Safe places to live on St. Croix

Why not punish people who use guns to commit crimes, really punish them. I don't care if your parents beat you or your daddy ran away when you were a child, if you use a gun to commit a crime then you get wacked. Why is it that many people would rather take away the rights of law abiding citizens instead of punishing criminals.

There is a lot of street justice here. Many of these bad guys ARE getting whacked, usually by each other.

I'm sorry but violence, drugs and illegal guns will NEVER stop. Been happening since forever and will ebb and flow with the state of the economy.

Why? Because of human greed and as long as there are humans there will be violent crime. Bottom line is that there's a market for drugs a market for guns and violence supports them both. Until every human can stop blaming someone else for their situations or choices and hold themselves accountable it will not stop. Sadly. All of the law obiding citizens can do is speak up if you know something, easily done anonymously, and vote for the people in office who will get things done and rule harsher sentences & get corrupt people out. Maybe I'm crazy but I thought I read that violent crimes were down in the territory.

In regards to the OP, just come on down for a PMV. These islands have some issues, no ones gonna argue that but it's not guns blazing machete wielding crazy killers running around cutting people's arms off like some people seem to think. Terrible things happen in safe neighborhoods too, Rotor I still think of your story and again so glad you are physically unharmed.

I've said it before.... on this board the locals and newbies are painting a picture of island life. Many of the people have not yet been to the islands so we should be mindful of the picture we paint. It's easy to take the "horrible crime" "murder rates" totally to the extremes and see a picture of the islands as an overall unsafe place to be. Personally I don not think that is the rule, but the exception. I think it's important to know about the crime here but when it's brought in to nearly every thread in one way or another, it simply scares people off, hell it almost stopped me from moving here. I almost wish we had a "crime" thread that could facilitate ALL the discussion on crime, everyone can voice their opinions and leave the crime out if all the other threads. ( yes I know this thread was about safety)

Be smart about where u are & be Nice. It's as simple as that. (Oh and bring loads of cash 😉 )

A crime/saftey forum would be a great thing. people can still ask or gripe about it. And it keeps the reloc board cleared up some.

Up North they have buy back programs for guns no questions asked. Also probable cause shake downs in homes of known criminals, rewards for people that turn in holders of illegal guns. Not easy but can be done over the long run. I don't think it's necessary for an armed militia in the islands.

You have some strange prejudice against responsible adults defending themselves, your way has been tried and failed, Chicago had even MORE restrictive gun laws than the VI, so did DC, gun crime went UP due to it as the criminals know that there are no citizens able to defend themselves, they are easy victims.

I would much rather have my neighbor that I trust able to defend himself and maybe me if something happens than be a victim of a random shooting or held at gun point for several hours or have to sit and watch helplessly as someone else is shot in my presence.

Your hang-up with "gun slingers" is completely uneducated, I provided you with studies just a couple of posts above this one that show private gun owners are SAFER and MORE effective than police when it comes to petty criminals.

If you had some incident in your past that causes you to think this way, perhaps you need to examine it so you can overcome it, currently your mindset is not congruent with reality and is helping to further a problem we are all talking about.

Sadly. All of the law obiding citizens can do is speak up if you know something, easily done anonymously, and vote for the people in office who will get things done and rule harsher sentences & get corrupt people out.

We can discourage criminals by being hard targets (don't look like an easy victim that can be robbed for quick cash, this may be as simple as not wearing jewelry and walking in groups, avoiding dark alley ways etc).

Be an alert community minded citizen, if you see something happening that shouldn't be, Call it out, bring attention to it! Criminals are cowardly and very skittish people, they will run quickly and look for the easiest least-resistance targets.

Being able to defend your self and willing to are a big part of it too, a few people standing up for themselves (with publicity behind it, so the word spreads) will help a lot to deterring criminals.

I have to say that reading through several threads it seems like the constant chatter tends to go to the crime and safety of the island. As someone considering relocating down the road, I find it a bit unnerving. I do take it with a grain of salt though. As a parent of young children I am more concerned than if it was just myself and hubs. If we were lucky enough to make the move, we wouldn't be living in a condo, or building/buying in a higher priced neighborhood. I'm not saying we aren't going to do it b/c of the crime, but it's def something to consider. I don't know any part of the island yet, so I don't have any opinions on the different areas. I will say this- I am glad to see ppl so passionate about living there though!! Looking forward to reading from the long timers as well as the newbs.

