. John there is crime - possessions that are left unattended are likely to be stolen. Travelers should exercise caution both day and night when wandering thee backstreets of Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas and both Christiansted and Frederiksted on St. Croix - muggings are commonplace. Avoid night strolls or drives along quiet roads. Never go walking on beaches at night."

FYI, the US State Dept has a list of all countries and any warnings or advisories associated with them. I cannot find the USVI on this list, possibly because they consider it a part of the US?

http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html

The warnings don't vary much from country to country, except Jamaica's warnings are mainly limited to Kingston and downtown MoBay, the Bahamas warning is also limited to one area, (Jamaica and the Bahamas are the most visited Caribbean destinations). No island does not have "petty street crime occurs" in its consular info sheet - not even Bermuda (in fact Bermuda has a very specific rape warning as well as specific mention aobut robberies from hotel rooms "occupied or unoccupied")and the Caymans.

If the possibility of being a victim of a crime is the main determining factor of what island you choose for your vacation, then good news - they're all pretty much the same, except in reputation!

Liz

Most (but not all) of the islands in "Fast Facts" section of Frommer's Guide have a few sentences detailing crime or safety warnings. The warnings range from very slight to severe. The nice thing about Frommers is that it's reputable and verifiable, whereas info on message boards is just a bit, well, you know.

likely to be stolen? I don't think so ... but otherwise pretty much on target. The trouble with Frommers the last time I checked with them, their restaurant info was sadly out of date! Restaurants on several islands that have been gone for years were still listed as places to go. When I see that I have to wonder about accuracy of other reports and info. My money would be on the info on the web ... you measure the good and the bad reports and you go with your best shot!

Message boards can be helpful, but they can also be full of people who post info they've heard, not experienced themselves - and they often do this not maliciously but just trying to be helpful.

I see a lot of "avoid Jamaica it's dangerous" and when the poster is questioned, it often turns out that they hadn't been there at all, or only briefly at a cruise stop or didn't leave their hotel - certainly were not themselves victims of a crime there.

Some "felt uncomfortable" (in part because they'd heard it was dangerous often enough that this alone made them uncomfortable), had heard from a friend of a friend, had been warned online and were just passing that along, etc.

These things have a way of mushrooming online in a way that they don't elsewhere.

There's just no substitute for direct experience. I take everything i read online (or off, in fact) with a grain of salt.

Liz

ohliz,

Sounds to me like take this all WAY too seriously. Everyone knows this is just a typical message board, used by people for posting information, expressing opinions, venting, having fun, etc etc etc. No need to over-analyze or over-dramatize...

Joel

Do you really think everyone knows that? I don't know - some people seem to plan their vacations based exclusively on what they read online, in fora such as this one...

Liz

I just read about the homicide of a 13 year old in the St. Thomas Source which is online at http://www.onepaper.com/stthomasvi/

The article says this latest homicide
"is the territory's 20th homicide of the year, the 11th on St. Thomas."
I'm very surprised to learn that somewhere as small as the USVI has that high a homicide rate.

It just comes down to what you're comfortable with. I like to "get away from it all" and that old phrase probably the most accurate expression of what people seek. There are a lot of murders and crime where I live. I have to get accustomed to it here, but I DON'T have to put up with it on vacation, not if I can find a friendly place that has a reputation for low crime.
Some people want different things. Me? I want a sense of security and (not to over-dramatize) don't want to be looking over my shoulder. In short, I want to get away from it all.
We each have to work out that equation for ourself. To each his/her own! I'm okay with those who are okay with locations such as the USVI that, true or not, have developed a certain reputation. I'll take the BVI.

Below is the text of the report
"13-YEAR-OLD BOY DIES OF GUNSHOT WOUND"
from www.onepaper.com/stthomasvi

I'm posting this in the interest of full disclosure. It seems to me that some people here want to sugarcoat or downplay crime in the Caribbean, so I'd like to balance that with the fact that there have now been 20 homicides so far this year in USVI, according to the St. Thomas Source:

"Nov. 5, 2001 ? A 13-year-old St. Thomas boy died Saturday in an apparent homicide. Deputy Police Chief Theodore Carty said that he died of what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the chest.
The body of Alphonso Blyden III was found on the floor at 2-43 St. Joseph and Rosendahl.
Carty said that the boy died at the scene at 9:15 p.m.
"He was visiting a friend," he said.
Carty said a witness at the scene who lived in the house said she found the boy lying on the floor after she heard a shot.
No one has been arrested in the case.
Alphonso is the territory's 20th homicide of the year, the 11th on St. Thomas.
Carty said he did not have an address for the youth and had no further information. He asked that anyone with information call the Police Department's Investigation Bureau at 715-5522."

