This is sad and scary. We've been concerned for a while, especially after reading about the couple robbed at gun point earlier this year, then reading the Conde Nast article. Now this. I just emailed our villa management company and we will be cancelling our upcoming trip if they can't assure us, at the very least, that our villa will have a security system. If they can provide one, then we'll just have to come to terms with the fact that we can't have a perfect vacation where we can stay in town until 1:00 am and not worry about being bludgeoned.

We're reserving a new location as we've booked a place that boasted "within walking distance to Cruz Bay." After reading that horrible bit of news: NO thanks on the walking to and from town!!!

Any major city in the US is more dangerous (I think) then St. John or St. Thomas.

This attack on the man was horrible, but don't we read things like this in our own papers everyday?

I never understood why, in a group of kids, why one of them doesn't stand up and do something...what is the point and where does this kind of anger come from?

It never occurred to me that I was ever in any danger while in Cruz Bay for dinner surrounded by lots of other people coming and going, etc but then we were not there late at night when we would have been more isolated and we certainly wouldn't have walked around alone at 1am in the morning. Anything you would do that is risky at home is certainly going to be risky while on vacation, as well. There is an amazing feeling that everything is just wonderful all the time in STJ, but obviously it is not some utopian paradise but a real community with the same real problems that can happen anywhere. You have to be as smart as you can about your safety just as you would anywhere!

Hi Connie.

Presumably their anger comes from the same place most anger between people who don't know each other comes from; the have-nots are venting their frustration against the haves, of whom they are envious.

Please keep in mind that things like this DO NOT happen every day on St. John. This recent beating, and the tourist couple robbed at their Rendezvous villa, are the only two serious incidents involving tourists that have happened here in 2006. When you consider how many tourists visit this island compared to how many have been attacked/robbed this year, I think you'll see that the odds of you being attacked or robbed are very slim. Yes, there is a chance it will happen to you, but where in the world can you go and have absolutely no chance of anything like this happening?
I will never place the blame on the victims for what happened to them, but it's always a good idea to play it smart. Lock your hotel room/villa (the Rendevous couple left their villa unlocked according to police reports) and don't walk down a dark street alone at 2 in the morning (would you do this where you live?) People see the beautiful surroundings here and become complacent. Be just as vigilant and careful as you would be at home.

I wasn't able to see the whole story about this man being attacked on the website. Can't understand how it happened...and of course, i don't blame him at all. What is this world coming to??

It makes me concerned that we are renting a villa. I will certainly contact them and see if we have security.

I look at the Philly papers everyday and i can't believe the stories that are in there.

It's good to travel in numbers and not by yourself..whether man or woman.

Go to Jamaica and see how things go there, you can't even go out of the "compound".

And that's why we'll continue to go to the UVI or BVI's....

I would not worry to much if your villa has security. Because, who would you call if there is a problem? The Virgin Islands police department?

There is no police report of this last crime on this very unfortunate tourist. There is no comment by The Virgin Islands Police Department spokesperson. WHY NOT!! This is the sad state of affairs on most of the crime. Read the local papers The St. Thomas Daily News did a series of articles called "Deadly Force". It did not portray the VI police department in a competent manner. This crime happened within walking distance of the police station. It is a very small island and most of the officers are friends or relatives of the perpetrators.

Keep your vacation plans and visit St. John it is very likely you will not encounter any criminal activity.

My closing comment, yes crime is everywhere, and becoming more and more on St John with the divide of the haves and the have nots.

To Andrea, just a quick followup on your comments. Yes the odds of being attacked in the USVI probably are slim, unless it's after dark and late at night.

However, the odds of having your personal property robbed as a tourist are much greater indeed. It just happened to me last week in STX. Tourists wear a target on their backs here and the thugs are watching, even in broad daylight.

The reason you don't hear about tourists getting robbed is because the police aren't filing the reports, just as in this case, and I can personally attest to my incident. The cops are compliant and apathetic and making the situation worse.

This terrible incident could have been avoid. Almost all bars have phones. There is no excuse for the bartender not calling a cab. Perhaps they just wanted to go home too...however it would have only taken a minute to call a cab. Assuming they also have phone book. I would also suggest waiting at the bar/restaurant for the cab...even if it is closed. Paradise Taxi 714-7875 is usually good for late night pick ups. However remember you are on island time....and late night / early morning Cruz Bay is a whole other world. This is not Disney land..... and there are more than Pirates in the Caribbean! In no way do I blame this tourist for what happened, but you do need to be on your guard at all time, Just trying to suggest a way to avoid giving some creeps the opportunity to vent their frustrations that are increasing on St. John.

Unfortunately for this poor fellow, he listened to an idiot bartender, who I would guess was a resident, indicated he could walk and maybe there would be a taxi.

Stop the sugar coating folks, bad things are picking up on St John.

And I loved the part about the police considering this a third degree assault. The police are an insult to all law abiding citizens. As one whose son is in law enforcement, I would consider most of them acting with criminal intent when they don't followup. Hell, just a few days ago there were three PD folks on trial.

It won't stop my visits but sometimes the truth hurts

There are more than Pirates in the Caribbean how true!

The teenagers/young people have been hanging out on that corner for a very long time. The police know they are there - and have and will do nothing about it. Nothing will change and the crime will continue. Why not? because there is nothing to stop these vicious people, be they young people on a corner or more experienced adults with robbery intentions. They know they can commit crimes without any punishment. period!

It was not a robbery it was just done out of hate. Maybe, words were exchanged maybe not. Does not matter, there are a lot of so called third degree assaults that are never recorded or reported. If it were not for Tradewinds how would anyone know about these crimes.

Gated communities have come to St. John in the recent years gone are the days when ALL island people lived in harmony and did not even lock their doors!

We are all aware that crime happens everywhere, even in paradise, but everywhere else - there are police reports filed. Not only that, the perps would be in jail, juvie court or whatever, but they would be dealt with. Are the police afraid of these punks or what? Here stateside, (in most states) not only would they be dealt with, but the parents would be held accountable.

Actually Lora brings up a good point. Here in Los Angeles and I am sure in most cities throughout the USofA one would have recourse with the police. Apparently that doesn't happen with the USVI PD.

This kind of puts to rest the idea that crime happens everywhere. It might happen but it definitely is dealt with.

And my usual retort.....I will still visit STJ

A big difference between Los Angeles/U.S. cities and STJ is size; most Islanders are kin , criminals and law enforcement are family.

Lots of issues, no? The USVI law enforcement. A bartender who should have taken more responsibility for a customer. And if I end up walking around alone and drunk in an unfamiliar place at 2:00 AM, I haven't taken normal safety precautions.

and therein lies the problem with USVI law enforcement.

Yep, nothing like a stupid bartender. Seems like the guy took the advice a local gave him and lost.

I'm confused. When walking from Quiet Mon to the Westin, would you even go by the Texaco station?