Security guard in Turks and Caicos?
 

We will be in T&C for a family wedding in late April renting two large villas. This is from the owner.<Please check your countries travel advisory. We are offering a security guard on the property for the time of your stay between the hours of 9PM-5AM nightly. The subsidized cost to you for this additional security is $300 for 7 days in each Villa. . (This can be paid directly to Joe upon arrival)
Please remember you are not staying at a resort, resorts come with multiple security guards, 24hrs per day.
We will need to know asap about the guard so he can be ordered.>

Needless to say I am a bit freaked out. Does anyone know if we should do that? Is there a lot of crime? They are on Hummingbird Lane, Leeward.

I don't know a think about Turk & Caicos, but if this is something that is typically done, I say $300 well spent to hire Joe.

I know in Jamaica, every place (this was Negril on the Cliffs) had nighttime security guards who sat inside the gates just to keep an eye on things. Whether they were actually preventing crime from occuring, or just giving a local honest employment... I have no idea.

We need Blamona, the T&C expert to answer you. She lives on the island part-time and knows every neighborhood.

In the meantime, if it helps, we go to T&C every year. There has been an uptick in crimes on many islands, but here at home, too, as you know. I would hire the security guard. I'm just wondering why he doesn't stay on until daylight.

Like all islands (except for St. barts) there's always a possibility of break ins, muggings, some petty crimes, especially during peak season.

TCI overall is safe, but once in a while there are break ins. Seems to go in waves. The last wave seemed to be December. Before then it was more than a year.

My villa is a block from hummingbird. I'm going to be completely honest with you:

My villa has never ever been targeted. Leeward has a manned gate at night, but only on the main entrance (and persons could also come off the beach.

Just in case, my villa has security system and a bolted to floor safe. We do not offer a security guard.

I've had the villa for 14 years. Never been a target.

BUT whenever there's a rash of attempted break ins, it always seems to be hummingbird lane. (it's a hidden street, and those villas, even if upgraded, have older sliding doors, no a/c in living room (bedrooms have a/c)

They do seem to target hummingbird once in a while. (in the last 5 years maybe 3 times?)

This sounds scary. Personally, I find that if the villa has a problem, Disclosing it the thing to do. (as they did) but if a particular area has a problem, I think the security guard should be on them! (cost of doing business). (or include it in the rate)

But since they're charging you $300, I do feel it's money well spent.

So have them hire the extra.

It sounds scary: chances of something happening are less than other islands, such as Jamaica, St. Martin, etc. Even Anguilla and Virgin Islands get these rashes. Unfortunately nature of travel.

So a couple of things to minimize your chances:

Never leave items in a car, leave car unlocked, nothing in trunk

At the villa:

Always use the safe (don't get lazy before dinner and leave iPads and phones out on counters. Use security system. At night most have "stay" button. Use it. Pay $300 for security guard.

At night keep cell phone on night stand. (we provide one free of use to guests so they can call our property manager even for recommendations or if something breaks)

Keep windows closed at night. Doors locked. I'm not saying don't relax, I'm saying people on vacation forget it's a real country with real problems, because it's just a beautiful beach how can bad things happen?

Leeward overall is safe, but it's amazing that when there is a crime spree, they do target the villas on hummingbird lane. I can't explain it other than what I stated above (and really kinda guessing)

Go have fun. But do use the precautions.

Personally if the owners sent you that, then something happened recently. Good they're disclosing, but personally they should provide the security. But since they don't, pay it fir peace of mind.

And there are no US warnings for TCI-"please check your countries advisory"? (should be country's by the way). There was an advisory April 2014 that came from Bahamas (although it looked official from US, US never came out with it) and was discontinued 3 weeks later-- so currently there are no warnings.

If hummingbird lane gets targeted, then the villas of hummingbird lane should ban together and get security-- but that's just my personal feeling.