So does that mean one should never visit great cities such as New York or LA?

I travel extensively, and Barbados is one of my favorites in the Caribbean. But I have to acknowledge that Frommers is accurate that crime has increased in Barbados greatly in recent years. I tell my friends that, not to scare them, but so they're better prepared.

With NY and LA, you know what to expect, no one sugarcoats that info. But in the Caribbean, there's a tendency to downplay the crime as described in this article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=world/americas/caribbean/usvirginislands&contentId=A45699-2001Apr5

Good article. Some good points:

. "Americans think they're coming to Paradise when they come to the Caribbean, and so tend to leave their common sense behind," said Mary Bartolucci, a resident in St. John and organizer of the "Stop the Violence" initiative in the U.S. Virgin Islands. But "we have drugs, muggings and all the other kinds of problems that communities in the States have."

Good list of things not to do also.

Li

Correction: It turns out that the boy who was murdered on Saturday was 12 years old, not 13. The case remains unsolved.

Does anyone know if the case of the 19-year old American who was shot in the back in broad daylight in St. Thomas USVI was solved? Or is his killer also still on the loose?

The Cayman islands have the highest standard of living in the caribbean. The average Caymanian earns apr. 25,000 a year which means that folks can afford to feed and clothe their kids and not resort to crime. There are plenty of other islands that do have a high crime rate and a thriving drug business.

re phil on crime in st thomas or usvi. the place is worst than the mafia, crimes are left unsolved, nobody talks, if you open your mouth, you are dead meat as of yesterday. you live like a prisoner there, you are scared to drive after dark, if your car breaks down, even your cellular phone wont help, who would you call, all services are closed, you are scared to "brush" a local, even a child or any local, violent vengeance is their bible, the police sides with the locals. the govt does not care about unsolved crimes.

News - another breakin reported last week in a villa on St. John villas:

www.usvi-on-line.com/usviforum.html

There's a thread on Security that tells how they were robbed while they slept:

http://216.205.120.178/cgi-bin/agnes.cgi?CaribbeanAgnes+CaribbeanAgnesHTMLArticle+6179

Although past breakins were mainly occuring in the day, last weeks breakin sounds like the robbers are "scoping" the villas at night. I would recommend keeping curtains closed at night so that they cannot peer in to see what valuables you may have, and follow the advice to locking bedroom doors while you sleep.

Here's a new article that doesn't try to downplay the burglary problem on St. John, which they describe as the island's "dirty little secret"

http://www.stjohntradewindsnews.com/2001/08/010813-2.html

24th murder in USVI this year:

http://www.onepaper.com/stthomasvi/?v=d&i=&s=News%3ALocal&p=45521

In my 25+ years of traveling to the USVI at least three or four times a winter, I did not experience the same that the "others" are reporting. Sure there is crime, no one denies it, and there are socio economic problems. But, afraid you might run into that anywhere in the Caribb basin or even Hawaii. Just use your head and common sense. There seems to be few places to escape from it nowadays unfortunately. For example, on the night of our honeymoon, my husband and I were strolling a moonlit beach in St. Thomas when we were suddenly surrounded by a group of machete-wielding natives and subsequently gang-raped. Instead of reporting the incident we just kept it in focus that one encounters islanders who might resent the typical tourist coming in and telling them how is and how it should be done and what is wrong, but the island is a garden of hopeful wonderful hard-working people who want you to love their home the same way they do! I think that the "uncomfortable" feeling comes from inflammatory posts and hearing these stories no matter where you travel and you are waiting for the other shoe to drop! But do educate yourself as to where to go and where NOT to go, what to do and what NOT to do. Just like any new location, be smart and look past a few disgruntled visitors and residents and you will have a lovely time!

