Crime

I've been here since the 80's & I've not been a victim of crime. Is there crime? Yes. I don't hang out in bars at night & never have nor do I wander around downtown after dark. I don't hide at home after dark & do go out to restaurants in the evenings but you do need to be aware of your surroundings & keep a level head. Probably the same precautions you use in Ohio.

Be smart about where you go, especially at night. Avoid downtown Charlotte A, and stay at back island places or Red Hook. Don't count on the cops, they're more likely to commit a crime than solve one. Did I mention be smart?

go back in this board, there has been a lot said about crime.

Hello All,

I feel that crime is a legitimate topic of discussion, although you will find that it is a very sensitive subject here on this board. No island wants the reputation that Aruba got with the missing girl nor Haiti's reputation. The islands depend very much on tourism and can't afford to be labeled as a high crime area. Realistically, crime is higher on island, but avoidable. Right now the police have few resources to combat crime and drugs. Corruption does happen, but to be fair - it happens in every state of the union. Using common sense and avoiding drugs will keep you safe from crime 90% of the time. 10% of the time, it happens and you just were in the wrong place, wrong time or ticked off the wrong person. I can't explain that. We lived on island 2 years and were robbed once. We knew who it was and couldn't do much about it. Although, we did get a dog and had no more problems with home security. I felt it was just a random thing. The police came and were helpful, but you knew that they could not do anything for you. We lost some money, oh well. We weren't hurt and we just took more precautions. You can't get hung up on stuff like that.

Not too many places to go at night that are perfectly safe, but you should still eat at restaurants and have a few drinks. Just be aware when you leave and don't make yourself vulnerable. Don't flash a lot of cash, jewelry, etc. Just be smart. Criminals don't want to get caught or work hard to rob someone with no cash, so like we all say...common sense goes a long way.

Enjoy your time, don't bring a lot of valuables, and don't leave wallets and stuff on the beach while swimming nor in plain sight in your car. You should be fine. Good luck.

Teresa

That's right, it is relatively easy to avoid being a victim of violent crime here. What is impossible to avoid is the effect the rampant crime and corruption has on the community as a whole. When violent crime happens in acommunity anywhere, to any member of that community, everyone is affected. Hold the puiblicly elected officeal accountable, ask your new governor why he hasn't appointed a new police commissioner yet, or a commissioner of education. What is he going to do to reduce the obscenely high rate of childhood poverty in the territory???? We all can't live on the East End of St. Croix and stick our heads in the sand.

I am from NYC and moved here from Oakland.
Sadly, I am pretty much unphased by crime.
I am not familiar with Columbus, Ohio.
BUT I will venture to guess that if you have concerns about your wife going out by herself there, you will find St. Thomas very troubling.

To be fair, it's not that the east end of St. Croix never has any crime and I know plenty of people that live out there and don't have their heads stuck in the sand. Let's not get into overgeneralizations.

It is very frusterating, however, when you call in a report of several gunshots at the next door neighbors property and the police don't show up for almost two hours, as just happened to my friends. And they don't live in a hard to find area. They are about a five minute drive from the F'sted police station.

Sounds like St Croix has more crime than St Thomas, is this right?

Not really, islandexplorer. The crime rates on the two islands come out close to identical each year.

St. Thomas has 1/3 the land mass of St. Croix, twice the number of police to patrol it, and a similar resident population size.

Where's the best area to live?

Is this Ken from Phoenix???
Terry

Ken - the "best area to live" is entirely subjective to each individual. Some people prefer to live in a gated community, some prefer a neighborhood populated primarily by other Continental transplants, some prefer to immerse themselves in the local culture and a neighborhood populated primarily by locals, some prefer to live right in town, some prefer seclusion in a rural zone or on a hillside/hilltop, some prefer the rain forest, some prefer to live near their work or their children's schools, some prefer condos, etc.

There are lots of statistics for where the crime activity is higher or lower, but on an island this small some of the high and low crime zones are very close to one another and/or you drive through one to reach the other.

The east end of the island has less rainfall then the west end. Some areas are pretty remote and the roads may wash out in big storms.

Waterfront is a lot more expensive than inland. Ocean view properties are more expensive than non-ocean view. East end is more expensive than west end.

Usually if someone visits the island and spends a couple days driving around and stopping in at beach bars and restaurants and gathering places to chat with the clientele, they will soon figure out which parts of the island they prefer or wish to avoid. Some people find that the island doesn't measure up to their fantasy idea of what island life would be like. Others find a niche that fits them pretty well.

If you tell us more about YOU, then perhaps we can give you hints and information about where you are likely to find the things that are important to you.

Ken are you planning to rent or buy? House or Condo? The reason I ask is for most of us our home is part of our retirement investment and you want to get the most equity you can out of it. Some areas are alot better then others here for that.

Hi I am thinking about moving to one of the islands next year (2008)when I graduate from college. I am a single black female and I will be living alone. I was thinking about moving to St John thinking there is less crime there. I live in Memphis with my parents but I have always wanted to move to the islands. I am not into the club scene but I would like to meet friends for dinner occasionally. I am old enough to know I should always be aware of my surroundings. So I guess my question would be, do you think I would be safe living on the island alone. Thank you and any information you provide will be greatly appreciated.

I've lived alone all my life & am here to tell the tale. L.B., it's more expensive to live on STJ than on STT or STX but good luck with your plans. What kind of work do you plan on doing?