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Paradise damaged (crime report)
#100611
06/15/2016 03:21 PM
06/15/2016 03:21 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 650 Rochester NY
Walt
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 650
Rochester NY
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My wife and I have been going to St Martin since 2001 and have never had anything bad happen not once.
This trip was completely different to say the least. On June 6 at 8:00pm we decided to stop at our favorite restaurant to make reservation for the next night. I am reluctant to provide the name of the restaurant because we do not want to harm his business. Let’s just say it’s in the area of the Simpson Bay Yacht Club by the Scotia bank in that area.
We parked in the same area we have parked at least 20 times; the parking is about 50ft away from the security shack for the yacht club.
By the grace of God since all I was planning to do was running in and make reservations, I told my wife to lock the doors and stay in the car and check in with our Daughter. Good thing she did.
When I exited the car I was immediately was confronted by a youth wearing a black hoodie pulled tight around his face. He had his arms extended towards me and I caught a glimpse of something shinning. He did not say anything, within 10 seconds someone from behind me hit me in the head. I did not go down immediately so he hit me again, at that point I started yelling for help figuring the guards would come to my aid, which by the way they did not. At that point they leg whipped me and I fell to the ground, when I was on the ground they proceeded to kick me several times. At that point the only words spoken by the thugs was to stop yelling. One of them put his foot on my head and proceeded to lift my wallet. The sad part is if in the beginning they would have just asked I would have given them my wallet with no need for violence. What I was unaware of was that one of them tried to get into the car after my wife. She started blowing the horn, lucky the doors were looked.
The coward security guards at least call the police.
The police show up and wrote down the information but said if I wanted to file a police report I had to go to the police station. Another fact about the security guards is one lied about the direction the thugs ran, my wife saw them run away.
When I got back to Club Orient the young man at the desk helped us cancel our credit cards. The following morning on the way to the police station we wanted to stop and tell management about the young man who helped. Both the managers we great and contacted the America consul to the island. He informed me what to do and he was going to call ahead, I will not get into the runaround I got trying to file the report even with the help of the consulate(SP).
We went back to Club O and never left the grounds. I did receive a call from the Police on the way to the airport that they had my wallet. When I went to pick it up. I thought I would have asked a simple question, where did you find it? They told me they had no idea (figure that out). The credit cards were there but the money was gone and they took my badge. The badge had very little monetary value but great sentimental value.
One thing I learned don’t rely on the security guards, this was told me by the Police.
Will we ever go back? Too early to tell. My head isn’t clear yet from the concussion.
I would like to thank the the whole staff at Club Orient and all our great friends at Club O. We have already stated that the guests at Club O are the friendliest people on earth.
Before all this happened we have a great time on Peggy and Paul’s nude cruise. Thanks Captain Paul and Muriel.
I am not writing this to scare people but to make them aware that things like this happen. Unfortunately, they happen everywhere else in the world. Walt
Last edited by Walt; 06/15/2016 03:22 PM.
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Re: Paradise damaged (crime report)
[Re: Walt]
#100612
06/15/2016 03:37 PM
06/15/2016 03:37 PM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,763 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,763
Ohio
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Sorry you had to experience this. Things need to change on the island.
J.D.
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Re: Paradise damaged (crime report)
[Re: Walt]
#100614
06/15/2016 03:46 PM
06/15/2016 03:46 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601
Central Florida!
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Wow. So sorry to hear this. I hope you are able to physically heal soon.. Best wishes.
Carol Hill
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Re: Paradise damaged (crime report)
[Re: Walt]
#100617
06/15/2016 04:05 PM
06/15/2016 04:05 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,081 Clearwater, FL
Biturbo
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,081
Clearwater, FL
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Thanks for sharing your scary experience. I, too, cannot understand the need for violence - it's just so very prevalent in our world today. Thoughts & prayers for your recovery and hopes that these lowlifes are caught and punished to the full extent. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif" alt="" />
I'm going where the weather suits my clothes.
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Re: Paradise damaged (crime report)
[Re: sxmmartini]
#100629
06/15/2016 08:32 PM
06/15/2016 08:32 PM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,004 sebastian florida
silverfox82
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,004
sebastian florida
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I printed Walt's op to show our friends, the former Pelican owners, it was so sad to see their reaction. My first visit was in the mid 70's, I was a FDNY firefighter and Viet Nam riverboat gunner, not a great deal scared me. There was no crime and we walked around Marigot late at night, cocktails aplenty, never had an issue or felt threatened. I'm pushing 70 soon, waiting for shoulder surgery so I'm basically 1 armed and don't feel I can protect my wife. Hopefully the powers in SXM will read these posts and take action, if not the island is doomed, what will it take to get their heads out of the sand. I was flamed here a few years ago for suggesting that traffic stops for tourists who might have had 3 wines with dinner was a bad allocation of police resources, so this is what we are dealing with. Good luck SXM, been a good ride.
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Re: Paradise damaged (crime report)
[Re: SXMWendell]
#100632
06/15/2016 11:08 PM
06/15/2016 11:08 PM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 588 Las Vegas, NV, USA
Ellen777
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 588
Las Vegas, NV, USA
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Dear Walt, I hope you have recovered emotionally and physically, what a horrible situation you had to deal with especially away from home with no comfort from friends and family. My thoughts are with you. Be well, Ellen
Life's a beach
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Re: Paradise damaged (crime report)
[Re: SXMWendell]
#100633
06/16/2016 12:49 AM
06/16/2016 12:49 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,623 originally Long Island, NY/now...
irish1223
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,623
originally Long Island, NY/now...
