Hi All,

I would like to make the following points that may help you to avoid and catch thieves.

1.) People that usually commit crimes case a place first.
Be aware of your surroundings. I.e.; If you see a familiar person or person's around your place of business it could very well be that you are being cased. They do this to make notes on your time of entry, departure and your cash flow or busiest time of day.

2.) Being in a great place like Ambergris Caye where you can leave your door open and your vehicle unsecured is nice, but the reality is, you are giving a thief an open invitation to rob you because you are an easy target.

3). Keep business doors closed, use surveillance cameras and magnetic locks so that you can allow entry to persons you think may not be a threat. Also place a sticker fro the surveillance company that show you have these cameras, anything that deters a criminal will help.

4). Unfortunately times are changing; people are going to be more desperate. Sometimes the thief comes from within and when I saw within it is not the employee directly but indirectly. Ie; A girl you may have employed may have a boyfriend who uses drugs etc, as such he will get information from them, sometimes threatening them if they squeal.

5). I would suggest that when you employee persons simply state that if they do become involved with a person of ill repute, that you are there to help them and back them, by going to the police and keeping them employed on the other hand if they are caught involved with the bad side of life they will be prosecuted and will not be able to work in A.C. again as they will have a record against them and no references..

You must take positive action to suppress and hopefully stop crime.

I hope this helps!

The main problem with crime here, is that people do not get involved.

Many local people on the island like to turn a blind eye to what others are doing.

They fear that the bad elements on the island will "get them back" for helping the police or telling others what they know or have seen.

Crime will continue to rise here until people say enough is enough and stand up against those who would like to steal and commit other crimes.

Also the police need to start acting in a more proffessional manner, they must start talking to people with respect.

They need to respond more quickly to reports of a crime and it would not hurt them to tour the local bars were some of the bad elements are know to hang out.

This is just my point of view, I have many more ideas on how crime could be reduced here, maybe I will leave them for another post.

Would like to hear other peoples ideas on what could be done to reduce the crime here.

Applying the items I mentioned above will help; it is not the where-with-for-all, though. The other suggestion that could me made is that rewards are offered for information openly or quietly as this will offset the bad guys.. sometimes this needs to be done with the police as they are also given a piece of the action, I am not saying this is happening in A.C. because I do not live there, but in other parts of the world we definitely have to combat crime with better enticement to the authorities and well as the common folk.
In the meantime the business’ need to implement security measures to protect themselves and possibly identify the culprit without relying on people or the authorities.

Another suggestion is the business' get together and chip in together and have two security guards walking the particular street those business are on from one end of the street to the other, in that way they also become a deterrent to a would be thief.
The only issue with this avenue is the security guard has to have a very clean and have sound background check, so it is not plausible that he might become involved with the bad ones.. Again sound words of advice also go a long way when we hire personnel to encourage them that should they be tempted to stray that the good benefits outweigh the bad downside of conviction and possible jail time.

I can tell you from personal experience when I was in Bogota, Colombia that you would see security guards with an Uzi hanging from their neck and a rottweiler by their side, that’s the level they have reached but it made you feel relatively safe in that particular area versus not having them present at all.

A.C. is no where near this scenario, but it is always good to throw some major spokes in their future plans and put out their fire.

How about machine gun nests at every intersection?

Without property taxes, how would you pay for the ammunition, let alone the guns?

Sounds good Jesse. You're elected for the first nest. lol

We can charge tourists to climb the machine gun nests to get really nice pictures!

Jesse, you have got to take these things very seriously.
It is unfortunate that everywhere I have been in the world this is exactly what allows crime to escalate.
The attitude that it is not happening to me, or it is not in my area so it is someone else's problem is always the reason crime goes unchecked by the general public.
I have seen crime in the U.S., Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Africa and most Caribbean islands where it has escalated because of that very attitude, "it's not my problem" so to speak.

I voice by opinion here because of two things.

1). Belize is still a great place, but believe me if you sit ideally by on the side and give crime an inch they will take a life and that is definetly not a good thing.

2). The people who have been gracious enough to bring these crimes to light, care!
They should, and that's great, so I think that any of us who care along with them and want a better life, should think of a better way to live as a community, that being Ambergris Caye and Belize in general.

SACNW - South Ambergris Caye Neighbourhood Watch is taking the crime situation very seriously and is working towards ensuring our neighbourhood is a safe, clean and pleasant place to live, visit or work in.

The other neighbourhood watch groups are doing a fine job too.

