Having Doubts?

jaimie are you doing a pmv or just moving down blind?

jaimie, be not afeared! Research this forum extensively and be more concerned about the cost of living than crime statistics. This from a 23 year so far fulltime resident who has personally experienced crime here but puts all incidents into perspective, If I say any more I'm going to have to field off countless posts so I'll leave it at that. Cheers!
PS: "Safe" areas are almost impossible to quantify.

Jamie, your mileage may vary. No one will have the same experience that you do. No one has the exact same perceptions that you do. Good and bad (and there is both on this island) you ultimately have to make your own choice. Please follow the EXTREMELY good advice from STT resident to research the message board and take into consideration the cost of living and just come for a visit!!! You may love it or you may hate it. You may love it while visiting, but hate it when you are actually living here. Or you may love it all over and stay here forever. Trust me, I know people in all catagories.

And, I imagine St. Croix looks pretty awesome right now. I talked to my Dad in Cleveland today and he said it was 28 degrees and still snowing after a week! 🙂

Hey Jamie,
I'm from Cleveland also, don't be afraid crime is in every big city in America. If you really want to do this then go for it. You will regret it. I lived on STJ and now live on STX. It's a better place as far as affordable housing and available jobs.

Okay this is why the board has spell checker and a preview of your post. Did you mean to say, "You will regret it."? I am the worst speller in the world which is why I am so thankful that the spell checker was added to this board. Now if we could all preview our posts...:)

Teresa

Ah, the good old, crime is in every big city conundrum

OK - St Croix is not a big city. A large number of the people thinking of moving to the Islands would NEVER dream of moving to a large crime ridden city.
Can we please say instead that the VI, although it only has the population, amenities, etc etc of a town of 50,000, has the crime rate of a larger urban center.
If we go with the "every big city" silliness then people might envision safe areas, high crime areas, suburbs, inner city areas etc. and not understand the reality of living on a "rock". You are never very far from a "great" area or an "awful" area.
Thd VI is unique and special - that is why one needs a PMV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please, no more....hackneyed old "big city crime..."

Jaimie,
The point I am trying to make is that if this is something you want to do. Do it. The only way you are going to know is if you do it. You can talk to ten people and you'll get ten different experiences.

jaime,

i too am from this area.... Cleveland. Which part of beautiful Cleveland are you thinking about leaving???? We are pmv bound this summer God Willing..... Candy

And most of those ten different people will be telling you about them from the mainland. She will also know if she likes it if she does a pmv. Its expensive to move here and you will be cut off from your family not to mention all sorts of other things. Come here for a visit first and see if you like it before you jump all in or you may have some serious regrets.

in relativity to the other 2 islands, st john doesn't have a crime rate. Of course there's crime, but not like St Thomas and St Croix. If this is something important to you, check out the police blotter at stjohntradewinds.com. This weeks issue, a person called to report they were denied access to a crosswalk. A few weeks ago, someone called to report a juice box was stolen out of their fridge. One time a man called to report a donkey followed him home. Point is, our nightlife may not be as exciting as St Thomas or st Croix, but we do have nightlife. The big joke here is that st thomians call st john "st yawn", and st johnians call st Thomas "st trauma". No offense, st thomians. Guess it just depends on what you're looking for. I rarely lack for something to do, and when I'm bored, I'll make my way to a neighboring island, but I'm always glad to be home again. Cheers to island life!

Look, it doesn't matter what the crime stats are in the Virgin Islands. The problem lies with what happens after the crime occurs. Nothing. The police are overworked, underpaid, and don't have the resources to effectively combat crime. They are still trying to get a fingerprinting system. Basically you are on your own for security. The terrain itself can prevent police or an ambulance from getting to you. So, if you have no accidents, no break-ins, no health problems, no theft, than it is a great place to live. If you do have something occur, you realize how alone you are in your battle to not be a victim. If the police do catch a criminal, it is very very hard to get them behind bars.

Change is happening, but very slowly. People are starting to realize that they can actively petition and protest, but it will take time to get it all together. The islands are as safe as you make them to be. You just need to be smart and not make yourself a target.

St. John has a population of 4,000 + people. St. Thomas 50,000 + people. Small town versus big city. Yes, some places are safer than others, but it is almost a house by houses basis and who your neighbors are and if you know them well enough to help each other keep an eye on the area and what security is in place, etc. Having a dog helps, buying locks for patio doors and windows or bars can all help.

