I hope to get my trip report up tonight - just returned last night from 16 days in the USVI. I had one incident (where a guy followed me and my daughter in the American Yacht Harbor parking lot) and I think he was going to try to take my purse as he ran up on me - I was carrying my purse under my arm and had my arms full of two big leftover food containers from Molly's.....but I glanced over my shoulder and caught him as he was coming and he and I had a "chat" - he told me he was just seeing me to my car and I told him not to, but he kept coming - walking realy fast and clearly drunk -....we were coming from Molly Malones on a Sat night around 9:30pm. I was angry because he wouldn't go away even after I told him to...and he followed us on to the car (with his drink in his hand). I went right to the driver's side and unlocked the doors from my side while my 7 yr old daughter opened her own door in the rear on the passenger side, he went to her side (I was on the other side) and I thought he was going to get into the passenger side front, but my D jumped in and slammed her door, I locked all the doors from my side and then I got in, so by the time he realized he couldn't get in on the passenger side front because the door was locked, he RAN around to my side but I jumped in and all the doors were then locked. Just then a big SUV full off people pulled around and they slowed down to see what was going on. I pulled out behind them and the guy followed me, right next to my car window, all the way to the road - he was jogging because I was driving kind of fast.

Lesson: like everyone ALWAYS says, be aware of your surroundings. Had I not glanced behind us while we were walkng, he would have gotten whatever he wanted. This parking lot is VERY well lit and in an area where there are always people around and cars going by....but that didn't matter. I was wishing for a can of pepper spray and a whistle.

As far as I know there have been no more incidents. The shooters were caught and will be heading to trial. No problems, just excercise common sense.

RL

bluewater....so sorry to hear about this incident....
i am looking forward to your trip report!

and john l there is a thread way back someplace about the muggings and crime in the past year on usvi tourists at hotels etc....also with names of people to write to and articles to read it might be helpful to you....look up crime or mugging or something like that...
but as for the recent murders and arrests i am not sure if just because these particular guys were caught that these are the ones who committed the other crimes the past year...if so it is great they are caught...but until we know still be careful out there...

and most of all enjoy the islands...john enjoy your anniversary trip don't miss east end and st john too!