The SPBA - San Pedro Business Association is concerned and works diligently to fight crime.

We are all working to help support our local police who are always undermanned and overworked! Unfortunately a few bad apples in the force always make it more difficult for the force to garner the full support of the community.

As with any place - there is lots of room for improvement in our protective services.

But don't worry Realdeal - there are quite a few very dedicated folks working to minimize the crime.

Hi Amanda,

I am very glad to hear that. It takes a lot of effort and concerned citizens to truly get involved.
Keep up the good work, and never give up.
I myself was totally involved at one time with the opposition party in my country where the crime has got out of hand due to the present governments poor efforts to eradicate it.
I am still involved but to a lesser degree because of my work.
I can guarantee that when I come to live in Belize, I will put more than words into action.
Again, good luck and God Bless

What country would that be?

Have you given your legal name here?

Your occupation?

Please forgive me if I'm wrong, but aren't you the person who uses the software that hides or changes the IP address you are posting from?

Does that really make a difference with the outcome of A.C. or Belize?
The country is Trinidad, read the news from Trinidad and Tobago it's real bad, and got worse in the last 8 years..

Sometimes people amaze me,
If you absolutely need to know.
I don't change IP addresses on purpose, it's because I am traveling a lot, period.
In all of my postings I have always tried to help or find out information that would be helpful to myself and others.
I think that if this is what some people are best at doing, which is disrupting decent and good common sense then I will leave you to your own way of life and completly stay out of anything to do with this message board.

Thanks

No it has nothing to do with any out come in Belize. You just post a lot and have yet provided your legal name, place of residence, occupation, contact information or any other details that would give credit to any of your posts or claims.

Again forgive me if I'm wrong about you but posters who claim to be "The Real Deal" should consider being more open about who they are and what their intent is for these board discussions or for Abergris Caye / Belize in general.

I just don't understand anyone "hidding" behind a screen name and using software which prevents others from knowing your posting location.

This behavior leads me and I'm sure others to believe said poster has a reason to hide.

I'm not trying to get anyone to stay off the message board. I'm sure some or even many would like to see me off the board, but I for one just like to know the basics about the poster. And I think that anyone who wants to actually be involved should have no issue with divulging basic information about oneself.

Personally I think your real name and location should be required to participate on this board.

I'm in Ecuador right now, I might be in Kuwait or Brunei next month, are you in Mississippi or Belize?

Does it really matter???? Is my post so derelict in your mind that I have to send you a resume for you to comprehend pure logical thinking?

You seem to have a grudge about something and I really don't want to go up that avenue when we ask simple questions.

I won't bother to answer you anymore, so consider this a dead discussion.

I just feel very strongly that this board would be more cordial and the posters would have more credibility if everyone knows who they actually are.

Yet once again, someone has ask for your legal name and occupation and yet again you have choosen not to divulge this information. WHY?

Sir,

I don't know Sally1, danny, danny2 or a lot of other characters, but that doesn't matter to me, if you or anyone else, whether I know their name, matter's not, but if they make sense then I think it is always good to help or try and understand their position on something.
If you know my name or I know your's or Harry down the road, it doesn't matter, If I met you at a business or somewhere tangible and we had a good talk together, then I might arrive at a conclusion of what type of person you are, but then I would still not really know you......... at the end of the day.. this board is just that for someone to voice their opinion, and unfortunately some voice it in the wrong way, but then that is their perogative

I am not a builder
hostel owner,bar owner,pizza supplier,developer -that is better

Where'd my post go?

You left out, guy who is banned from that development up north:-0

I want to thank Belize-N-Us for changing his avatar - the motion sickness is fading already.

Somewhere in all of this is material for a really cool, spy, mystery novel set in a tropical setting, AC of course, with lots of interesting characters, you guys or "You al'" for our Mississippi friends, and I can write it from my beach up by you know where, and I can be really wordy since that what's expected in a novel!!

I am picturing "Real Deal" as a Latin American mercenary who could be played by Antonio Banderas in the movie version of my novel. What fun. Got to get back to work and make a livin'.

Can I be the cabana boy who is secretly having an affair with his wife? I don't want to get caught though, that never turns out good!
I also want to be well endowed.


No, not that endowed you dirty minded people, I mean with lots of money!! LMAO - Once again, I crack myself up.


Edit - and in Texas it's "y'all"

Sally 1 - Find a copy of "High Adventure".