I don't blame you for being rattled.

suze and WWK, thank you.

blamona, thank you for the detailed info. I will pass this on to the other families. There will be two family groups in each villa and a total of six children under eight. This probably rattled me the most <we have panic buttons for when you sit outside and key fob alarms>. Holy cow! Do you think the owner is being overly cautious? Or thinks it will make the tenant feel safer? It is having the opposite effect on me!

Is there a reason you are particularly committed to these villas? Honestly if I were in your shoes, especially with other families and kids involved, I'd probably look around a bit more. Especially with the history of this particular location as having been targeted in the past.

blamona, You are such a terrific resource for this forum. I always enjoy reading your posts. You have a great way of describing things. Thank you.

suze, done and paid for. Picked by the bride and groom and paid for by the families staying in the villas. It seems that two of the families involved think it's a "shakedown" to keep close contacts employed.

gomiki,

After what blamona described, I very much doubt this is a "shakedown". However, I do think the villa owners should pay for the security guard.

not a shakedown to keep close contacts employed? Really?

Pay the security guard--March 16, 2014 Hummingbird Lane villas were targeted by masked men, and I think again Dec?

Overall Leeward is generally safe neighborhood, but when crime happens, for some reason that's the street

google "crime turks and caicos hummingbird street" if you don't believe me

Personally I think the villas should pay the security guard, but seeing that they don't, you should.

And not cool to imply it's all over the island--TCI is a relatively safe destination, safer than most Caribbean islands. Leeward is generally a safe neighborhood. But 2 of the times in 2014 the rash of break ins happen last year (they was less than a handful all year) happened at Hummingbird lane

Pay the guard, not just to keep locals in business

<suze, done and paid for>
<two of the families involved think it's a "shakedown">


Oh dear. Well nothing you can do then really, except perhaps share the information on this thread(?) if you'd feel comfortable doing that.

They seem to be building a second security gate by the back entrance to Leeward.

Gomiki, just saw this thread. Can you read any recent reviews about the villas, that might mention the security and/or security guard?

I agree that the owner should be paying for this, but it looks as though they are covering their liability by offering the option to you. That way, if something happens, they can say that you didn't want to hire a security guard.

I guess I would hire the guy. Otherwise, I would be awake at night wondering about every noise and rattling. I doubt whether one guy outside can do much against determined thieves but you would be a bit more secure.

It sounds like a wonderful getaway. I hope you have a lot of fun, and don't let this mar the trip.

<I doubt whether one guy outside can do much against determined thieves but you would be a bit more secure>

I don't think the security guard is expected to fight off thieves, rather they would pick somewhere else to go... a home without a guard sitting watch.

Well, yes. Sorry I wasn't clear, but that was what I was I meant by saying a bit more secure. Thus the qualifying "determined" thieves.

We stayed at a remote inn in St. Kitts (no longer operating) for many years. One year I noticed someone walking around at night. They had had to hire a security guard to satisfy some British travel agents who wanted security before they booked guests. It was silly, since the inn's two dobermans were a much greater deterrent to anyone who was up to no good.

Security guards provide a presence but not much else. Access to the neighborhood by walking is a problem the security gates can't address.

Just stumbled onto this post. I was just about to book a villa on Hummingbird Lane and am now having second thoughts.

I was hoping blamona could could provide an update if there is still a crime issue on this street. I've read they built a second security gate at the back of this area and am wondering if it has helped the situation.

Thanks

The thing with crime is you never know if and when it happens.

I say all the previous answers still apply

Blamona I could really use your help and anyone else with local knowledge
 

Hi Blamona, ive read a lot of your posts and have found them really helpful and very informative. I thought I would reach out to you as I haven’t seen any recent posts so wanted to ask you for your opinion now.

My fiancee and i have found the most amazing villas that we have fallen in love with in Turks and Caicos. They are the 3 villas by Sul Mare called villa Capri, Bari and Amalfi which are located on Taylor beach. We were all set to book it and I saw an article about the surge in crimes of recent with armed robberies occurring at private villas in particular.

Are you familar with these villas? Is this area a safe area or would be vulnerable. I would really appreciate any advice you could offer on this subject.