It isn't something that should make you afraid, just something to make you aware so you can prevent most crime. The U.S.V.I. isn't as crime ridden as other islands, but I don't think it has the security that the mainland has in place. But then you are comparing apples to mangoes.

The theme should be 'don't worry, just be prepared'.

Teresa

Bravo Teresa!

This is the best, most realistic, and practical perspective on crime that I have seen. I am in 100% complete agreement with you.

I live on STT and I feel like my chances of being a victim of a violent crime are pretty low. However, I feel like my chances of being the victim of a non-violent crime such as burglary or auto theft, are much higher than they should be for an island and a population of this size.

The violent and non-violent crime problem here is very real, and very unacceptable -- and that is simply an ongoing fact of life here at this point in time. Many of us are pinning very high hopes on the new Governor and new Chief of the VIPD among others, and are hoping to see some drastic improvements ASAP.

That said, I don't worry much about crime and I don't limit my lifestyle in any way. I go wherever I want, when I want day or night, but I am always careful and always watchful. If you realize that you are pretty much on your own, and you take all the necessary precautions, IMHO you stand a good chance of not having any major problems.

"Don't worry, just be prepared" is the perfect way to put it.

🙂

"I live on STT and I feel like my chances of being a victim of a violent crime are pretty low. However, I feel like my chances of being the victim of a non-violent crime such as burglary or auto theft, are much higher than they should be for an island and a population of this size. "

Believe it or not non violent crime can easily escalate to violent crime even as violent as death.

Hi Promoguy,

Of course it can and your point is very well taken, but I still stand by my original statement. I do not fear for my personal safety here on this island, and if I did, I would not be living here.

🙂

I'm sure most don't fear for their personal safety. Most folks who I know also don't fear for their safety. That however doesn't mean that one shouldn't mention the way it 'might' be.

If someone suggested a certain zip code they wanted to move to in Los Angeles, I might make comment.

(no smiley face)

Mell, for the 87th time I will tell the story of being robbed on St. Croix on our PMV.....leaving the Off the Wall at between 8:30 and 9:00 at night, with people all around us. Maybe we weren't as watchful as we should have been, or as you are.....but against every set of odds that could have been thrown out there, it happened.....and although it did not deter us from moving, it's also a memory that will never go away and certainly changed the way we actually wanted to live our lives on St. Croix. Or maybe I could tell you about walking down the main street in C'sted at noon on a weekday with a friend and him noticing we were being tracked by a couple of guys, one of whom was armed with a machete. I didn't even notice it - he did, got us more out into the road, and probably averted a disaster in an alleyway. It was obvious they were distressed to have lost their mark.

Any crime is unacceptable...but that's not reality unless you live in Beaver Cleaverland. If you do whatever you want and go wherever you want whether it is day or night, I don't care if you are on St. Thomas or in Boise......your chances are going up. That's the way of the world, and to color it any other way is misleading. I think your statement "realize you are on your own" is the only part of your assessment of life in the VI or anywhere else that I could remotely agree with.

Hi Guys,

I commented on what I thought was a very intelligent post by Teresa that I agree with. I did not disagree with anything anyone said and I simply stated my OWN personal feelings about living here in a respectful and nice way.

I am sharing how I feel and I am not telling anyone else how they should feel or "coloring" anything in any particular way.

Becky I think your story is terrible and tragic and I am sorry that you had to experience this. As I stated in my post, the crime problem here is very real and very unacceptable and the problems need to be solved. Each of us in our own way work on the problems as we are able to.

Have a wonderful day all!

Best,
🙂 Mell

Edited to correct a misspelling.

Teresa is nice, and I appreciate that you were applauding her - I'm sure Teresa's thankful to have you in her corner. I didn't intend to come off disrespectful or "not nice", heaven forbid. I'm not concerned with whether anyone thinks this was tragic or terrible - no one was there but us. I'm not beating a drum, but I am saying that what you perceive as "safety" just may not be. When we were held up at gunpoint with a 9 mm to my head, the police dispatcher kept asking me if I was sure.....yes, I do indeed believe I know the feel of metal crunching into the side of my head. No one could believe it had happened - it had been forever since anything like that had happened on the north shore....everyone was shocked - because, you see, they believed they could carry on their lives day or night and that they were "safe" because they were vigilant and in paradise.

