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We have read lots of times about the problem of theft at the local beaches and have finally had it happen to us. We went to Rainbow Beach for lunch and snorkeling yesterday. We have been to several beaches on the East end and never had a problem but still take precautions, as recommended. The car was in the restaurant parking lot, with the alarm set.
After lunch we walked down the beach a couple of hundred feet to the North until we were close to the buoys that marked the “seascapes” that are within easy snorkeling distance. We had 2 bags to carry our gear and a third with towels/clothing. One of the snorkel bags was completely empty and the other contained a pair of old, rubber fin straps, a comb and my Costco sunglasses. The towel bag had 2 old beach towels, another comb, a old colored tee shirt, a wrap, another comb and a couple of pretzels. The bag was stained and well worn. The car keys were (fortunately) with me in a watertight Pelican case.
We frequently looked back at the shore and only saw a couple of people waking the beach in the area and neither came anywhere near our stuff. When we got out of the water, one snorkel bag (the better one) and the towel bag were both gone. Other than the sunglasses, the thief got nothing of value, however, the feeling of being “violated” will last a long time. (I hope the kid’s Mama likes the ratty towels)
The lesson learned is that when people tell you that theft is a problem on St Croix, believe it!!!
Posted : November 21, 2018 1:07 pm
That could happen on any beach anywhere.
Posted : November 21, 2018 1:47 pm
Sorry for your loss, but I'm trying to understand exactly where your bags were when they were stolen.
If the bags were sitting in plain sight in the car, then that was not very smart. You can get robbed anywhere in the world by doing that. I'm not excusing the robbery, however it's not smart to have stuff in plain sight to entice bad intentions.
The bags should be placed in the trunk or rear of vehicle; hidden from onlookers.
In the states, cops are currently walking around mall parking lots and observing cars with this type of behavior. The cops are leaving notes on cars warning drivers that it was not smart to leave items in plain sight. They're also checking for open doors.
Posted : November 21, 2018 2:38 pm
Is it generally safe to leave stuff in a locked car out of sight at Rainbow Beach during the day? I've done it & it seems like there are enough people around that nobody would break a car window. But I have expensive prescription sunglasses, and if I'm wearing them, I'm not wearing my equally expensive regular glasses. I would hate to lose them.
Posted : November 21, 2018 2:48 pm
Topic starter
The bags were not in the car. Car was locked, in the parking lot with nothing visible.
The bags were on the beach, behind a tree, next to the fence of one of the houses on the beach. Not in plain sight to a casual observer.
I am over 70 years old, have been going to the beach since I was 8, and have never before had anything taken. I heeded the warnings from this board (and others) and did not one anything of real value. Thanks to those who provided warnings.
I hope the thief enjoyed the pretzel. ????
Posted : November 21, 2018 3:29 pm
Hawaii is no different, maybe worse.
Posted : November 21, 2018 3:43 pm
When Im at the beach and decide to go snorkeling/swimming/surfing, I use the same sure-fire means of securing my personal belonging on the beach.
First, I dig a small hole about 6”x6”. I then place a Hand Grenade in the hole. Using a short length of string, I tie one end to the grenade pin, and the other to my beach bag. I usually go out of my way to bring a highly visible “bling encrusted” beach bag, the more bling (potential shrapnel) the better.
Personally, I’ve never had anyone attempt to steal my bag at the beach, but should it occur, I can assure you the thief will never attempt it again.
Or anything else for that matter...
Posted : November 21, 2018 6:32 pm
caribstx wrote:
That could happen on any beach anywhere.
And it did to them on that beach anywhere--*-) 🙂
Posted : November 21, 2018 11:25 pm
singlefin wrote:
When Im at the beach and decide to go snorkeling/swimming/surfing, I use the same sure-fire means of securing my personal belonging on the beach.
First, I dig a small hole about 6”x6”. I then place a Hand Grenade in the hole. Using a short length of string, I tie one end to the grenade pin, and the other to my beach bag. I usually go out of my way to bring a highly visible “bling encrusted” beach bag, the more bling (potential shrapnel) the better.
Personally, I’ve never had anyone attempt to steal my bag at the beach, but should it occur, I can assure you the thief will never attempt it again.
Or anything else for that matter...
But how do you keep the sand from jamming the pin? That's the problem I always run in to.
Posted : November 22, 2018 1:52 am
lol!
