Cabarete ProCab Incident?

[Thandie]

Originally Posted by mountainannie

I think that it would be most useful if expats here would actually report attacks and break ins when they occur here on this Board. That will give us - and others- an accurate picture of what it is like here.

I know that many local attacks may go unreported.

In Las Terrenas four years ago, there were armed attacks against foreign residents almost every day but nothing made the papers since the main business in LT is selling real estate. I am pleased to report that the situation is very much better now..

But newbies need to know that it is dangerous to live here without the bars on the windows and doors or ample security - that is just a fact. It is not possible just to lock your door and leave your house untended for a week or a month while you travel, as you can in the States. Dominicans don't do it.

If we take it upon ourselves to report the situation on the ground accurately there is a chance that people will be better prepared, and that wild rumours will not circulate.

What do others think?

That would be ideal but not everyone is aware of DR1 or feels comfortable reporting here (we have seen how some people are treated when reporting incidents i.e. being labelled paranoid or being accused of not reporting in a timely fashion, questioning the validity, etc.).
I personally know of a few attacks and break ins recently that never were reported on DR1 or elsewhere (2 street robberies with knives and 2 break ins in POP). Actually in one of the incidents the police were called but never came.

Also bars are also not 100% as I was involved in a home invasion and they cut through the bars on the windows and distracted the dog with food. My mom has a small business and never kept money in the house but they 'thought or hoped' there was money or property. What saved us is my mom keeps a bottle of acid by the foot of her bed and threw it in the attackers face, and they ran screaming in pain. If they really want to get in they will. Just try to outthink them and set up as many challenges that will make them think twice whether it will be worth the risk. More than 1 form of security is best in my opinion.

[AK74]

Originally Posted by Thandie

we have seen how some people are treated when reporting incidents i.e. being labelled paranoid or being accused of not reporting in a timely fashion, questioning the validity, etc.).
I personally know of a few attacks and break ins recently

************************

Well said , Thandie. And honest. Nail right in the head. Thank you.

[Chip]

I'm wondering if the tourist areas are more prone to these types of home invasions as opposed to other areas. I have definitely seen a different attitude among the Dominicans in these areas with regard to foreigners as opposed to here in the center of the island. There is almost a feeling distrust or at the very least an assumption that all foreigners have loads of money.

This specific case is quite troublesome as the murderers took the time to break through the iron bars. It calls to question what were their neighbors doing and why didn't they respond? Where we live and as is commonly practiced here Dominicans depend on their neighbors in events such as these. If I hear a commotion or screaming I will be running outside with any available weapons and have the understanding that my neighbors will do the same for me.

[jrhartley]

you can cut through bars pretty quickly -

[catcherintherye]

"you can cut through bars pretty quickly -"

Hence the falling over in the streets. Right, jr?

[MirianAmor]

Originally Posted by Chip

I'm wondering if the tourist areas are more prone to these types of home invasions as opposed to other areas. I have definitely seen a different attitude among the Dominicans in these areas with regard to foreigners as opposed to here in the center of the island. There is almost a feeling distrust or at the very least an assumption that all foreigners have loads of money.

This specific case is quite troublesome as the murderers took the time to break through the iron bars. It calls to question what were their neighbors doing and why didn't they respond? Where we live and as is commonly practiced here Dominicans depend on their neighbors in events such as these. If I hear a commotion or screaming I will be running outside with any available weapons and have the understanding that my neighbors will do the same for me.

They had no close neighbours. On that street, there is just the empty hotel and their house

[Lambada]

No arrests yet in this matter.
SIGUEN PROFUGOS ASESINOS INVERSIONISTA HOLANDES DE CABARETE

[mountainannie]

Originally Posted by Chip

I'm wondering if the tourist areas are more prone to these types of home invasions as opposed to other areas. I have definitely seen a different attitude among the Dominicans in these areas with regard to foreigners as opposed to here in the center of the island. There is almost a feeling distrust or at the very least an assumption that all foreigners have loads of money.

This specific case is quite troublesome as the murderers took the time to break through the iron bars. It calls to question what were their neighbors doing and why didn't they respond? Where we live and as is commonly practiced here Dominicans depend on their neighbors in events such as these. If I hear a commotion or screaming I will be running outside with any available weapons and have the understanding that my neighbors will do the same for me.

Most certainly! There - particularly on the North Coast- you have the combination of tourists with cash, residents with "no visible means of support- i.e. wealth", a "vibrant" night life which often includes crack cocaine which makes people completely insane with craving addicition and a need to get money for the next fix, and a lack of complex family and cultural norms which are in place inside local towns in the country.

Where I live now in Gazcue, a tigre snatched someone's bag on the street and about 10 people started screaming and running after them and all traffic stopped.

The "tourist" areas - and I only speak really of Las Terrenas since that is all I know- have a combination of "good expats" , like US, and the guys who are running away from Interpol, running drugs, running whore houses, buying land and flipping it, paying as little money as they can, ---- who is gonna protect them, and why should they?

[Islander777]

Originally Posted by Lambada

No arrests yet in this matter.
SIGUEN PROFUGOS ASESINOS INVERSIONISTA HOLANDES DE CABARETE

At 6:00 a.m. Sunday morning after the murder in ProCab the police went into Callejon de la Loma and arrested many Haitian men, including one I know, and took them to jail. Although I don't know that this was related to the murder, it may have been a round-up of the "usual suspects." Or it could have been related to the raging street fight the same (Valentine's) night that began in Bambu on the beach in Cabarete, moved to the street and then spread/moved to Callejon with bottles thrown and shots fired, several seriously injured but no one killed. I'm told the fight was between various young local men from various surrounding towns (Gasper Hernandez, Sabaneta, La Cienega, Callejon) who met on the beach in Cabarete for the night of "Dia del Amor" and who "just wanted to fight." That Saturday night/Sunday morning was a very bad night in Cabarete. One has to wonder if there was any relationship to the round-up of the National Police that was on-going at the same time.

[Eddy]

Originally Posted by jrhartley

you can cut through bars pretty quickly -

Thev'e recently upgraged to using acid. Pretty quick and noiseless.