First off we had a great trip again. Just a few things happened that have never happened before. And in no way will we not be coming back to San Pedro. My husband and I love it there. First off, we have a couple that have been coming out with us for 2 weeks every year for the last 4 years. We arrived very late Feb 2. Flew into San Pedro in the dark. It was fun seeing the islands all aglow. Sunday we hopped on the gulf cart and headed out for breakfast then did some roaming and stopped at the Pier Lounge to see if we could find out our numbers on the football board. The guys decided to play the machines. I have to mention what happened to explain what happend a few days later. We were at the Pier for maybe 20 minutes. It didn't take the guys long to lose $20 on the machines. Our golf cart was right in front of the Pier Lounge. Hopped on it and went right home after that with no stops inbetween. Started up the steps to our condo and L (no names) relized her purse felt light and looked in side and there money was gone. S was making L carry all of there money with her and belive me she didn't want to do it and my husband and I had know idea they where doing it. They never did it before. We have a lock box and always keep most of our money in it. Well the guys went straight to the Pier Lounge and of course it wasn't there. They made a police report. So anyway we really don't know what happened. It was either left at the the Pier Lounge or she was pick pocket on the way out. This is a lesson for everyone to learn from. Not a put down on the Pier Lounge. Monday they went to the Belize Bank and used their Visa to get money. Because of this my husband and I exchanged US money with them for BZ money. It is the only place we got BZ money from. Feb 7 we decided to try the Sunset Grill for dinner. We each had 2 drinks and S had none because he is diabetic. We got our bill for $212 BZ. Put the money in with the tip in one of those black folder things and the waitress threw it up on the bar (we were sitting right by the bar and cash register). About 5 minutes later the waitress comes back and says there is a problem. One of our $100 is conterfiet. This bill looked like it was right of the press. Nothing like the money we were carring on us. It wasn't folded or wrinkled at all. All of our money has folds and wrinkles in it. We pointed this out to her and she started to fold the money right in front of us and we are telling her to knock it off. The owner gets involed and says he has had to eat 5 or 6 conterfiet 100's in the last couple of weeks and he wasn't going to do eat anymore and if we didn't make good on it he was going to call the police and we said call them. We told him we had gotten all of our 100's from the BZ bank and are sure they didn't give us conterfiet. Well the police arrived and took the conterfiet money and more or less said if we didn't make good on the money we would have to go to the staiton and be booked. We paid the other 100 and left. We went to the last Jerry Jeff Walker concert and when we were leaving S felt a hand on one side of his butt and then the other side of his butt and then it reached into his side pocket and he grabbed it and it was an American lady trying to pick pocket him. He had nothing on him. This is all true what I am telling you. It was a very interisting 2 weeks. A guy that was staying at the same place as we were got stopped at one of the check points in front of the police staition for having an open bottle of beer in the golf cart. The police told him to be quite and took him into a back room and asked him how much money he had on him and he told them about 30 BZ. Then they wanted to know how much his wife had and he said about 60 BZ. He was in there for 15 min and sweating buckets he was so nervous. Apparently this was not enough money for the police to bother with and they told him to leave. The police are not what they use to be 2 or 3 years ago. Even the Belizians say they are all crooked. Most of us that come to the island a lot know the rules but it was their first trip. Our friends went home Feb 17th and my husband stayed out of trouble for our last 2 weeks. We went to the San Pedro sun to renew the paper and talk to Tamara and another lady about what has happend and the took interest in the conterfiet money because none had been reported on the island. The other lady (I never got her name but she is Papi's daughter) said she was due to talk to the police that day to get the police reports for that week and would ask about the incident with the Sunset Grill. The police told her there is no report becaues we paid and they have no report on any other 100 conterfiet bills. So this means the owner at the Sunset Grill never told the police about his other conterfiet money he claims to recieve and he wouldn't talk to the San Pedro Sun claiming he didn't feel he comfortable because there is an investigation going on. NOT. Someone is trying to run a scam on tourist and please beware. If it happens to you have them call the police. If the owner really recieved other conterfiet he would have made a police report it he wasn't involved in the scam somehow. Anyway my husband and I did the zippling and it was a blast. Espically the last part. Then cave tubing which was also great. And a lot of fishing. It is always fun to see what you pull out of the water. We had a wonderfull time even with what happend. This is the first time I have written a trip report and did it just so others will be more carefull with there money and to let people know about the counterfiet scam. Get you money from a bank or Milo's. Not that it did us any good but we diffently knew we didn't have counterfit money on us and we were falsely accused.
Denise

What a shame that your trip enthusiasm and excitement was dampened by some less than honest people.

