I agree that there is crime in the USVI. However, to what extent has crime impacted tourism may be more difficult to answer without looking at a more systematic observation into the matter. In this respect, I think that it would be helpful to see some FACTS/STATS about crime against tourists in the USVI in order to make an educated and informed decision about the prevelance of crimes against tourists. While individual experiences are important and may indeed point to an emerging pattern of crime ; we have to be careful not to generalize our personal obervations or opinions as an aggregate of crime against tourist in the USVI.

Andrea266, I am a little unsure as to how to answer your post-so much anger, attitude, agenda(?). The Tribune never mentioned the earlier victim as a tourist only as "a man." I'm not sure how misreporting (in your eyes) diminishes the more recent assault. Nor did the Tribune mention the assault charges, which many, myself included, consider totally bogus, but for some reason you did. Nonetheless he has not just been charged, but convicted and sentenced, and I believe serving time already. I'm not sure why someone arguing for the peacefulness of STJ would bring up this sordid tidbit.
As I said, the Tribune was mostly accurate. That said those of you who continue to want to contest the "facts" may not want to read today's New York Times.

Wow, I just checked out the World Watch column on the Tribune's web site, and the author has definitely changed that article since I contacted him and let him know of the inaccuracies. The original article mentioned all the things I spoke about in my last post.
And of course I'm angry...I don't like it when false statements are published about St. John, especially when these statements are damaging, and especially in such a far-reaching newspaper as the Tribune. Yes, he changed the column on the paper's web site, and I'll thank him for that, but the damage is already done in the print version, which obviously can't be changed.

http://www.vipd.gov.vi/crime/Part_1_crimes.pdf

This is where you can find crime statistics for the US Virgin Islands.

Come to look at the numbers, Tracy123 gave the numbers on this site...however, they were only for a nine month period, not a full year (July, August, and September stats aren't included, unless you look at the separate column on the far right, which has the total for the full year)...so crime rates are even worse than previously stated unfortunately.

Yes, it's true that most crime is NOT against tourists.

But the point remains that among people who live in the VIs, crime is really, really high. When you compare the VIs to US cities of similar size, crime in the VIs is absolutely out of control. I think that was the point...a previous poster said something about the VIs being safer than the safest US city...and that is absolutely, positively NOT the case.

I would like to see the tourism visitor stats for this year if anyone has them to this point. I am hearing that things are way down for the VI, but I have not seen the year to date numbers. OneLove, if you have them, would you please share?

St Martin (SXM) crime against tourists seems to be quite a bit higher than St Thomas (STT). Tourists have been advised to buy cans of Fix-a-flat when they rent cars because of the common scams of tire flattening so that you'll have to pay someone to help you (pay the guy who flattened it!). I've been reading the forums on SXM and it seems much worse than the VI.

I'll have to check out the Jamaica forums and see what those visitors are experiencing. Anecdotally, from people I know who have visited and dared venture beyond their gated resort compound, the reports were poor.

Yes, Ginger on this thread had a story that told of a horrible event that was not the case of being where they shouldn't have - she was a guest at Secret Harbour and was robbed on the beach. There was a rash that year. Someone was hitting the resorts. I think there was another one on Bolongo Bay - a tourist was robbed and shot (he survived - his story is on here somewhere). I don't know if they caught the person, but at some point it stopped and has not resurfaced, that I know of. The resorts tightened their security and hired guards. I see the guards when I visit the resorts for the day, so I guess they're permanent.

However, generally speaking, this has been rare. Every incident is worth noting and should serve as a reminder to mind your surroundings - look over your shoulder when you walk, etc.

Much of the crime on the stats that were cited above happens in certain neighborhoods - and tourists would not be there. There are certain areas that you just don't enter, even in a car. They're not on the way to anywhere, so you'll not have to go through them and shouldn't have a problem staying out. Read the crime log and see where things happen. You'll start to realize that the neighborhood names repeat themselves.