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We are currently on island and we're talking to another couple staying at SBR who were approached by two young men while getting out of their car by Jimbo's last week. It was around 8 pm, I believe. The one guy had him trapped between his car door and the building wall, but he apparently managed to scare them off when he stood up out of the car and asked what they wanted (he was a pretty big guy, apparently much bigger than the thugs were). It could have been a lot worse. Scary.
Robin & Ed
One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things. - Henry Miller
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Re: Paradise damaged (crime report)
[Re: irish1223]
#100636
06/16/2016 07:59 AM
06/16/2016 07:59 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 650 Rochester NY
Walt
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 650
Rochester NY
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Sounds like the same 2 guys. I out weighed the guy by 50lbs and could have "bum rushed him" against another car but I thought twice because of what he had in his hand.Bobcat as I said in my post don't put much faith in the security guards.
Last edited by Walt; 06/16/2016 08:01 AM.
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Re: Paradise damaged (crime report)
[Re: Walt]
#100638
06/16/2016 09:01 AM
06/16/2016 09:01 AM
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 737
lcote
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 737
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Walt said: Sounds like the same 2 guys. I out weighed the guy by 50lbs and could have "bum rushed him" against another car but I thought twice because of what he had in his hand.Bobcat as I said in my post don't put much faith in the security guards. In fairness to the security guards, their job is to protect a certain property. So, if they leave their post to help, the property they are paid to protect goes unprotected. They DID call the police. Think about it from their point of view. What if those two guys beating you up was a ruse to get the security guards out of their place so that OTHERS could go an rob whatever they were protecting. Damned if they do, Damned if they don't unfortunately and it stinks all the way around. It certainly gives me pause as I often considered that the more violent robberies occurred late at night. I am so sorry this happened while in SXM or ANYWHERE. I hope you start to feel better and have no lasting ill effects.
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Re: Paradise damaged (crime report)
[Re: Walt]
#100641
06/16/2016 11:17 AM
06/16/2016 11:17 AM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,677 Brookfield, CT.
pat
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,677
Brookfield, CT.
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Walt,
We are forty year plus visitors and I have to tell you, while personally speaking we've been pretty lucky, hearing about things such as this are heartbreaking on many levels.
I am so sorry to learn of what happened to you and relieved your injuries weren't worse than they were. I hope the physical healing process is rapid and complete. The emotional healing - that's a whole different thing and I understand completely the memories will never go away. It's a sad thing to think that as we age, and we all do, we have to give up the places and people we love because of creeps and experiences like you encountered that night.
And in light of so many things that have happened on the island over the years with regard to the security staff hired by many places, one has to scratch their heads in wonder. I thought the police were starting to take some control back over the island but it sounds like things are just as bad as ever, and given the time and location of your experience, possibly even worse.
I'm glad you at least have the positive experiences of your sailing day and the staff at Orient Beach Club along with their efforts to help you. Good wishes to you and your family. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Re: Paradise damaged (crime report)
[Re: Walt]
#100642
06/16/2016 11:32 AM
06/16/2016 11:32 AM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 969 Maine U.S.A.
Modi
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 969
Maine U.S.A.
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Walt said: We went back to Club O and never left the grounds. Walt That's pretty much been our Trip Report since 2010. We came to that realization quickly after Trip 1. SeaStar said it well... if Club O goes, we'd never return. We do hope you're healing well.
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Re: Paradise damaged (crime report)
[Re: SXMWendell]
#100645
06/16/2016 02:37 PM
06/16/2016 02:37 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,278 Maryland/DC Metro
BeachKitten
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,278
Maryland/DC Metro
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SXMWendell said: And now it is 9 days later and I have seen nothing of this in the newspapers. Makes you wonder how many more unpublished incidents there are.
Wendell Just a question....but how would the papers have even heard about the incident? Did the OP contact the media? Has anyone let Jimbo or other restaurants in the area know about the problem in the parking lot? So glad you had your wits about you Walt, and that your wife was quick thinking enough to sound the car horn. I may have panicked and started screaming. Hope your healing continues.
"It is good to do nothing all day, and then to rest"
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Re: Paradise damaged (crime report)
[Re: BeachKitten]
#100646
06/16/2016 03:18 PM
06/16/2016 03:18 PM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,763 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,763
Ohio
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Just a question....but how would the papers have even heard about the incident? Did the OP contact the media? Perhaps from police reports?
J.D.
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Re: Paradise damaged (crime report)
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#100648
06/16/2016 03:59 PM
06/16/2016 03:59 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,278 Maryland/DC Metro
BeachKitten
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,278
Maryland/DC Metro
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ruralcarrier said:Just a question....but how would the papers have even heard about the incident? Did the OP contact the media? Perhaps from police reports? Do they have a "police beat" reporter? Someone that goes through cases or listens to a scanner?
"It is good to do nothing all day, and then to rest"
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Re: Paradise damaged (crime report)
[Re: BeachKitten]
#100649
06/16/2016 04:48 PM
06/16/2016 04:48 PM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,763 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,763
Ohio
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BeachKitten said:ruralcarrier said:Just a question....but how would the papers have even heard about the incident? Did the OP contact the media? Perhaps from police reports? Do they have a "police beat" reporter? Someone that goes through cases or listens to a scanner? Based upon what I read in local (SXM) newspapers on a daily basis, there appears to be some access and dissemination of news regarding crime. It seems to be hit or miss and not everything is going to be covered.
J.D.
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