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Weird Theft
- Thread starter lloyd
- Start date
pascaleschmidt
Senior Insider
there is theft on the island...just lock up your valuables...
JEK
Senior Insider
Villas get targeted from time to time. Use the safe, but don't leave the key in an obvious place. As for items in parked cars -- they've been fair game for years. Seems every so often we hear of a backpack left in car and gone missing with passports, keys, wallets, iPods et al.
sbhlvr
Senior Insider
in the late '90's we had a tire stolen off our Samari while it was parked at our villa. we reported it the next day. the police couldn't believe it.
i hate hearing about all this crime. we have stayed at two different villas where the bedrooms had slidersto the outdoors the locks at each place didn't work. we complained to the villa agency (both villas had the same agency) and we were told not to worry. one of the many reasons i am leary to use them again.
i hate hearing about all this crime. we have stayed at two different villas where the bedrooms had slidersto the outdoors the locks at each place didn't work. we complained to the villa agency (both villas had the same agency) and we were told not to worry. one of the many reasons i am leary to use them again.
KevinS
Senior Insider
Crimes of opportunity have always been around. JB tells of having a guitar stolen out of his car back in the early 80's. I once had the rear seat cushion stolen out of a Gurgel that I had parked at Gouverneur, probably in the late 80's. (Kinda hard to lock a Gurgel.)
Stealing a wheel takes more planning.
Stealing a wheel takes more planning.
tim
Moderator
Speaking of thefts, here's a scenario for your consideration, one that should sound familiar.
A couple has rented a villa on St. Barth and goes to dinner. Their friendly server asks(innocently) where they're staying, and the couple proudly names the villa, its location, and goes on about how wonderful it is. The couple, unthinking, has just told everyone within earshot exactly where their villa is located, and it's obvious that the villa will be vacant for the next couple of hours, or more, while they have dinner. Just something for your consideration while vacationing on that isle....
A couple has rented a villa on St. Barth and goes to dinner. Their friendly server asks(innocently) where they're staying, and the couple proudly names the villa, its location, and goes on about how wonderful it is. The couple, unthinking, has just told everyone within earshot exactly where their villa is located, and it's obvious that the villa will be vacant for the next couple of hours, or more, while they have dinner. Just something for your consideration while vacationing on that isle....
MIke R
Senior Insider
that happens in many resorts.....it doesnt even have to be in the restaurant...
more typically....the people call for a reservation..the person at the restaurant taking the reservation, asks where they are staying and for a phone number....once that information is gotten, it is passed on to the thieves, who now know what time to go hit the place, and who then kick back some cash to the restaurant person who took the reservation and passed on the information...
one of the oldest tricks in the books
more typically....the people call for a reservation..the person at the restaurant taking the reservation, asks where they are staying and for a phone number....once that information is gotten, it is passed on to the thieves, who now know what time to go hit the place, and who then kick back some cash to the restaurant person who took the reservation and passed on the information...
one of the oldest tricks in the books
elgreaux
Senior Insider
Tim's scenario was happening exactly like that in SBH earlier this season at a popular beachfront place, the waiters would ask where the folks were staying then clue in their buddies who went off to rob the place.. dumb, one of them tried to use a stolen credit card and the whole thing blew up and they were caught with an apartment full of stolen goods.. so if the waiter asks where you are staying, give him the address of the police station!
KevinS
Senior Insider
That popular beachfront place wouldn't be the same one where a waiter was writing in his own tips a few years back, would it?
One of the benefits of my SBH mobile is that the number that I give out is a 690 number, not the villa number.
People who know me have a pretty good idea where I'm staying, but I don't worry about those people. When I'm asked where I'm staying, I'm generally non-specific. Sometimes I say Lorient, sometimes côté St Jean, sometimes côté Camarouche. My questionable French language skills allow for some gramatically incorrect non-specicifity. And, with some people, I just flat out lie.
I've already had my one and only large villa party, so there's never a need to post where I'm staying here either.
Your suggestion of giving out the address of the police station reminds me of a friend in NYC. If he was unhappy with a taxi driver (incorrect route, talking on mobile, etc.) he would give them a new destination address, the Taxi & Limousine Commission.
One of the benefits of my SBH mobile is that the number that I give out is a 690 number, not the villa number.
People who know me have a pretty good idea where I'm staying, but I don't worry about those people. When I'm asked where I'm staying, I'm generally non-specific. Sometimes I say Lorient, sometimes côté St Jean, sometimes côté Camarouche. My questionable French language skills allow for some gramatically incorrect non-specicifity. And, with some people, I just flat out lie.
I've already had my one and only large villa party, so there's never a need to post where I'm staying here either.
Your suggestion of giving out the address of the police station reminds me of a friend in NYC. If he was unhappy with a taxi driver (incorrect route, talking on mobile, etc.) he would give them a new destination address, the Taxi & Limousine Commission.
Sad but true that this type of crime is just about everywhere. We bring very little down in terms of valuables - no computer (that sucker stays home as we have no desire to check emails, work or otherwise while we're on island), no jewels other than wedding rings which we wear, etc. Anything of value that we bring (other than Richard's way too expensive and extensive bathing suit collection - come on does a man really need 14 different bathing suits for a 14 day stay????) goes into the safe and the safe key comes with us when we're out and about. We lock up the place - God forbid anyone break in and steal the champagne in the fridge or the aforementioned bathing suit collection. Hoo boy, there would be hell to pay should either of those items disappear! I agree with the advice of others, keep it out of sight and lock it up.
