Bank robbery last Friday

Frequent Flyer Joined: 21 Jan 2006 Posts: 29

I just read about this on the Cay Compass website. I haven't seen anything on here. I know crime happens everywhere but what worries me is the statements some locals said about it not being safe anymore. It makes me a big nervous about my upcoming trip because I've heard from many different message boards about how safe it is and that you can walk anywhere. I don't really have a specific question, I guess I just wondered what you folks that live there think.

Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 6:19 pm Post subject:

mbl340

I do not live in Cayman, but my husband and I have been there 3 times since 1996, including a trip there 7 months after Ivan. We have NEVER felt unsafe ANYWHERE on the island. Of course, crime happens everywhere in the world, even in paradise, but I think you'll find that Cayman has a VERY low crime rate, especially when compared to other islands in the Caribbean.

Be careful in reading negative reports on the 'other' websites (I'm NOT referring the Compass - only a few other forums out there that have discussions about Cayman). Many of them contain sensationalist, false reports about lots of things, and tend to be very politically motivated.

You have nothing to worry about except the sadness you'll feel on your return home. Cayman is a beautiful place, filled with amazing people. Have a WONDERFUL trip!

Jen

Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 6:27 pm Post subject:

I was on the island last Friday, the day of the bank robbery. I will say that our friends who live there were really shook up about it. Shook up because that kind of stuff just doesn't happen there. It was really an isolated incident and certainly not the norm. It was also in an area not frequented by tourists. So, yes, the locals probably were very upset, but you, as a tourist, really don't need to worry. Please don't think that I'm just trying to paint a rosy picture. I'm sure that other frequent visitors would say the same thing.

Char

Frequent Flyer Joined: 21 Jan 2006 Posts: 29

jlwest73 and scubachar: Thanks for your thoughts. I felt sure it was a rare occurrence also because I read the news frequently and don't see as much crime as what goes on in my small hometown. It just makes me sad and angry that things like this happen in Paradise. It would be nice if we could have one place that's crime and poverty free, but I guess I can just keep on dreaming Smile

Some of the other islands I've been to in the past had quite a bit of crime and I felt unsafe when leaving the resort, so I'm very much looking forward to my trip this year.

Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 8:40 pm Post subject:

I am a resident of the Island and I have to say that the majority of people I interact with are not shook up because of an over abundance of increased crimes of this nature but more that these types of crimes just never occur here so that when one does it makes BIG news.

Please remember our crime rates are still significantly lower than in your typical US town especially crimes of a violent nature. I still consider Cayman to be one of the safest places to be and as a resident am looking forward to my grandchildren being born and raised here Very Happy

Having said that, I always encourage travelers who travel ANYWHERE to exercise typical caution, in other words, do lock your doors at night if you are on the ground floor (I live on the second floor and sleep with my balcony doors open), do not leave valuables in your car, especially unlocked. Don't flash large amounts of money around....these are just normal precautions you take anywhere.

Cayman is safe, come, enjoy, have fun.

Cindy Lou

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 1:03 am Post subject:

As was already mentioned, this is big news because it is so extremely rare for something like this to occur in Grand Cayman. Things much worse than this happen almost daily in places like the Bahamas and Jamaica, yet go unnoticed because it is simply routine. Violent crime is almost commonplace now in most of the other Caribbean islands - owing in no small part to increased drug usage.

My wife and I have been looking for a less expensive place to eventually retire and have extensively researched nearly every destination in the Caribbean and Central/South America. It's been five years now and we still have not found a place that even comes close to the Cayman Islands from a safety standpoint.

From a tourist standpoint, violent crime committed against visitors to the Cayman Islands is virtually non-existent. You stand a better chance of your plane crashing than you do of being attacked by anyone in the Cayman Islands. A visitor is pretty much immune to what little violent crime there is in the Cayman Islands.

The one thing you do need to consider is theft. Most common criminals are opportunists and they're not very smart. They are not capable of planning out an elaborate Ocean's 11 kind of heist but they will grab a purse or wallet from your car if you leave the windows down. The best precaution a visitor can take is to not leave any bait that attracts sharks. Always lock your car and never leave anything out in plain sight. It only takes a few seconds to smash a window and grab an expensive camera or a big Colombian Emeralds shopping bag. Put things like that in the trunk where they are out of sight and do not provoke temptation. Criminals are dumb but few are stupid enough to risk breaking into a car just to look around and see if there might be something worth taking.

Another piece of good advice is to stick with the places you see recommended in Activity Guide. Not only the night spots but the resorts, condos and everything else. I'm sure our long-time members are sick of hearing this but I put an enormous amount of effort into making sure that the places we recommend are the best - and that means from every conceivable standpoint, including your personal safety. I would not send our readers or any of you anywhere that I would not send my own wife - and she has fairly high standards. Very Happy

The bottom line is to simply exercise a little common sense, wherever you go. The Cayman Islands are still the safest destination in the Caribbean and your chances of encountering any crime are slim to none. Now yours are actually closer to none, having read the information in this thread. Razz

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 1:39 pm Post subject: Crime happens

Everywhere. Even though I think CI is one of the safest places in the world, I LOCK my car. Watch my purse, esp if I am out drinking and you know!

Quite a few years ago someone attempted to mug me in the parking lot of the old holiday inn. Yes, it happens. He did not get my purse and if I had a 2 x 4 I would have beaten him to death. I still remember his face and if I ever see him, God help him. But I was alone, had been drinking and my guard was not as good as it should have been. But good enough to have a good grip on my purse. But stuff happens.

Enjoy the people and the island and you dont have to be "scared" just wise.

caymancic handshake

PS, I have been to CI about 79 times now and that was my ONLY odd experience. Don't ask me about Wishard hospital in Indpls-that is SCARY

Frequent Flyer Joined: 26 Dec 2005 Posts: 47

Only slightly tongue in the cheek............................................... poke

This is an easy one, stay out of the Banks!! bigun

I mean, come on folks, if you don't feel safe in the Caymans, maybe the problem isn't with the islands........................

Rock on! band1

Temporary Resident Joined: 11 Apr 2005 Posts: 329

I travel down there as a single female a couple times a year and feel completely comfortable all over the island, but do follow a few of my own "personal" rules. I never walk after 9p.m.......that means the streets or on the beach.....take a taxi if you are not driving!! I carry traveler cheques and never carry a lot of cash on me when I go out. I go with my gut instincts no matter where I travel!! I have travelled to alot of the caribbean islands and have always felt completely comfortable in Cayman and cannot say that on some of the other islands. Go and enjoy!!

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