I am beginning to think that there is a little crime problem on Bonaire! it sounds like anything thing that is not nailed down is stolen.

My question is,,,What about walking around in town or walking from your room into town.....I don`t want to go on vacation and have to be looking over my shoulder all the time!

eugene, the only real problem they have is things in your vehicle at dive sites.
1. don't lock your vehicle.
2. leave the windows down.
3. don't leave ANYTHING of value in your vehicle. the area is so small, that we just put our gear in the back of the truck, when we got to the dive site geared up. stuffed our cheap flip flops, sunglasses and shorts under the seat (if you take your wallet, slip it in your bc pocket. we didn't even take a wallet or anything with us, again, island is very small). our hotel key was on a rubber bungee type thing that we just clipped to our bc. after the dive, back to your room and shower, degear, whatever...(unless you are at 1000 steps and are staying at bel mar, then you have a more of a drive).

at night, no need to look over your shoulder and be paranoid. i was amazed how comfortable and safe the town was. again, don't lock your car, leave windows down. i felt more safe in bonaire than i have felt in a lot of other places...i.e. mexico, la, santa ana, phoenix (some areas), miami, st. croix, dc, virginia, new orleans (i know, mardi gras is crazy but we had all kinds of crime inflicted on us!)...i don't need to go on, you get the idea...

Eugene:

I have never heard a gunshot, police siren, screaming in the middle of the night, car chase, burglar alarm klaxon, or front door being kicked in during any of my trips to Bonaire.

If you review the various threads here that discuss crime, you will probably observe that indeed only things that are "nailed down" are likely to be pilfered...
a. Some people have claimed to have had things stolen from their locked and secured rental cars,
b. and even having had gas siphoned from tanks with locking caps (strangely, those without locking caps don't complain of this...),
c. plus a few reports of items missing from allegedly secure resorts' rinse and storage areas,
d. and on a very rare occasion something pilfered from a locked resort hotel room.

If you don't leave things of value unattended, and don't give the impression of worrying about leaving anything behind, then whether there is somebody looking to pilfer your stuff or not, you have nothing to worry about.

-LS

Eugene: As Cynde and Leif have stated, just be smart when it comes to leaving items in your vehicles and secure your doors at your hotel/resort, etc. I feel safer in Bonaire than I do here at home in Morris Township, New Jersey! I think you should go to Bonaire, relax and enjoy yourself just as 99.9% of us have/do. We do lock our valuables in the room safe and I try to keep my camera equipment "out of eyesight range" while it is in the room, but I would do that anywhere in world...actually, I would be afraid to even leave it in the room in most other parts of the world! Have you planned a trip yet?? You will not regret it, if you have. Relax and enjoy. Carole

From time to time I have read a few negative messages about Bonaire, though for some reason Eugene's post really yanked my chain.

From everything I read that REALLY MATTERS I think I shall be hard pressed to find a place as nearly as accomodating to total strangers invading their space as the Bonairian's are! *bless their souls!*

I think SOME folks simply "attract negetivity" for they give it out...

Eugene, take a subtle hint from how I try to live my life: Never be stupid in your daily lifes' activities, & always remember that what you give out you get back in one form or another.

*stepping off my soap box now*

Hello Rtshineto,

Be careful not to trip on your chain, while stepping off your soap box!

Thankx for the "life" Tip!

here is some for you "there are no stupid questions only stupid answers" and, "If you wear your chain on your sleeve someone will yank it," "that`s just the way life is"

Forgive me but,
I'm doing a little research for my next trip, and after reading the Bonaire message boards I thought that a few questions were in order.........

I liked Carol, Cynde and Leifs answers Better!
yours was good, Just a little scary!

Hope to see you "all" on Bonaire

Eugene

Eugene:

Due diligence - certainly a good idea for any journey to a new place.

In all seriousness, there has been a growing tide of attention about the petty theft that may occasionally occur. Despite the heightened rhetoric from both a disgruntled but very tiny minority, who allege that they have disavowed their former love for Bonaire, and the sizeable majority who champion the island's virtues and put its few faults into - usually - appropriate perspective, the truth remains fairly easy to state:

Yes, there is some risk of simple, petty theft occurring if your valuables are unattended. But it is not a large risk, should not deter anyone from coming to Bonaire, and there are common sense behaviors that will ensure that your whole stay is wonderful. To your original query, Bonaire has a very comfortable feel at any hour. You can find on this website a number of anecdotes about dropped money or merchandise being handed back by local kids or adults, while stories of unpleasant encounters are exceedingly rare.

BTW, I thought wearing lots of chains on your sleeves went out of style back in the 1980's...


-LS

Hi Eugene,

I have spent a week on Bonaire for the last 4 years in a row. Taking the simple precautions you have been given above, I have had no problems at all. I feel completely safe walking down the street at night. I am sure some petty crime does take place but at no where close to the levels that some would have you believe. We lock up our passports, tickets, extra cash, ect in the room safe. Everything else is out in the room, cameras included.....most likely not a good idea but so far so good. I have a habit of cleaning out the change in my pocket and leaving it on the kitchen counter, not major amounts for sure but sometimes 10-20 guilders. I have had it neatly arranged on multiple occasions (at 2 different resorts) but never a penny taken. Take normal precautions and enjoy Bonaire, I can't wait to get back.

Herman