I think people find it so unnerving because it's such a small community. And it's supposed to be paradise, which it is. Just not that picture perfect postcard you by at the chatzky shops. If this was a forum on NYC people wouldn't even bat an eyelash at the crime. They know it's there and don't tend to focus on it. But they are shocked that a place surround by sandy beaches and old world island homes and charm could have murders and robberies.

Very true! The main thing that doesn't dissuade me is the fact that most of the posters on the board are still there! lol Not to mention that ppl are still moving and building. Can't be that bad. 😉

According to the VIPD the majority of guns used in crime on the islands, were stolen from houses that had legal permits for home protection. This was verified by make,model, and serial number of the weapons taken by the police from the bad guy's. I don't think it would have been so great that when Peter got shot and killed in PP some cowboy shot back. There are plenty of Posters on this board that have been in that situation. Oh, LiquidFluoride maybe you can explain why the AANG & USA had to take away the bring it home status of the M16 from the Eskimo Scouts.

What! We dont get to bring home our M4's. 🙁

I have to say that reading through several threads it seems like the constant chatter tends to go to the crime and safety of the island. As someone considering relocating down the road, I find it a bit unnerving. I do take it with a grain of salt though. As a parent of young children I am more concerned than if it was just myself and hubs. If we were lucky enough to make the move, we wouldn't be living in a condo, or building/buying in a higher priced neighborhood. I'm not saying we aren't going to do it b/c of the crime, but it's def something to consider. I don't know any part of the island yet, so I don't have any opinions on the different areas. I will say this- I am glad to see ppl so passionate about living there though!! Looking forward to reading from the long timers as well as the newbs.

I'm going to step in and say one thing, probably unpopular, but whatever. I'm not going to deny there is crime, and that it does affect people on island (and I am one of them that is has affected). However, I do think this forum tends to err on the side of the melodramatic and gives off a vibe that many other people (at least in the circles of people I socialize with) on island do not quite share. Yes, we KNOW there is crime. But we also go about our days like normal people. I frequent bars and restaurants at night, in both Frederiksted and Christiansted and the North Shore. I go shopping. I go to work. I take my dogs out for walks on the beaches etc etc.

When I was up in the states in graduate school, I'd often read the forum and actually get myself all worked up about the crime, its scary, its dangerous...I'd even be nervous coming back to the island. But then I'd actually get back, and things were okay and I'd kind of forget about the forum and just went about with living, rather than worrying. Now that I've been back fulltime, I tend to ignore alot of the melodrama. Yes, I do talk about the crime and issues (mostly WAPA) with friends. But that doesn't stop most of us from living normally. Because it is possible to live normally. Which I do think this forum tends to skew against or give some impression that life is some perpetual struggle, where all people think about is crime and murders and all the bad stuff.

Basically the gist of my story is that the vibe on the board is very different than the vibe when you are actually here, living on island. Maybe for some people the board vibe = their own life vibe, but for me and almost everyone I know down here, it does not.

Basically the gist of my story is that the vibe on the board is very different than the vibe when you are actually here, living on island. Maybe for some people the board vibe = their own life vibe, but for me and almost everyone I know down here, it does not.

As I am new here I haven't read enough posts to REALLY know many of the posters, but so far I have seen a trend on the life vibe thing from a few, and I think you are 100% right... It's funny b/c I've never even thought about crime #'s anywhere I've ever lived in the states. I grew up never locking my doors, car, and walked through town as a kid all the time. It's not a deal breaker, but when it comes time for our PMV I will be more aware and asking more questions to the realtor about the areas we look at. Thanks for your input. (tu)

Stxem: Very well stated and exactly the way I always felt.

Like I said earlier on this thread.

Like animals, people can smell fear. 😉

rosie you have to send your gun to a shooting range and then get licensed here before you can takepossesion of it

Every person I know that legally registered a gun in the VI was broken into shortly there after, nothing taken but the gun (if found). So it seems to me we have a huge problem in the government leaking information...........................

stxem, great post.

I am visiting in states right now! I have several guns stored here and would love to bring at least my .22 hand gun back with me, but, hesitate as I understand you have to first turn it in to the police. I have a carry permit here in Arkansas and shoot quite well. I will probably wait til this summer when I can dedicate more time to the hassle of bringing it to STX!

What a shame the VI makes it so hard for me to exercise my 2nd amendment right, while the criminals can easily and do have many guns in the territory! I am a very responsible elder citizen and would love to have more security than just the bars on my house and and elderly deaf dog!

When you take away guns from responsible citizens, then, only crimals have guns! Drug laws haven't kept people from having drugs and gun bans will only take guns away from law abiding citizens!

