Quiet and secluded beach day since 5 ships were in Port. Put backpacks and camera in car trunk while we snorkeled. My friend and I had already stowed our fanny packs in the trunk earlier after some shopping. We snorkeled the length of the crescent beach and came back after about a 1/2 hour. On the beach we had left our chairs, towels and equip bag for gear which has a pocket where I secreted the car keys...FAIL !! I should have clipped them onto my bathing suit strap because whomever robbed us, got out the keys, opened the trunk and took ONLY CASH from both fanny packs. Total was about $150 combined but all credit cards and cameras were accounted for. Nothing but cash taken. Luckily we were thirsty and were about to goto the Hull Bay Hideaway for a cold drink or else we would probably have gone snorkeling again and maybe they would have come back for the rest of our stuff. A lesson learned... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

That's too bad, we loved Hull Bay. Our son worked there about 4 years ago. He lived up the hill about a mile away.

I am very sorry that this happened to you. However, I would like to point out that you were not 'robbed', in the legal definition of that, as a robbery involves a taking by force from the person.

With regard to the incident in question, do you know for sure they used the keys to get into the car? Many cars are very easy to get into, without the keys. Did they put the keys back in a different spot, and that's how you knew? As far as the thieves not taking the cameras and credit cards, I think you are actually lucky there. If they were going to steal them, think they would have taken them to begin with. I know that STT is different than ST. Maarten, but one never leaves anything in the car in St. Maarten, that they don't want stolen. Your note is a cautionary tale to be careful, wherever you are..

Carol

Seriously?

They were robbed

If you steal things from me without my knowledge or permission ...that is robbery.

I count it as robbery too Capn...the only clue that they were near our chair site where the keys were unfortunately velcroed into out snorkel bag was our water bottles that we had carefully placed on the bag so as not to get sandy, were in the sand...never even gave it a thought since it could have been an iguana or some birds nearby... Carol...it was a lesson and since I live in Mahogany Run and have been there for 7 years as well as frequenting STT for 40 years, I count myself luck to have gotten away so cheaply. They must have needed only cash and not the new camera that was locked in my trunk.
My other home is in NYC so I know about cautionary tales...just thought I'd air it here and not on Facebook.












i

Yep.
According to Merriam Webster...they were most definitely robbed.

rob (verb)
: to take money or property from (a person or a place) illegally and sometimes by using force, violence, or threats

Doesn't specify that it is always by force...just sometimes. I'm pretty certain it's illegal to go into someone's shorts, take their keys, open their trunk, and take their money without their permission. Top reason I never leave my purse in my office unattended.

Websters is not always correct. Robbery in Florida and Virginia definitely requires force, threat or violence. Didn't say it wasn't illegal, said it's not robbery.

Again, Poohwear, suggest you look up the definition of robbery in New York state.

Glad your camera was not stolen. Perhaps things are changing for the worse on STT..

The correct island definition is "Borrowed Mon" <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

True dat! Virginia requires force or threat of force. BUT, the lesson here might be that just because you think you are on a deserted beach doesn't mean you're not being watched. I've had stuff stolen through the years on St John....the only way the thief found the stuff was if he was watching me hide it. I don't move things from the passenger section of the vehicle to the trunk when I arrive at my destination, too me that is giving anyone watching the idea that there is something of value being stored. No matter where you are don't let your guard down! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />

oops meant to also say sorry Poohwear!!! Karma will bite them in the azzzz!

Agreed, never put stuff in the trunk after you arrive at your destination. Wherever you are in the world.

Carol is right. Robbery requires force or the threat of force. What occurred here was a theft. These are common law definitions that go back to medieval England.

I imagine the reason Carol pointed out the definition of robbed is because she expected a different story based on the topic. It doesn't make it any less of an issue.

I do think you are very lucky to have not had then take anything but the cash. Only reason for that is they probably didn't want to deal with selling stolen goods. Certainly can make it easier to catch someone. And while hopefully you reported this, much harder to catch people that only took cash versus items that could be more easily identified.

C'mon everyone knows what was meant by "robbed".

No Rick, I honestly expected to read about frightened people with hands up while someone threatened them with gun, machete', whatever. I feel very bad for the OP, but in this neck of the woods there is a very distinct difference between theft and robbery. Regional differences? Who knows, but I read the Subject the same way Carol did. Having anything taken from you is never good, but having it taken from you at gunpoint is much worse. Again, not trying to minimize what happened to the OP, just sayin......

I really do understand the difference and the definition of robbery. My question is how would you then describe your experience? You don't say "I was thieved" but "I was robbed" sounds more fitting. Again, not disputing the terms of what constitutes robbery but how to explain what happened to others.

A subject like: "Money stolen from car trunk at Hull Bay" would have been a better and less frightening description.

Geez. It is common for people to say "I was robbed!". The OP clearly explained this situation in the remainder of his post. Not only did he have his cash stolen, now he gets lectured from the TTOL crowd.

Doug

Doug, that is the point exactly. It is NOT common to say "I was robbed" everywhere unless there were weapons and/or threats of violence involved. In many parts of the US and the rest of the world, saying "robbed" is not the same thing a saying "had XXXX stolen". Robbed is much more inflammatory and frightening. And the islands don't need any more bad press. Your understanding, idiomatic phrasing, etc, are your realities, not everyones'. And I am sure everyone here feels bad that Poohwear had their money stolen. Not lecturing at all, just sharing different interpretations and perceptions about word choice.

OK. I understand now. It's more important to avoid disparaging the reputation of the USVI than to report a theft on TTOL. it's not a surprise that STT has a very high crime rate. I want to thank the OP for his post instead of lecturing him. Aside from the origin of the word, here is a definition from Merriam-Webster.

Robbed: to remove valuables without right from a place (2): to take contents of (a receptacle)

OP: thank you for the post and I am very sorry that happened. It is helpful for most of us to learn of these events.

That's me causing trouble. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> Had difficulty logging in from my phone.

Doug

LOL, I surrender Doug.... You have robbed me of my will to continue to try to explain this small semantic difference to you.
Thanks for sharing your unfortunate experience Poohwear. Sharing things like that here help everyone be more aware and that is a good thing. I Hope the rest of your visit is/was great.

No worries. "Theft" is probably a better (more accurate) word, but in the common vernacular, "robbed" gets the point across and Merriam-Webster agrees with me. This isn't the first time that I've participated in a crime related thread on TTOL and perhaps I react too quickly when I perceive posters trying to downplay the incident...

Ok, since we are talking technicalities.... Where and why is the word "Testify" used in court?? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />Thank you to all for your empathy...I certainly never meant to start a war on semantics.