A bit concerned about moving to the V.I's now.

Well hopefully I'll be fine. I'll see you all Saturday.

yeah, I've been here 7 weeks or so. I guess there's crime. There has been 4 murders and three arson this month.

that said, I don't have a lot of money, pretty broke really, but I'm loving it and feel safe.

Been here almost three years. Learned all about the islands from this site and a few others. Wouldn't live anywhere else. Great people, great weather, great way of life. With or without much money. To coin a 60's music phrase: "Life is like a beanstalk, isn't it?" Soon come!

A week in the books, found a cottage that takes animals, We can turn it around.

Been here on STX about five months now. Still loving it too. 🙂

Another friend mugged last night 12:00 am... directly in front of the STJ police station.

am sorry to hear that. hope your friend is ok.

Thanks... He's OK. Jumped from behind and grabbed his backpack as he was hailing a cab. The cab slowed down but sped off as he was being mugged.

but of course. glad hes ok

Disturbing. Very disturbing to hear about the mugging.

Get accustomed to hearing awful news. Violent crime in the VI is out of control.

The BF has lived on STX for seven years and only known one person that suffered "violent crime" during those years - a friend's dad was mugged at 2am by a gas station. He admits he shouldn't have been there.

I don't know that I would use the phrase "out of control" - it's fearmongering...

You can be a victim of violent crime just about anywhere. Back in Texas over the weekend, heard about several people hurt/robbed there. I'm much happier here. 🙂

.....I don't know that I would use the phrase "out of control" - it's fearmongering... 🙂

Fear-mongering---no. Fact--yes. The USVI boasts one the highest per capita murder rates in the WORLD. The murder rate on STX is 100x higher than the stateside average. Look it up. The longer you stay on island, the more people you encounter, the more active you are in our community, the more violent crime will personally effect you.

Please be careful. Never walk to your car alone at night. Check the rear view. Be careful who you tell where you live. If a situation "feels" weird, assume it is and get out. If your hear gun shots, get down and cover your head.

.....I don't know that I would use the phrase "out of control" - it's fearmongering... 🙂

Fear-mongering---no. Fact--yes. The USVI boasts one the highest per capita murder rates in the WORLD. The murder rate on STX is 100x higher than the stateside average. Look it up. The longer you stay on island, the more people you encounter, the more active you are in our community, the more violent crime will effect you.

Please be careful. Never walk to your car alone at night. Check the rear view. Be careful who you tell where you live. If a situation "feels" weird, assume it is and get out. If your hear gun shots, get down and cover your head.

And then there are the DOGS that will come after you. I live alone in C'sted as well as work there and I do not walk around at night if I can avoid it. If I cannot avoid it, I carry a machete.

.....I don't know that I would use the phrase "out of control" - it's fearmongering... 🙂

Fear-mongering---no. Fact--yes. The USVI boasts one the highest per capita murder rates in the WORLD. The murder rate on STX is 100x higher than the stateside average. Look it up. The longer you stay on island, the more people you encounter, the more active you are in our community, the more violent crime will effect you.

Please be careful. Never walk to your car alone at night. Check the rear view. Be careful who you tell where you live. If a situation "feels" weird, assume it is and get out. If your hear gun shots, get down and cover your head.

And then there are the DOGS that will come after you. I live alone in C'sted as well as work there and I do not walk around at night if I can avoid it. If I cannot avoid it, I carry a machete.

Ha ha. I keep a machete in the trunk of my car. Fortunately, it's only been used for the odd road side auto repair.

.....I don't know that I would use the phrase "out of control" - it's fearmongering... 🙂

Fear-mongering---no. Fact--yes. The USVI boasts one the highest per capita murder rates in the WORLD. The murder rate on STX is 100x higher than the stateside average. Look it up. The longer you stay on island, the more people you encounter, the more active you are in our community, the more violent crime will personally effect you.

Please be careful. Never walk to your car alone at night. Check the rear view. Be careful who you tell where you live. If a situation "feels" weird, assume it is and get out. If your hear gun shots, get down and cover your head.

Yes, I know all this, and statistics are skewed to some extent for the USVI, but I won't get into that.

I've lived in a lot of bad areas in my adult life. I've been robbed three times - twice in New York, once in San Antonio. All three violent breaking and entering. I've been at knife point by a drug addict robbing me in New York. I've had guns pointed at me. NONE of this was on the USVI. Not saying it doesn't happen here. But honestly some people on these boards make it out like you can't walk around without being mugged every 5 minutes.

Avoiding crime is the same in most parts of the world, and your advice is solid whether in the USVI or the west side of Manhattan. Everyone gets to make choices about where and how they lead their lives, and the risks that come with them. But choices are rational decisions that are preferably based upon reality, not opinion and fearmongering. Honestly, if a person is that afraid, why stay?

I've lived in a lot of bad areas in my adult life. I've been robbed three times - twice in New York, once in San Antonio. All three violent breaking and entering. I've been at knife point by a drug addict robbing me in New York. I've had guns pointed at me. NONE of this was on the USVI. Not saying it doesn't happen here. But honestly some people on these boards make it out like you can't walk around without being mugged every 5 minutes.

Avoiding crime is the same in most parts of the world, and your advice is solid whether in the USVI or the west side of Manhattan. Everyone gets to make choices about where and how they lead their lives, and the risks that come with them. But choices are rational decisions that are preferably based upon reality, not opinion and fearmongering. Honestly, if a person is that afraid, why stay?