Talk to John Canegata at D&J shooting range. You can bring your firearm in your check-in luggage, you just need to advise them (TSA) that it's there (in your luggage) and the ammo can't be included. You'll need to take your firearm to the shooting range shortly upon arrival, I think it's 24 hours, he can tell you all that's required. The permit process was ... Tough. Hoping it's easier now for law abiding citizens who just want to protect themselves. Let me know if I can help.

Our neighbor Tortola British Virgin Island, No unemployment, little to No crime, No guns. Some people have an obsession with guns and attempt to rationalize it, by claiming people that would like to ban guns have a problem. I wish our problems were like Tortola BVI.

most people who have guns legally do not have an obsession with guns. they just feel they have the right to protect what is theirs from the guys/girls who want to take it.

Up North they have buy back programs for guns no questions asked. Also probable cause shake downs in homes of known criminals, rewards for people that turn in holders of illegal guns. Not easy but can be done over the long run. I don't think it's necessary for an armed militia in the islands.

You have some strange prejudice against responsible adults defending themselves, your way has been tried and failed, Chicago had even MORE restrictive gun laws than the VI, so did DC, gun crime went UP due to it as the criminals know that there are no citizens able to defend themselves, they are easy victims.

I would much rather have my neighbor that I trust able to defend himself and maybe me if something happens than be a victim of a random shooting or held at gun point for several hours or have to sit and watch helplessly as someone else is shot in my presence.

Your hang-up with "gun slingers" is completely uneducated, I provided you with studies just a couple of posts above this one that show private gun owners are SAFER and MORE effective than police when it comes to petty criminals.

If you had some incident in your past that causes you to think this way, perhaps you need to examine it so you can overcome it, currently your mindset is not congruent with reality and is helping to further a problem we are all talking about.

Sadly. All of the law obiding citizens can do is speak up if you know something, easily done anonymously, and vote for the people in office who will get things done and rule harsher sentences & get corrupt people out.

We can discourage criminals by being hard targets (don't look like an easy victim that can be robbed for quick cash, this may be as simple as not wearing jewelry and walking in groups, avoiding dark alley ways etc).

Be an alert community minded citizen, if you see something happening that shouldn't be, Call it out, bring attention to it! Criminals are cowardly and very skittish people, they will run quickly and look for the easiest least-resistance targets.

Being able to defend your self and willing to are a big part of it too, a few people standing up for themselves (with publicity behind it, so the word spreads) will help a lot to deterring criminals.

Those things are all common sense. I will tell you also because no one has mentioned it - I'm not opposed to guns but you should at least be aware that of you are defending yourself and end up killing someone's kid, brother, dad, whatever that these islands are TIGHT knit and you can be sure to have some retaliation coming your way. Doesn't matter who was in the wrong. I don't think it's right one bit but its apparently true. We were warned of this before we moved here.

Those things are all common sense. I will tell you also because no one has mentioned it - I'm not opposed to guns but you should at least be aware that of you are defending yourself and end up killing someone's kid, brother, dad, whatever that these islands are TIGHT knit and you can be sure to have some retaliation coming your way. Doesn't matter who was in the wrong. I don't think it's right one bit but its apparently true. We were warned of this before we moved here.

Yes I agree. I do not oppose guns but I prefer never to own one. I also have a fear my wife might end up shooting me if I owned one :D.

Some posters on this site tend to over emphasize crime in the Virgin Islands. Yes there is crime, yes too much crime. However, it is still not as scary as any big city in the world.

Could not disagree more. The crime is far, far worse than any big city I've ever been to, and I've been to many. You can't "over emphasize" the crime here. Not by a long shot.

I can personally attest that no place on St Croix is a safe place to live.

This is coming from experience. Live here long enough, and you will have your own experience. Once you've been the victim of violent crime, or had a friend murdered in cold blood, like my friend Jake Campen was last summer, you will understand.

Do I still like STX? Of course. But, I really bristle when I hear people brush the crime off like it's no big deal. It IS a big deal, the biggest in fact. Don't let complacency skew your understanding of the truth.

Live here long enough, and you will have your own experience.

And that's what it boils down to. Are you willing to take the chance or not. Just like if you're worried about crime you wouldn't move to Flint MI.

 

Besides our armed home invasion, this is the first place that I have ever lived where I have personally known 4 people who were murdered. All of these cases are still unsolved.

We lived in Cane Bay, up the hill from Off The Wall for 7 years and never had any vandalism or "break in's" to our home. So we considered ourselves lucky and as an aside we never felt unsafe.

However several of our neighbors had multiple home invasion events over the years .

Jumbie