I've been a long time lurker here, and just joined at another member's suggestion so I could crosspost this from the Belize Forum, where I posted it yesterday:

As many of you know, my husband and I run a small lodge in Cayo. When our guests want to go to the cayes, we used to recommend that they take the Caye Caulker Water Taxi. That has ended.

We traveled to Caye Caulker with some relatives, one elderly, this weekend. Because we were trying to handle all of their baggage and get them comfortable on the taxi, we did something we usually wouldn't do and stuck our camera in a zipped compartment of our knapsack and checked it. When we got to Caye Caulker and went to take the relatives' picture on the dock, the camera was gone.

Okay, our bad decision for checking the bag with the camera when the signs warn against checking anything of value...but really, you don't expect the baggage handlers to be going through every bag looking for what they can take, but that's apparently what they do.

What made it worse was that when we returned yesterday (without the relatives) we talked to security at the water taxi terminal and asked if they could look at the security tapes for the times when we know our bag was in the baggage handling area. The first response was that the security director wasn't in, but if we came back 4 hours later they could probably do it. They probably thought we were tourists on our way to catch a plane and there wasn't a chance we would show up again. However, we had some errands to run in Belize City, so we did that and went back. This time they let us talk to the security director, Andy, who informed us that, in fact, he doesn't know how to view the tapes...so apparently the security cameras are just for show.

We talked to the security director, the supervisor of the baggage area, and the porter who grabs your bags as soon as you appear at the curb, and told them that we weren't tourists who were just going to disappear. We told them that we would no longer be sending business their way. And, we informed them that if the only way our guests could get to the cayes was with them, they certainly wouldn't be checking baggage and the porter and baggage handlers could kiss their tips goodbye. They all protested and told us that the signs warn about checking anything of value and they put the signs up because they know this is a problem - which bothered us even more. If they know they're employing thieves, why don't they do something about it? I'm afraid the answer is that they don't really care, and figure that the tourists just flow through and there are never any consequences. However, perhaps if they know that there will be repercussions, maybe somebody will turn in the thieves to save their own jobs and tips and hopefully help the reputation of tourism in Belize.

Our recommendation now is to go with one of the other water taxi companies, or fly with Tropic Air or Maya Island Air. The flights are more expensive, but if you're going to lose a couple of hundred dollars worth of stuff, the tickets pay for themselves. And, if you have to go with CCWTA, under no circumstances should you let them touch your bags, even if they insist.

Disappointing story. Couldn't this happen on another water taxi or flying too though?

Yes it can, years ago on Maya, 2 cell phones of mine were lost from my bag.

I think this is just a good reminder for all of us who are tired or in a hurry to be a little more careful where we put our things. I think bags with outside pockets are the worst. We should just put mouse traps in those.

or some c 4, with a fuse attached to the zipper

bad boy

Sorry this happened to you. I agree with bonbon it is a good reminder though to pay attention in general about stuff like this.

As a resident I'm sure you're aware of how bad the economy of Belize is right now. Crimes of opportunity increase in those circumstances. Just like the ladies whose pockets were picked when staying in a rented house on CC while they went out briefly a short time back, people will do things they might not ordinarily do. That's no excuse for bad behavior, of course, but it's a reason for visitors to be super vigilant these days and at least somewhat vigilant any time they visit a poor country.

All over the world, if one thinks about it, letting those less fortunate than are we, see us tuck our valuable possessions away in a place, that is less than secure, virtually invites them to take them.

� most certainly do not mean to imply that �tiefing�is acceptable anywhere nor at any time. What I mean to say is, that it doesn´t matter where we are in the world, it pays to look out for your self and your belongings.

Quite frankly, there aren´t many places in the world, that I would trust that ANYONE who saw me stick a camera or other valuable into a zipper pocket would be able to keep themselves from checking out that zipper compartmetnt.

Don´t stop your customers and friends from the experience of the water taxi. Just make sure they don´t leave their good sense at home . . by the way . .. the same damn thing probably would have happened at home, circumstances being reasonably equal. I´m surprised you don´t know that.

At the same time, if you report that something has been taken to the on-site management and they give every indication of not being interested in finding the perpetrator, it isn't just the individual who was the thief but the whole business institutionally. Then in practice all you can do is to avoid that business in future and make sure others are forewarned. Much as has happened here, in fact.

Exactly my point, Peter Jones. The fact that the camera was stolen doesn't surprise me, but the fact that the company basically said "We know we employ thieves, what's the problem?" does.

And we didn't stick the camera in the bag at the water taxi terminal, we stuck it in the bag at the Zoo, not intending to check the bag...but the bag got checked when the porter grabbed it and the elderly relatives needed help negotiating the terminal, and their carry-ons needed carrying, etc... I admit it was an oversight on our part, and I actually asked my husband where the camera was and when he said it was in his [checked] knapsack we had a brief discussion about retrieving the knapsack, but given the general state of chaos with our party, we just didn't, not thinking that OUR camera would be stolen, and nobody would care.

I stand by avoiding CCWTA due to their attitude towards thievery. The options (San Pedro Express, the airlines) may not be any better, but they haven't yet stolen from me.

Theres nothing like a fair trial, if you feel so strongly that the theft was done by an employee at the water taxi, file a complaint with the police and have them investigate the occurrence. Theft is still a crime even in Belize.

Moonracer, I am very sorry that happened to you, and they didn't handle it well or even correctly. That is disappointing. I am glad you posted here as a warning to travelers about not checking valuables. However, I had the opposite happen to me about 2 years ago. I was carrying quite an expensive camera, set the case down on the boat, had lots to gather and forgot it on the water taxi. It was discovered by a porter and when I realized that the camera was missing an hour later I went back and they had it for me at the office. Although, right after that another boat "lost" a 30lb order of Caye Coffee, from which they recovered only 1/2 of it and they also "lost" a $300 matt board order. Over the years they have "lost" or misplaced several boxes.
So now I basically use the San Pedro Belize Express almost exclusively, because their pier is practically at my doorstep on Caye Caulker, and I think they handle luggage and cargo in a more professional manner. They have never "lost" anything of mine. When you are in Belize City your bags are checked and you are given a ticket with a number on it. The loading area seems to be under better control than the CCWTA. I am not saying that they are infallable, they just seem more professional to me.
Just my opinion.

The last time I returned to SP on a water taxi, in this case the SP one, they dropped a large heavy package in the water while they were unloading. It initially floated, but they just shrugged their shoulders and carried on unloading the boat of baggage and passengers. They then boarded the departing baggage & passengers and the boat left. Only then did someone jump in the water to retrieve the package, which was by then on the bottom. It split as they were trying to lift it, revealing its contents to be printed matter, all patently destroyed. If it had been retrieved the instant it fell in possibly much of it would not have been destroyed.

Get a bait camera together with a gps inside and see where it goes.

"which bothered us even more. If they know they're employing thieves, why don't they do something about it?

only two possible answers they may have
1. Ostrich mentality
2. They don't care your complain, in their eyes you are such a small client!