another murder

sounds like that poor young lady was targeted for murder, so sad.

there's an article about how Camden, NJ lowered it's crime rate dramatically: murder down 53%

huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/28/camden-crimerate_n_5225657.html

There's crime EVERYWHERE! Let's see, just in the past year alone in a suburb of San Diego, where I live, there has been a shooting right outside of my house, people doing drugs under the palm tree in my front yard, a string of cars (including my husbands) were tagged with spray paint, a 2 streets away there was a raid of a home where the people living there were dealing drugs and their children are now in foster care. And for what it's worth I do not live in the projects or a crack neighborhood. Do I live in the "Best" neighborhood? No. But I still sleep with my windows open and let my kids play outside. Why? because The shooting was b/c of my neighbors' daughter dating scum of the earth who had is his gang lifestyle follow him to their house. And because of my and my husband we told the police that the scum knew who did it and they were caught. The druggies my husband and I chased away and brought empty dime bags to the police so they would know what was going on. We kept vigilant about it and it has now stopped. And well obnoxious teens will be obnoxious teens and unfortunately they spray paint cars.

So when we move there next year will we keep our eyes open? Yes b/c that is the smart thing to do whenever and where ever you are. But am I going to let all the negativity and nay sayers keep us from moving? HELL NO!

Ah yes, the "Crime Everywhere" argument.

I have also lived in high crime areas. STX is different. It cannot be explained, it has to be experienced. The culture from stateside crime areas to STX is different. And other factors.

klpmtm, this is sincere (not snark) advice. You have not even visited STX yet and are already sincerely planning a move with two young children. Most residents who have lived in the USVI for more than a few years will advise that the first year or two for a new resident be spent with the mouth shut and the eyes and ears open, and leave all presumptions stateside.

You are right, I have not been to STX yet but I've been to the DR, Jamaica, Bahamas. and I have seen first hand the poverty, crime, and corruption in each of these islands. Every island is different but they all have the same challenges. The same with the US mainland. I grew up on the Northeast and now live in So Cal. I have visited every state in New England and have traveled the western coast as well as the southeast coast. I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly everywhere I've been.

You are also right to say that I have not experienced it there in STX. But all of the people attempting to put the fear of God into people who are thinking of moving there haven't been in my neighborhood(s) and experienced what I've lived through. In my previous residence, I had a peeping Tom/stalker who turned out to be our maintenance man who I taught my oldest daughter from birth to trust with her life. Boy what a shocker that was! Scared the shit out of me. But would I tell everyone who would listen to me to never move to that town? No, b/c it would be an exaggeration of the town. And BTW the police did nothing. Kind of like what all of you on the board complain about, that police don't do anything.

I guess what I'm trying to say is this is a relocation thread/forum. Tell people there is crime here, tell them you should always keep an eye out. But why go to the extent to scare the shit out of people all under the premise of "I'm just telling it like it is." Because really it isn't. Not everyone on STX gets mugged, raped, beaten, or murdered. I have met plenty of people on this and other forums that have lived there for years and years who have never been involved or been affected by crime on STX. Could it happen yes. But it could happen anywhere.

If you really want to scare people away tell them what is fact for everyone on the island. Unless you are off the grid be prepared to pay 5 times as much for your electric bill. Be prepared to pay out of your nose for water (If you don't have a large cistern that is). It's going to be expensive to furnish your apt/condo/home. Be prepared to do online shopping. So if you are one of those people who are afraid of your cc info getting in the wrong hands and don't shop on line, be prepared to pay extra b/c everything has to be imported.

And yes, when I get there I intend to keep my mouth shut and my eyes and ears open because that is the smart thing to do until you have settled in and get to know the lay of the land. But that doesn't mean I have or should be quiet now and not offer my opinion(s) because the sad fact is I have been a victim of more crime than probably most of the people on this forum have been. Because I plan to let all of my negative experiences (the crimes perpetrated against me and/or may family) go and still follow a dream and not be afraid it will happen to me in STX.

I have heard this same discussion many times. The point made "don't scare potential people from relocating" is equally met with "no one told me how it really is." I believe in conveying the truth, which is that most come to the island with a certain set of assumptions that inevitably are broken.

I'll just leave the quote from CruzanIron from page one, and call it a night.

Hello, I am coming for a pmv next month and this stuff is scaring the crap out of me

Some people on this page get easily upset if we post the truth about crime here, so I won't post any crime related information.

But I'm sure that others will.

cruzianiron, that was funny

and to those who say crime is everywhere-it does not matter because we dont live everywhere-we live here. the crime on our islands concerns us more than the crime in mainland cities-why, because we dont live there we live here. so stop that argument

oh, and what "extreme " are we going to. Telling the truth. if that is extreme , well thats just too bad.

i have heard it was a targeted murder

cruzianiron, that was funny

and to those who say crime is everywhere-it does not matter because we dont live everywhere-we live here. the crime on our islands concerns us more than the crime in mainland cities-why, because we dont live there we live here. so stop that argument

Speedy, you just made my point. Thank you. So when people try to say it is worse there, they really don't know because they are not "here" compare it too. So actually you made my argument valid.

cruzianiron, that was funny

and to those who say crime is everywhere-it does not matter because we dont live everywhere-we live here. the crime on our islands concerns us more than the crime in mainland cities-why, because we dont live there we live here. so stop that argument

Speedy, you just made my point. Thank you. So when people try to say it is worse there, they really don't know because they are not "here" compare it too. So actually you made my argument valid.

Except for those who have lived/worked in both places and speak from experience of both.

