Sorry for taking this up again this will be my last mail in this issue BUT: Look at the crimes reported in safetyandsecuritynet.com. Take also in to account that during season there is about 10 times as many boats in St.Martin as on any other island. *St.Lucia: * 2 TEENAGE BOYS SWAM OUT & GOT IN VIA HATCH BOARDED BY 4 GUYS WHO BEAT UP SINGLEHANDER CAPTAIN BOARDED - CALLED MARINE POLICE WHO CAME TO INVESTIGATE, CHASED PIROGUE, SHOTS FIRED. *BOARDED BY 3 MEN, CAPTAIN KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS & SEVERELY BEATEN, WOMAN RAPED* MAN CRAWLED OVER WALL IN WOMEN'S SHOWER & TOUCHED HER ARM HASSLED BY KIDS WHO WANTED PAID TO WATCH DINK' KIDS THREATENED THAT SOMETHING WOULD HAPPEN TO DINK Plus about 20 "EARLY MORNING HOURS, AWOKE TO NOISE, FOUND WET FOOTPRINTS ON DECK" *Venezuela*: EARLY AM 3 YOUNG GUYS, STRUGGLE, *1 CREW INJURED & REQUIRED OUTPATIENT SURGERY*, 1 GUY ARRESTED CAME BACK FROM HOME TO FIND BOAT RANSACKED & STRIPPED OF ELECTRONICS *CAPT HOSPITALIZED FOR MACHETE WOUNDS*; DINK FOUND & RETURNED BY FISHERMEN MEN IN FATIGUES ARMED WITH AUTOMATIC WEAPONS IN SMALL FISHING BOAT BOARDED 4 MILES OFF PARIA PENINSULA. DEMANDED MONEY *CREW BEATEN & STABBED*, BOAT TRASHED, CREW HOSPITALIZED, BOAT TOWED TO CHACACHACARE YARD IN MARGARITA, ONE IDENTIFIED, AUTHORITIES IN PURSUIT ABOUT NOON, 5 ARMED MEN, * CAPTAIN/SINGLEHANDER SHOT IN BELLY*, HOSPITALIZED IN PLC, LOST KIDNEY DURING SURGERY *SWIMMER HIT CAPTAIN W/ OAR, THREW CAPTAIN INTO WATER*, TOOK LOTS OF STUFF, REPORTED TO COAST GUARD W/ DESCRIPTION OF BOARDER, BOARDER ARRESTED WITHIN 24 HORS & STUFF RETURNED *TIED UP BY THREE ARMED MEN*, RANSACKED BOAT, TOOK "JUST ABOUT ANYTHING OF VALUE" BOARDED BY 2 MEN ARMED WITH KNIVES & GUNS, TOOL MONEY, VIDEOS, RADIOS, 17 FT DINK AND 40 HP O/B, DIVE EQUIPMENT PLUS many, many more...... And finally *St.Martin/St.Maarten:* First of all not even close to as many crime reported, still as I said 10 times more boats here during season. Couldn't find even one boarding reported. The WORST crime I can find here is: BURGLAR - LAPTOP COMPUTER, CAMERA, CLOTHES - DURING AFTERNOON The rest is basically dingy theft where half of them where return next day! I think my point is proven!!! -- Patrik Kinander