On the tourism forums, I suggest visitors leave their cars unlocked and no valuables inside. We have some remote beaches and petty theft does happen. And we have times where there will be a broken window to go along with the theft. Which just adds a headache to the violation. Lots of people put their valuables in a ziplock and then bury it in the sand and lay their towel over it or keep it in a dry bag and take it with them when they are in the water. Then there are others who swear by keeping their valuables wrapped up in a diaper. I guess thieves aren't even interested in opening one of those things up to see what is inside.
Posted : November 22, 2018 8:04 am
people say "it could happen anywhere" but that doesnt really matter because they arent " anywhere" they are here
caribstx wrote:
That could happen on any beach anywhere.
Posted : November 22, 2018 10:38 am
“Then there are others who swear by keeping their valuables wrapped up in a diaper.”
LOL
Brilliant idea!
I’d prefer a grenade in the face over a dirty diaper any day of the week.
Wait a minute...
How about a grenade wrapped in a diaper?
Posted : November 22, 2018 11:46 am
speee1dy wrote:
people say "it could happen anywhere" but that doesnt really matter because they arent " anywhere" they are hereThat could happen on any beach anywhere.
yes....it does matter when it's made out to be an unique aspect of one island.
Posted : November 22, 2018 11:57 am
I didn't get from their post that crime is a unique aspect of STX - just that it does happen here.
Posted : November 22, 2018 1:28 pm
Topic starter
islandjoan wrote:
I didn't get from their post that crime is a unique aspect of STX - just that it does happen here.
That was exactly the point.
Because of the warnings from this board, the thief got bupkiss. Hope he caught my cold from the pretzel. ????
Posted : November 22, 2018 2:59 pm
caribstx wrote:
That could happen on any beach anywhere.
Well, duh. The point is it DID happen HERE.
Scubadoo wrote:
Hawaii is no different, maybe worse.
That's absurd. I've been to all the Hawaiian islands many, many times and the crime is NOT like here. Yes, they do have crime, but to say it's worse than the VI? That's just patently untrue.
Posted : November 22, 2018 7:27 pm
Scubadoo wrote:
Hawaii is no different, maybe worse.
That's absurd. I've been to all the Hawaiian islands many, many times and the crime is NOT like here. Yes, they do have crime, but to say it's worse than the VI? That's just patently untrue.
I was specifically referring to thefts at the beach including beachside car breakins. There is a lot of it in HI that I have observed.
Posted : November 22, 2018 10:42 pm
Makaha used to bad, Oahu overall was worse than the other Hawaiian islands.
I felt there was more racial tension there too.
The higher population was definitely a factor and you can see the California influences everywhere. Granted, better infrastructure, definitely more squared away, much higher taxes, but “old Hawaii” is long gone.
Posted : November 23, 2018 11:16 am
On the west side today, hit the beach and then drove up to Rhythm’s for lunch. Looks like their grating the road for new pavement. That road has needed new Asphalt for years. I hope they’ll go a little wider for extra parking.
We can dream...
Posted : November 25, 2018 7:25 pm
As the sign says, Pave D Road.
Posted : November 26, 2018 12:56 am
Putting asphalt on dirt isn't "paving"!
Posted : November 28, 2018 1:51 pm
They haven’t put anything on it yet. Others have told me it’s been like that for quite awhile. Everything has been put on hold for some reason.
Posted : November 29, 2018 12:17 am
"They haven’t put anything on it yet. Others have told me it’s been like that for quite awhile. Everything has been put on hold for some reason."
Mapp didn't get reelected so he probably put a stop to everything.;)
Posted : November 30, 2018 11:20 am
The Sh*ts will take anything, I was at Reef beach once and left car open as there was nothing in it except a roll of paper towels and didn't want it broken into for a search for goodies, They took the paper towels. And yes it can happen anywhere but it seems more like it WILL happen here.
Posted : December 3, 2018 12:15 am
Rainbow beach is a special place to me, when I first came to St. Croix in 1979 right after a hurricane (I've forgotten which one it was) I used to go to a bar on Rainbow beach operated by a couple from Connecticut. There used to be a family owned food establishment right across from the beach and ball park.. I was a single guy at the time and the family practically adopted me during my stay on St. Croix. I did not return to St. C for 9 years and I was so disappointed to find that eating place was no longer in existence, but I still have my good memories of the very nice family that ran the place.
Posted : December 3, 2018 8:14 am
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