St. Thomas Crime
 

We are strogly considering canceling our trip to STT this Sunday. I have heard a lot about crime on the island, but got a chance to see first hand by going to a website for the local news paper. <BR> <BR>http://www.onepaper.com/stthomasvi/ <BR> <BR>People are robbing banks in broad daylight, shooting at cops, and each other with no regard for human life. I think we are going to change our plans ASAP. The local government leaders have finally realized there is a problem, and are just now beginning to cope with it.

Also checked the onesource.vi website. Under the search engine, enter in "crime". They have a REAL problem on their hands. The Lt. Gov and the Gov are discussing calling in the VI Nat'l Guard to help police the streets. That will no doubt do wonders for tourism.

Go to St. John instead. I never have cared very much for St. Thomas. The first time I was there, back 35 years ago, I thought it was grungy and unfriendly. <BR> <BR>St. John is not 100% crime-free (there's some petty burglary and swiping of valuables off the beach if you leave things unattended), but it's one of the safer islands of the Carribean and a different world from St. Thomas.

It's distressing to hear that you would cancel your trip to St. Thomas because of what you've read in the daily newspapers. Hundreds of thousands of visitors come here every year and, percentage-wise, have no more problems than any visitor to any other destination. It would be naive to assume that one could find a place where crime simply doesn't exist! The old axiom of "don't believe everything you read" holds true, or at least put it in perspective! The US Virgin Islands are a great place to vacation and hopefully you'll change your mind and thoroughly enjoy all there is to offer here!

Renting a villa in st. barts and st. martin is such a difference. A villa ON THE BEACH in st. martin, 3 bedroom is around 6500 for 10 days for christmas. A 2 BEDROOM, IN THE HILLS, in st. barts is 10,000 plus for 10 days christmas week. Amazing.

There is crime everywhere!! Just practice the same precautions you would where you live. STJ is a nicer alternative,I find that there is much more to do there, unless you are a shopoholic. We were on STT in May and had no worries at all!! Have a fun and safe trip. Lee in Austin,Tejas

I for one dont believe "Practice the precauthions you use at home" <BR>I live in a suberb and never really think of crime!! <BR>I live outside of DC so when I go downtown, even then I dont really act like im gonna get mugged. And I bet DC would make st. martin look like a doll house.

Just returned from St. Thomas. Albeit a short visit i saw a very peaceful place, the people were the nicest and I felt safe everywhere. Is there crime in St. Thomas? I am positive there is... is it out of hand or even worst than your own town? I doubt it. Since you can use the internet (or you would not be reading this), by all means check local sources for crime in St. Thomas, but then put into perspective by visiting your own local police website for stats on our town...

My family and I went to ST in June for a week We loved it We rented a car and went to all different restaurants. We felt safe. as always be careful. Its a beautiful will go back again! St. Johns was great too!! Have fun!

no such place in the Caribbean as St Johns

uh, cop, sure glad you aren't a geography teacher! Know what the capital of Antigua is? St. John's! <BR>And, yes, there is talk of the Nat'l Guard only to suppliment the understaffed police departments. Yes, there are a non-tourist related crime problems in specific areas of the USVI just as there is in many urban areas of the rest of the States due to the social and economic conditions. None of the islands begin to resemble a war zone as some try to make it look when bashing the USVI as the millions of tourists who safely visit each year can attest to.

<BR>original poster wrote: <BR> <BR>"People are robbing banks in broad daylight, shooting at cops, and each other with no regard for human life" <BR> <BR>isn't that the way banks are usually robbed.... in the daytime & with a gun? reason bad things get so much press is because the tourism industry promotes the islands as being Paradise. stuff like that & SO MUCH WORSE happens every day where most of us live, we shrug it off, hardly notice the news anymore, go on about our business ... but an incident happens in Paradise & we freak out. what a funny bunch we are, esp us Americans. you'd think the pirates were lining us up on the runways & picking us off. also noticed "[email protected]", is aol in the Caribbean? of course I know is just an alias, but got me wonderin. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

Yes, Fanny, there are many residents in the USVI as well as other Caribbean islands who do have aol addresses.

I went to St. Thomas and had a wonderful time. My girlfriends and I went out every night, for 7 nights with no problems. We took precautions and can't wait to go back.

Yes, we do have AOL addreses here!<BR>That bank robbery, was really a holdup outside of a bank of an armed guard going into the bank!<BR>The last rash of bank robberies we had was done by an American visitor, hiding out here, that had a stateside warrant on him, go figure! Maybe from one of your hometowns!<BR>Ronnie

Ronnie, since you are so well informed about the USVI.... can you tell us details about the 30 murders that occured in 2001 in the Virgin Islands? The St. Thomas Source reports that the homicide rate in the USVI is now over 5 times the national average, and is closing in on Jamaica. Here is the article where I got those statistics:<BR><BR>http://www.onepaper.com/stthomasvi/?v=d&i=&s=News%3ALocal&p=46435<BR><BR>Is the crime rate there also much higher for rape, robbery, etc?<BR>

I think that many of the links have already been posted. However, I anxiously await those links to the crimes that involve the thousands of tourists who visit the USVI daily safely and happily and who are not counted in the census as are the very large ex pat population who still maintain residences stateside and are not included in the population figures when statistics are calculated. Don't get me wrong, one murder is too many, whether resident or tourist, but since this is a travel board, seems to me that the appropriate focus might be the criminal activity that affects directly and impacts upon those thousands and thousands of people who live and visit and have for many years without ever encountering so much as a snarl from the islanders.

Yes Edith, I am so informed of the USVI as I am a Virgin Islander, a proud one at that.<BR>To address the murders as you ask, I say this. the murders are unfortunate. Over 75% are drug related. Kids today no longer have fist fights as we used to when were young, they just settle with guns. It's unfortunate as I said before. The Governor has commanded the new police chief to reduce crime, he is alloting more money to combat it. I don't see you quoting those stories, only a story of statistics.<BR>Not wanting to say that you should not worry as a tourist, as all of the murders are commited by local against local would mean I condone it. I know we need to improve the situation. You need to take precautions when you travel here or anywhere. <BR>I do have something to gain other than my business being tourist oriented. This is my home. I do whatever it takes to take these guys off the streets. I have helped put one ot two away and always report anything I see anywhere. I tell my guests where to go and where not to go. I don't sugar coat it. I will continue to do what I can to help stop crime!<BR>I certainly hopes this answers your question or statement. Everywhere has problems, my friend got mugged in Paris, does that stop me from wanting to go to Paris? I think not, I will just be a little more alert, that's all.<BR>Ronnie

As far as I know, it's possible, rapes have been up, seems like a lot of young girls who have been raped are now having the guts to come forward and report them, as far as robberies, I don't know. <BR>I believe that since we are in a confined area, limited by the water surrounding, the stats would be geater. On the mainland, when crime sprees occur, they tend to be more spread out, where in St. Thomas there are only 32 square miles to work, so more people are affected per capita.<BR>So many people believe that paradise means no crime. That place would be Utopia, which we know, does not exist.<BR>Ronnie

Gee, that's funny -- I DON'T worry about these things at all when I'm visiting Grand Cayman or St. Barts!!!