Comparing crime stats on an island like STT to a small Midwestern town in the states isn't a good way to approach it unless that small town has the same demographics and variables. Does that small town have a mix of people from multimillionaires to the impoverished? Are there varied neighborhoods that reflect this? Is there an influx of people from other places who can report crimes to be counted in the crime stats, but are not included in the populations census? Its apples and oranges. How many of the crimes in the VI are against people who are counted in the census as residents? (that sound you hear is the roaring laughter of Immigration). The numbers are skewed.

Lip, I've recommended the Reef only because aka-creekdweller was looking for teens to keep her 16 yr old granddaughter entertained - and that was her paramount decision-making criterion. IMO, the Reef has lots of teens (i, too, keep teens entertained on STT). If SH has more teens, I stand corrected. I didn't recommend Reef as a crime prevention effort. I think SH is safe - they're both safe.

no worries blu, i must have misread. and your probabaly right there are more teens at the reef (i havent been there since 1989 lol) its just the reef has kinda a city feel w/ city view and east end and northside feel islandy (did i just coin a phrase?) w/ down island veiws... just my opinion,different strokes ya know...

wow i just saw this back up on the front page and just had to add a quick note

in spite of it all(as most of you know) i have been back to STT three times and planning my 4th since the incident ....and everything has been fine and we just love love love the islands

of course i still am careful and a little leary and don't really like going out at night but still will go for sure!

just recently we went to provo in turks and caicos(they are supposedly the place with lowest carib crime but did have a publicized case a few months ago) and anyway it was really lovely ...gorgeous beaches and snorkeling ...grace bay area is fantastic you can't go wrong if you want a change of pace from usvi(email me if you want info) BUT at night i was alone one night and wanted to get a burger from the hotel next door ..the only way to get there was walk the beach but i DIDN'T DO IT i was afraid to do it in the dark alone so waited and went there the next night when a group of us went....just use your head....however there will be times when nothing you do will prevent it.....(ours two years ago in stt was early evening barely dark and crowded at SH...)

just saying that stt and stj are so great i will always go! let's just all keep each other safe by checking these boards and staying on top of things that is about all we can do! !
see you all in stt this winter! wouldn't miss it for the world!

I have lived on STT for three years and never felt threatened by crime. You know some places to avoid at night especially late at night. I go downtown and park whether going to GreenHouse or Vergillios and don't think twice about it. I have lived all over the world and seen some very serious and sad crime and this place does not even come close. You can spend all day worrying about it but at the end of the day it is about using common sense.

The tragic murder on this thread is one of those things that happens in life. A High School friend of mine was vacationing with her family in Hawaii and brutally raped and murdered. They never solved the crime and there has been a book written on it "Murder In Paradise" if you want to google it. I have been mugged in Hawaii and had friends who had the crap beaten out of them for the crime of being a Haley. Plenty of these stories but it does not affect tourism to Hawaii.

OneLove said Jamaica was safer then the USVI. Well I have been to Jamaica twice and while I did not feel threatened I was turned off at being offered drugs on every other corner of Ocho Rios and having vendors harass the hell out of me. Having lived here for three years I have been offered drugs one time and that was downtown in front of the GreenHouse. Bottom line is we all have different experiences while living and vacationing around the world. Use your best judgement and do what makes you feel comfortable about yourself and your family.

Yes, sorry to confuse the issue. Bluewater, It was your recommendation of Frenchman's Reef as a good place for teens that made me think I should plan an evening or two there, and then, reading these threads, realized that I would not want to go anywhere after dark with just my daughter and I, so I changed my plans and will stay at Frenchman's Reef - travel during the day. I can't wait, but it does disappoint me that I cannot share the same carefree holidays there that my family enjoyed when I was her age. We always rented private villas - have done so on several islands - and never felt vulnerable. Perhaps I was just naive, and perhaps it is that now, I'm the protector. I am sure well will have a great time, and thanks to everyone for the advice.