Karen: For all you've been through, I commend you for your postive outlook on St. Thomas. I don't think I would look at it the same way if that happened to us. But to not report it? They could have captured the culprits and put them jail instead of allowing it to potentially happen to someone else.

The only USVI that I have been to is St. Croix. It's okay (it's not pretty at all) and the water is not all that clear compared to Grand Cayman.

I wasn't even gonna read the thread 'cause knew where it was going and just knew that someone had too much time on their hands. Now, I know there are other "Karen's" on aol but would like to claify that since most of the post was lifted from another post of mine, that I didn't honeymoon on St. Thomas and have never heard that anyone would be so stupid as to be gang raped and not go to a hospital or file some sort of report! Guess the Holiday Spirit and kindness still has not touched the lives of some who post here! To bad that the evil doers aren't all tracked down!

The evil doer WAS tracked down - it is the Karen, aka KarenW, aka KarenW531, etc. It is sooo touching to hear her lecture about Holiday Spirit and kindness in light of her trademark mean-spirited style of criticism that fills the archives of this board and others. Poor Karen, let us shed a tear for her!

To the Karen who was gang raped, you left out the part about being held in your villa for days and "being repeatedly violated in every imaginal way" and--- "we took it in stride" That's the way you posted it on usvionline.com a while back and it was promptly deleted. I'm just trying to help you keep your storys straight. Hope this helps.

Talking about Holiday Spirit, seven dogs were poisoned in the USVI on Christmas eve:

http://www.onepaper.com/stthomasvi/?v=d&i=&s=News%3ALocal&p=46281

A 2 year old was beaten to death on Dec 22nd, which is presumably the 27th homicide in the USVI this year. That brings the murder rate up over 50% higher than last year. See the story here:

http://www.onepaper.com/stthomasvi/?v=d&i=&s=News%3ALocal&p=46259

The 26th murder of this year was a stabbing described here:

http://www.onepaper.com/stthomasvi/?v=d&i=&s=News%3ALocal&p=46104

Guard Gunned Down in Shopping Center - 27th murder this year so far:

http://www.onepaper.com/stthomasvi/?v=d&i=&s=News%3ALocal&p=46290

There is crime everywhere. There is no 100% guarentee of safety. Thus I suggest you stay home, where by the way you could be Murdered or Robbed Today.
For heavens sake, there are no guarentees in this life. As I heard Wayne Newton say on Fox News, when it is my "time to go, I am pretty sure I will be there".

Reading with interest since we are going to st. johns and st. thomas next month. Did read some of the articles and found that other than the villa bulguries very little or none of the crime has anything to do with tourists or even occurs in the toruist areas but are among the young adult male resident population and several are child abuse situations. Did not change my mind but will be more aware of situations.

I don't know about the other islands but St. Croix has no more crime than anywhere in the states...especially on the north shore where most of the tourist destinations are. I own two villas on the island, http://www.villadawn.com/stcroix.htm, and have never had a problem nor have any of my guests. St. Croix is a wonderful laid back island!

Kent

Since Kent owns 2 villas on the island, it's obvious why he downplays the crime situation. By the way, nice spam, Kent.

Headline from St. Thomas Source:

V.I. HOMICIDES FIVE TIMES NATIONAL RATE FOR 2001

See the article here:

http://www.onepaper.com/stthomasvi/?v=d&i=&s=News%3ALocal&p=46435

As with the St. Martin bashers thread, I would appreciate if someone would post those articles that relate to crimes that either driectly involved or impacted upon tourists.

Here's an interesting quote from the article:

"With a population of about 50,000, St. Thomas had a homicide rate of nearly 36 per 100,000 inhabitants, nearly seven times the national average. Jamaica, widely viewed as a violence-ridden nation, had a 2001 homicide rate of about 43 per 100,000 people."

Yes, they said the murder rate is 7 times the US average, and approaches Jamaica's rate.

Just some facts to help tourist make informed decisions, free from the propaganda of those here with financial interest in the USVI.

The majority of crime doesn't affect or have anything to do with visitors to the island. Statistics can be taken in many different ways. Also, our crime here makes front-page news, versus U.S. city crimes which either never make it into the paper or are buried somewhere on page 46. Put it all into perspective. I've lived here for two decades. It really gets irritating to keep reading some of the nonsense posted in this section of this forum!