It's the PER CAPITA rates that you have to look at JK. Sure, violent crime is everywhere, but not in so great of proportion to such a small community. Add to that the fact that most of the VIPD know the (alleged) offender or one of their family members, makes it very difficult to prosecute crime here. People EXPECT crime in large cities like ... what did you say? ... New York and maybe San Antonio, but the same cannot be said of a tiny island community. Warnings are appropriate, and not fearmongering.

Why do I stay? Because I have a job. And a machete.

It's the PER CAPITA rates that you have to look at JK. Sure, violent crime is everywhere, but not in so great of proportion to such a small community. Add to that the fact that most of the VIPD know the (alleged) offender or one of their family members, makes it very difficult to prosecute crime here. People EXPECT crime in large cities like ... what did you say? ... New York and maybe San Antonio, but the same cannot be said of a tiny island community. Warnings are appropriate, and not fearmongering.

Why do I stay? Because I have a job. And a machete.

Iris, I respect you and your opinions and your experience. We are just going to differ in our approach on this. A person can be honest about crime statistics without inflating fear to the point where it's almost irrational - like some of the postings on this board. Honestly I've yet to meet anyone on STX or STT so afraid about and warnful about crime the way I see it sometimes on here.

I am not in any way discounting the crime rate on the USVI. We all know that it's here, like it is in many other parts of the world. What I am debating is the fear that is incited on this board to where people who are considering a move to the islands aren't given an opportunity to have rational information to create their own opinions.

Btw, the statistics actually went down for last year on murder and robbery rates - but I know some people refuse to believe them. I have no idea what to think myself, honestly.

But I'm still smiling. 🙂

LOL at :

"Fear-mongering---no. Fact--yes. The USVI boasts one the highest per capita murder rates in the WORLD. The murder rate on STX is 100x higher than the stateside average. Look it up. The longer you stay on island, the more people you encounter, the more active you are in our community, the more violent crime will effect you.

Please be careful. Never walk to your car alone at night. Check the rear view. Be careful who you tell where you live. If a situation "feels" weird, assume it is and get out. If your hear gun shots, get down and cover your head."

...whatever. Most people who live on St. Croix do not worry about crime as much as some of the people on this board would have you believe.
It is actually very peaceful here, and getting ready to be even more so with the closure of HOVENSA and the impending departure of lots of people. If we manage to scare even more away, or discourage them from coming here, we may even revert back to being the quiet, bucolic island a lot of us old folk remember.

...whatever. Most people who live on St. Croix do not worry about crime as much as some of the people on this board would have you believe.
It is actually very peaceful here, and getting ready to be even more so with the closure of HOVENSA and the impending departure of lots of people. If we manage to scare even more away, or discourage them from coming here, we may even revert back to being the quiet, bucolic island a lot of us old folk remember.

Thank you Native Son. 🙂

I'm seeing a lot of postive things in the future as well, and am doing my best to contribute to this community.

...whatever. Most people who live on St. Croix do not worry about crime as much as some of the people on this board would have you believe.
It is actually very peaceful here, and getting ready to be even more so with the closure of HOVENSA and the impending departure of lots of people. If we manage to scare even more away, or discourage them from coming here, we may even revert back to being the quiet, bucolic island a lot of us old folk remember.

Thank you Native Son. 🙂

I'm seeing a lot of postive things in the future as well, and am doing my best to contribute to this community.

Hey, me too. We just disagree on the crime thing. That's cool with me. You?

...It is actually very peaceful here, and getting ready to be even more so with the closure of HOVENSA and the impending departure of lots of people. ...

Although I can't quote cold numbers for support, I suspect that the folks formerly employed by HOVENSA were not committing crimes between shifts. With the refinery closing, STX will have less potential victims on island, not less criminals.

I'm seeing a lot of postive things in the future as well, and am doing my best to contribute to this community.

Hey, me too. We just disagree on the crime thing. That's cool with me. You?

Yep. Hey, no one can agree all the time! It's all good. 🙂

I can't conjecture on the HOVENSA closure, but I don't see it as a decrease in "victims." All sorts are leaving, and bad guys just might go too. A lot of good people are staying. So who knows. Only time will tell. *shrugs*

The bucolic days were before crack. If you got rid of crack and the other drugs, we could be bucolic again. Until then, carry what you feel you must, and do all of the above advice for keeping safe. Live as much of a bucolic lifestyle as you can, but CYA with a steel plate, so to speak.

...It is actually very peaceful here, and getting ready to be even more so with the closure of HOVENSA and the impending departure of lots of people. ...

Although I can't quote cold numbers for support, I suspect that the folks formerly employed by HOVENSA were not committing crimes between shifts. With the refinery closing, STX will have less potential victims on island, not less criminals.

I think that St. Croix has many positive things to offer, and we should not concentrate so much on crime...there are many societal factors that contribute to crime, and if you are not willing to remove those factors then you have to live with the crime as a byproduct of human nature. You could, for example, say that violent TV shows which promote murder and mayhem as a way to solve disputes are a contributing factor to the way some young men "solve" their issues, but nobody is going to agree to ban cable TV (an extreme example, but you get my point.)

There is a song by The Eagles that always resonates with me. The last lines are:

"They called it Paradise, I don't know why...
"You call someplace Paradise, kiss it goodbye"