It is equally invalid for one to say that one will be able to cope with crime in a new location based upon experience in an existing location. This argument can go around all night.

Pretty good point Finatic. But since I've been through enough serious crimes in my day I'm willing to take the chance.

how did i make your point.by stating that your argument was invalid? and i believe the fbi stats actually point out the truth more than reading things on here do

Pretty sad state of affairs either way you look at it when this poor, murdered, woman's mother heard the gun shot but was so accustomed to sounds of gunfire that she didn't
bother to get up to check what was happening nor to report it.

Very true Alana! I was trying not to comment on that fact. It is very sad. But it totally confuses me how someone can't differentiate the difference between a gun shot outside vs inside. Maybe she was wearing ear plugs?

LMAO.

Is there a PR moving forum? I googled, but didn't find one.

There was, but someone stole it...

I did four pmv's to STT. Got the paper sent to my house in the states for two years prior to the move. Read the Settlers Handbook two times cover to cover. Followed this blog daily to learn all that I could about living here. I never made a comment until a few months ago.
When moving day arrived, I felt confident that I knew everything. Looking back, I knew very little. It's been over five years and I still have more to learn. My advice too those considering the move is:
1. Let others ask the stupid questions, because they will.
2. When you get here, smile, listen always, speak seldom.
3. Be careful in picking your friends. There are some great people here. Plenty of dirt bags as well.
4. Always try to be respectful and patient, it comes back to you either way.
5. Try to make time on a schedule to enjoy what brought you here.
6. If you have addiction issues, don't come.
The Islands will only make it much worse.
7.Yes there is crime everywhere, no one is trying to scare anyone away from their dream. Those that choose to victimize people here are fearless because they are seldom caught. People here want you to understand this clearly, not looking through the bottom of two Heineken bottles.

Why was she targeted?

thank you Gumbo.

klpmtm-it can be hard to tell where the shots are fired from due to the wind and hills and valleys. we have heard shots fired at the ballpark but never hear the jump up. the jump up is closer.it all depends on the other noises going on and the wind.

jump up is basically in the same vicinity as the free saturday night movie. we can hear the movie-but again not the jump up

also maybe she had her tv on, maybe she was lucky enough to have air conditioning, so many factors .

My kids grew up here and really enjoyed it.

I did four pmv's to STT. Got the paper sent to my house in the states for two years prior to the move. Read the Settlers Handbook two times cover to cover. Followed this blog daily to learn all that I could about living here. I never made a comment until a few months ago.
When moving day arrived, I felt confident that I knew everything. Looking back, I knew very little. It's been over five years and I still have more to learn. My advice too those considering the move is:
1. Let others ask the stupid questions, because they will.
2. When you get here, smile, listen always, speak seldom.
3. Be careful in picking your friends. There are some great people here. Plenty of dirt bags as well.
4. Always try to be respectful and patient, it comes back to you either way.
5. Try to make time on a schedule to enjoy what brought you here.
6. If you have addiction issues, don't come.
The Islands will only make it much worse.
7.Yes there is crime everywhere, no one is trying to scare anyone away from their dream. Those that choose to victimize people here are fearless because they are seldom caught. People here want you to understand this clearly, not looking through the bottom of two Heineken bottles.

For an alternate perspective:

I never made a PMV, I did read a bit on this forum and a few others.

I asked a lot of questions, when I arrived I smiled a lot and talked a lot and made friends with anyone who was willing to be friendly back (and those that weren't, just got more smiles and jokes).

I was here 4 months before I found a house to buy, I was here 8 months before I started two business projects with my wife, I've almost been here two years now.

I have been 1/2 friendly (I wave and say "hi" to everyone I see, regardless if I know them or they even notice me) 1/4 bold (This island is FULL of people who talk, and very few that "do", I say talk AND do! why not?) and 1/4 cautious (My truck has been broken into once, my horses have been stolen 4 times, but none if it is despair worthy. Almost all the crime statistics that make the islands look bad are events that originated and stay in the different project housing areas; if you don't live there chances are you'll be fine).

It's a different approach than some, but it has worked out very well for me so far.

Why was she targeted?

It might have been she was involved with another man and/or just didn't want her man anymore, and therefore it could have been revenge/crime of passion.

From what I hear from a lot of locals, that type of murder is very common.

From what I hear from a lot of locals, that type of murder is very common.

One third of women murdered in the USVI are victims of domestic crimes.

This is probably the best article I've read to date on murder statistics in the USVI:

http://stthomassource.com/content/news/local-news/2014/04/01/homicide-virgin-islands-young-men-dead-street

Interesting...nobody mentioned that the deceased and the shooter were ex-lovers, she apparently had a new boyfriend, the ex had been stalking her, he came to her house at night and called her, she came to the window and he shot her...not in her bed.

Doesn't make it any better, but certainly not as scary as people are making it sound as if people are going around randomly on STX shooting people in their beds. This is apparently domestic violence.

You can randomly be infected with Ebola...living is dangerous.

Interesting...nobody mentioned that the deceased and the shooter were ex-lovers, she apparently had a new boyfriend, the ex had been stalking her, he came to her house at night and called her, she came to the window and he shot her...not in her bed.

Doesn't make it any better, but certainly not as scary as people are making it sound as if people are going around randomly on STX shooting people in their beds. This is apparently domestic violence.

I didn't read an article with those details but that was exactly what I thought and had exactly the same reaction.

could be no one mentioned them because they had no knowledge of that fact. people were speculating that they knew each other. i hear she was shot in the bed by people who knew her. if i had heard otherwise i would have stated so