Absolutely. Although the "getting caught" scene could be awsome. We could have you attempting your get away from angry Antonio as you grab the bottom of a helicopter and hold on for dear life as it flies over a Belizean rain forest, drops you into a raging river headed towards a 100' waterfall, and you ending up on the river banks surrounded by Real Deal, I mean Antonio, and his gang of fellow mercenaries, who are really undercover CIA operatives who are there to bolster the democratic regime of some unknown central american country. I'm telling ya, I see a great movie script here, and our stunts will be the "real deal", none of that computer generated crap.

Ah, what a great diversion from short sales, foreclosures, bankruptcies, etc.

I will definitely look it up. I'm thinking our movie should be a combo. of The Unit, The Firm, and Congo, the book. And to address the topic of this thread, I'm watching the Chicago local news. AC is still a very safe place where concerned residents, part time and full time, should stay on top of things to make sure it stays that way.

The latest thing up here is handing out of drugged business cards in order to make you pass out so you can be robbed, etc. AC crime is looking pretty tame.(Although this business card thing would be good in our movie.)

it's been done...

I would like to apply as "Stunt Co-ordinator" please.

Leah-Ann, you know, I thought I'd seen this done before, but just couldn't remember where. It was a James Bond flick, right? Oh well, we'll just have to let Reaper come up with some new stuff.

This shows why crime is such a problem. Not just here but all over the world.....

People make light of the subject, instead of trying to find a solution to the problem they make jokes about it or make personal attacks on persons trying to find a solution to the crime problem.

We would soon here them cry out and scream for justice if they were to become a victim of crime. ( I hope that no one will )

Sorry, but anyone who thinks that nothing is being done to combat crime here either doesn't live here and doesn't follow local news or lives here and has blinders on.

Lived here for 20 years. I have seen "isla bonita" turn from a true paradise to an island with many problems that is effecting the Island to a point where recovery will be impossible. I hope I'm wrong but if something is not done very soon, we will climb up the list of tourist destinations that carry a warning for visitors.

We take crime here very seriously, but that doesn't mean it's worse here than in other places. Crime levels here are pretty low but we want to get them still lower - hence the active neighbourhood watches, the SPBA (which has as a primary focus funding anti-crime initiatives, such as the presence of the BDF and the new police boat), and a general awareness. But still it's a place where a person, regardless of sex or age, can generally walk freely and safely by themselves. This forum may seem like a pointless talking shop and to an extent that's true, but there's a great deal going on below the surface.

It's good to see that there are a few decent concerned people around...

The thing is that there isn't anywhere to move to that is ideal - you know, crime free, English speaking, all modern conveniences, mainly friendly and happy go-lucky people, nice weather, crystal clear warm water for diving, only an hour away from jungles, mountains & caves, amazing historical areas, good medical facilities etc. etc.

I involve myself in attempting to fight crime - every little bit helps, be it time, energy, money, moral support.

What's that saying "let's take a bite out of crime" and one of y new favourites - "let's take our neighbourhood back!"

As Realdeal said at the beginning of this thread - there are many steps that can be taken in order to protect yourself from crime - don't be a victim - make it difficult for criminals to target you.

Although the police, bdf, coast guard and private security guards can protect you and your property some of the time, it is important that you also take some responsibility for yourself and your belongings. And then take one more step forward, by also helping your friends, neighbours, customers and guests from being victims too.

Don't encourage criminals either. You turn a blind eye on a small matter and the criminal becomes bolder and bolder because he wasn't held accountable for his little misdemeanor.

As a community we can definitely slow down the crime levels of the island, maybe even begin reversing the process.

does anyone have a time machine?

No kidding! Beautiful picture! What section was that taken of?

The first picture

Marty has a pictures section I think? I googled it, sorry.

the first pic is from 1959
see http://ambergriscaye.com/pages/photos/63a.html

you can click for a larger version.
http://ambergriscaye.com/pages/mayan/art/overheadwide.jpg

then hit next a few times to see others from that pass by in a plane, all have click to's for larger versions

I f you look closely, it appears that the pictures are of the same area!

The green strip in the top left of the first picture would be the unpaved landing strip.

Wanna see real crime? Have someone drop you off in South Central Los Angeles, about 1:00 am.

the originals of the 1959 pics are SO DETAILED. super good lens. shot on slide film. you can keep zooming in the originals, which are too big to be online, and almost go window peeking 50 years ago. very time-machine-ish Chris....

We are not in Kansas anymore.

damn straight Dorothy