Just as you have stated your personal opinion about the possibility of crime, I am stating mine and telling how I feel. I am stating my position simply and quietly. No coloring either way - crime is a way of life these days. I was not specifically meaning you were trying to paint the rosy picture - I just believe that crime has gone up since our initial move, and was on the rise as we were moving. Of course, I have nothing to back that up, so perhaps I am incorrect - but the idea that the police questioned us so closely on whether this could have really happened made me think they weren't used to a lot of violent crime that wasn't "person-to-person" crime. Random violent crime DOES seem to be more prevalent now, or at least it was a few months ago. Maybe that's just growing pains.

Mell,

I don't know how you do it. I got a dog, bought dead bolt locks for my patio doors and windows, never went anywhere after 8 at night. A couple of the restaurants we went to were robbed one person stabbed, thankfully at times we were not there. When I say prepare, I mean prepare to be faced with crime. I was never paranoid nor worried, I just took the necessary steps to make my family as safe as possible. I didn't like living that way at all. Made me grumpy to say the least. I worked part time at night and hated the fact that I had to do so many things to make myself as safe as possible. It was all just too much work. I was only a victim of crime once, but had a lot of close calls. One neighbor would get a ride home from work at night to our street and walk the rest of the way home (it was out of the way for the ride he got). He was jumped and beat up even after he gave up his wallet. He left island shortly after. One of the newspaper photographers was helping a friend with his car and got shot in the leg for not giving up his wallet fast enough. In a well lit public area at night. I don't try to scare people or worry people. I do try to prepare people. The reality for continentals moving to island is that they are targets for theft, because the majority are unaware of the 'rules'. Many islanders have been victims of crime, theft, etc. and just except it as a way of life. I chose to not live that way. Some people are completely unaware until it happens and then are still in shock about it. I think that is why you get so much response. People who know the truth can not tell newbies and people considering a move that the islands are safe or safer when you are aware your surroundings.

I don't know if this makes any sense as I am an artist not a writer, but if you want to move to the islands and live, I hope that you prepare to be faced with crime and the lack of response to it.

Teresa

The restaurant/bar are of north shore is as dangerous as downtown christiansted. Downtown c'sted has had a problem with a very small group of what the police think are illegal down islander robbing people as of late. Downtown on Styx is nothing like sett. On a slow weekday it can be pretty deserted and tourist or newbie rarely realize it is dangerous and you need to be aware of your surroundings and to be cautious. Recently a friend of ours who is a federal agent and his fiance were robbed as she stepped out of Bombay club. As soon as she step out the door she was shoved to the ground and robbed before he could reach her the criminals were gone. The police would not come even though the station is a few blocks away because there was only ONE officer on duty that night.

There was a interesting article in the Avis about one month ago about how the fire department had been out to mon bijou for the third time that month because the local children would start fires. That was not the horrible part. While the fireman are working to put out the fire the children are throwing rocks and bottles at them.

"..never went anywhere after 8 at NIGHT...I worked part time at NIGHT..."

"...One neighbor would get a ride home from work at NIGHT to our street and walk the rest of the way home...He was jumped and beat up even after he gave up his wallet. "

"...One of the newspaper photographers was helping a friend with his car and got shot in the leg for not giving up his wallet fast enough. In a well lit public area at NIGHT. .."

(CAPITALIZATION is mine)

Not much good happens at NIGHT in places where there is a great disparity of wealth among the population.

Good point dntw8up. This is why I rarely do go out at night. Good point to make for future relocators. I spent money on good tv,computer, and other toys before I came here knowing it was slower here (entertainment wise). And I'm glad I did because I do tend to stay in more at night because of the crime. And it only gets worse in the summers when school lets out.

You are absolutely right, as usual.
Bad things happen at NIGHT on islands with a very high poverty rate. The only point that I would make is that the younger transplantees and brand - new relocators tend to go out in the evening and do not realize that the time that bad things happen is often a lot earlier than one would think.
In downtown C'sted, bad things can happen at 7pm (approx.) NOT 2am. A perfectly reasonable Stateside thought process must always be checked for VI veracity.