We have a house on Bonaire where we spend two months a year (a month in the summer and a month in the winter). Although it is not in the safest neighborhood, we have had no problems with break-ins or any other issues while we are there and we like the house and the neighborhood a lot.

However, as soon as we left this time, in August, people started breaking in. We have a caretaker (Bonaire Partners) and two weeks ago they emailed to say that someone had broken in and our bikes were gone. They just broke a wooden shutter and helped themselves to our stuff. So the caretakers fixed the shutter and filed a police report and today they email again to say that someone had broken in again and was apparently camping in our house. I assume they will file another police report again.

I am really wondering what we can do to prevent these constant break-ins. Since we are off island most of the year, we can't have dogs and we can't personally protect our house. Our caretaker only comes once a week and if we get a tenant we can't use the house ourselves anymore. The whole house is shuttered with solid wooden shutters. Have other part-year residents experienced these types of repeated break-ins? What have you done to stop them? (By the way, the house is practically empty, aside from some used furniture and summer clothes). We just don't want our house to be violated like this every other week and we're worried that whoever camps in there will damage our stuff or steal other things.

Hans, do you have the neighborhood watch program? I think it's called wowo di bario or something similar? If not, maybe you could start one in your neighborhood.

Good idea. Unfortunately, when we're in Bonaire we are facing a pretty tough language barrier in our neighborhood. We're learning papiamentu, but it will take a while before we're ready for more than simple bon dia and kon ta bai with our neighbors. Also being so far away for most of the year makes things difficult.

How about installing some internet web cams (assuming you have internet access in your Bonaire home) that you can view via the Internet in your off-island home? This won't stop the break-ins, but it will provide some peace-of-mind (as you can check your Bonaire home whenever you like) and if you do get broken in to you may be able to provide the police with photos of the 'perps'.

Bars on the windows would seem to be the best choice. Along with the other things.

Why don't you rent it to my brother for a very reasonable price and mentioned that everytime you're on the Island he find something else?

He now moves from one 'babysithouse' to another, because he can't afford renting for a 1000 NAF a month.

PS I haven't discussed this with him, but I can contact him if necessary.

Get an alarm system and have it monitored by whoever installs it. Any yes to the putting bars on all windows as well.

Thanks for all the suggestions, here and via PM. I am getting quotes for bars and for the Special Security Services watch. Has anyone had experiences with those people? We almost got run over by them a couple of times on our bikes, since they always go 50 miles an hour through the back streets, but if they are effective, that may be worth it.

We did consider the tenant/house sitter route, but we had a bad experience earlier this year. We had a tenant who thrashed the house, didn't pay rent, and was broken into herself. It took us a week to get the house back in shape when we came back this summer. So, we're a little weary of that idea. Also, how do you ask someone to leave when they have no other place to go?

Please keep the ideas coming! At least it makes me feel like I'm doing something, sitting 3500 miles away on the West Coast.

Hans , the best solution is indeed to find a renter with a good contract , you had a bad experiance ones but there are plenty nice people on Bonaire.Att this moment we have a man from 36 years , single , he is this month a volunteer and next month he start his job as a dive master at Yellow Submarine, he good be an suggestion to rent to with the special aggreement, you can mail us
It is differcult to find a place to stay for an reasonable price, to many people want high rents.
good luck
marina melis donkeys help

The special security people should be walking around the neighborhood, not driving around ! They need to get out and be VISIBLE, get to know the neighbors so they will know is something looks wrong or out of place.

Okay I'll move there and do it for you.

I know in Belnem, they are on foot patrol and you see them all night. No matter what time I came home, someone was always there it seemed to greet me and discreetly hang around until I was safely inside.

A great idea if you can pull it together.

Hans,

My parents also live in Bonaire, so when he has no house to babysit, he stays with our parents.

But that does not garentee that the house will not be broken into. PS no matter how long you live among the locals, you will always be the foregnor with money.

SSS are pretty good, in Antriol bars would be the best option. But not nice to see. What about metal or hard-plastic blinds that can be pulled up?

Good luck.

Perhaps rent the house long term, very reasonably, to someone a realtor finds for you. For the month you want to be on Island, use two month's rent from your good tenant to provide a place for your tenant. There are places that rent by the month.

You won't get 'rich' doing this, but you could find a very nice person or couple to take care of your Island home. And get a little rent money in the deal.

If I lived there, I'd be quite happy to have a nice place to live, below the usual price, and two month's 'vacation' every year!

Good luck to you!

My neighbor lives in his house Jan. - March. Sunbelt successfully finds renters the other months.

What neighborhood, just curious.

One thing I will say, if one gets broken into, I have heard of it happening over and over again. It's usually the same people and if you ask around folks usually know who it is.