It is interesting that your husband caught a gringa trying to pick pocket him and that the restaurant owner (non-local) was running some kind of scam (if it wasn't the police would have more record of counterfit bills.)

We have a whole new set of newcomers, scammers, liars and theives on the island. The locals are the same fun loving, friendly people they have always been,but we are being tainted by unscupulous, grab and dash outsiders.

We only know that these things are happening if visitors come forward and tell us their stories. The business community and local residents will endeavour to make this a safe haven for our visitors and full time residents.

Thanks for your story.

Come back soon!

Amanda,
I think I would be more concerned about "crooked" cops than the newcomers.
Someone had better get that under control and right quick! JMHO

Perhaps the local newspaper editors and publications would be a good place to start?

what if the cops asked how much money they are carrying in order to ascertain if they are the types of folks that like to flash big wads of cash around - thus making them an immediate target???

If the cops ar ealways after money they would be shaking down all of the affluent locals that drink and drive! And you don't hear about that happening.

Do people really "pay off" the police? And if so who are they and why would they be paying the police not to charge them with crimes they haven't committed?

Just curious. I've never bumped into anyone that has just paid off the police.

Maybe I live a very sheltered life.

Magoo, I believe your report. Sorry these things happened during your visit.

We enjoyed our wonderful dinners at Sunset Grill, w/o any discomfort. Loved seeing the Tarpons swimming.

Pier Lounge and Caliente's was where I visited everyday, and had a great time, meeting so many wonderful visitors and locals.

I guess asking for smaller change is ideal. I do that anyway.

I think we should pay the police to shakedown the recent gringo crooks?

What a shame. I learned quickly to always have my guard up in Belize (and this goes back 15 yrs.) I don't hold more than about 30bz. on me at any given time and it's always in a pocket that thieves cannot get their hands into. One thing's for sure, when tourist season is at its peak, so are the number of hustlers in this little town.

30bz, really? Do you think the crooks read the MB?

I don't carry a purse on vacation and have recently purchased clothing with zippers. I have never been a victim of theft, knock on wood, (only my own stupidity) but try to be prepared - anywhere I travel.

Wow, I most be living on the edge. I thought it kinda' cool when my Prada shades were returned to me after the cab driver had then for a month and couldn't locate me.

I was onced pick pocketed in Nazareth, Isreal back in 1985.

Crime is everywhere but I can state, San Pedro does not have a pick pocket problem (yet) like some may find in Europe or the United States. Don't leave your valuables unattended though, locks were put on doors to keep honest people honest.

SIN

Usually more crime is reported during the slower months as "tings get haad out ya". Perhaps more local on local crime happens at these times and visitors may not report petty theft during peak seasons.

TQ, I seem to recall a recent photograph of you and If you look close I think the person next to you was attempting to remove money from your "speical" hiding place. Good thing you had the zipper closed

Sorry to hijack this post but 2MILES... too funny..

Most definitely, you must always be aware of your surroundings.

Magoo, sorry to hear of the misfortunes that your friends encountered while on their first visit to San Pedro. Hope they give it another chance.

Gail

2miles, I tole you!!! That is just a crazy ole Brit! He's looking for more than money I think... something I'm not willing to give him. :P

Take him to SAGA and get him clipped.

Thanks for every ones concern. I have written my story for the San Pedro Sun and expect some kind of response from the owner of the Sunset Grill. Can't wait to hear what he has to say. The money part is hard to get over but the rest of it is kind of laughable now. It was shocking to get accused of counterfeit money and a little scary but it is something we know we didn't do so it is over with. Our friends still love Belize and relize their mistake and do not plan on making a second one with the money. It is a lesson to learn for everyone. And we all are looking forward to next Feb.

Denise

My experience of the police in San Pedro is the opposite of yours. I've lived here 5 years and I think the police have steadily improved over that period. I now trust the senior officers to keep their house in order and deal with junior officers who overstep the limits - 5 years ago I didn't trust any of them.

Take him to SAGA and get him clipped. [/quote]

Jesse, I don't think Dr.Heather would want to touch HIM

So- there was an article in the San Pedro Daily just recently about lots of circulating counterfit notes- I wonder if that had anything to do with your experience?