Dear Source,
I just wanted readers to know that travelers are not as safe as they think they are on your island. My husband and I were vacationing on the island Dec. 6-13 staying at a tourist location on the south side of St. Thomas.
We were in our villa watching TV. We had a bedroom sliding door open about 12 inches to hear the ocean, and a robber came in and went directly to the safe in the closet and took everything we had. The deck outside of the villa was up about 6 feet from big rocks. He really had to climb and I'm sure knew right where to go. We did not discover the theft until Friday morning. We called police and all they did was file a report. The Police Department on the island is pretty lax about doing anything. Needless to say we did not stay another night, but caught a flight home. How did he know where to go and that we were leaving within two days? Sounds like he was tipped off as to what was in the safe.
I believe the owners of villas and condos need to warn the travelers who are renting their places to be very careful and keep the doors locked at all times. The villa is owned by a woman in California. She did not inform us of any robberies in the area, but we have learned there have been others.
Thanks to Imperial Jewelers on St Thomas, they have been friends through the years. They gave us money to get home. Thanks to a wonderful lady at American Airlines, who took personal care of us, since my husband had no ID.
We will never come to St Thomas again and stay for any length of time. It is not a safe island and something needs to be done about the crime there. This will ruin the tourism if something is not done. I know I will be warning people not to visit the island.
Bev. Ditmer
Fort Wayne, Indiana
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