Las Terrenas warning

[mountainfrog]

Originally Posted by Chip

1. Closed in yard, if possible.

That's good.
On the other hand walls prevent others to see what happens behind them... and attackers may like that.

Originally Posted by Chip

2. Bars on windows and doors.

That's good.
However, the quality of the welded joints and/or the fixing to the walls in most cases leaves much to be desired. For burglar proofing of better craftsmenship a small 0.5 ton hydraulic jack comes handy...

Originally Posted by Chip

3. Have a dog and/or an alarm system, such as infrared that will sound and alarm and cut on bright lights in the yard.

That's good.
Recent developments in the area have led to projects and villas built in remote and isolated places. There criminals can take all the time they need and you better not wait for the police to come to your help. Certainly, the alarm noise is 'incomodo'...

Originally Posted by Chip

4. Have a bat handy.

That's good.
Of course, if the attackers are already within your bat's range it's a bit late to defend yourself, especially if they don't believe in a good cavemen style fight and have more spophisticated weapons...

Originally Posted by Chip

5. Get to know and be very open and friendly with your closest neighbors and get their phone numbers, especially the ones who have a pistol - have these entered into speed dial on your phone - they will be the first responders.

That's good.
Better yet to organize a chain of neighbours with comm radios (quick communication, independent of telephone infrastructure, etc.)
[We use C408's which are as small as a pack of cigarettes and work more than two months on two AA batteries.]

6. Get to know a policeman or military person of at least captain's rank in the area. Visit them give them a bottle of Johnny Walker Black every once in a while...[/quote]
That's good.


For the police guy...

m'frog

[Chip]

I would like to find out how the neighborhood is set up. I do know that if this happened in a Dominican neighborhood, that the junta would have carried the sorry a$$ watchman to the police station to have him investigated.

I also think language has nothing to do with it when somebody is running and screaming with shots in the background. The language issue will make a difference on how one can effectively integrate into the community. This is very important in order to not be seen as "different" - miscommunication can be a cause of prejudice or apathy.

[mountainfrog]

Originally Posted by adrianb

...Clearly you're not doing something right since this happened only a short time after you arrived here.

You don't need to do something 'wrong' in order to become a victim of a burglary or house invasion.
On the contrary newcomers are targeted more often and in the criminals' view it makes sense, too.

m'frog

[Chip]

m'frog

I'm not insinuating that anything I mentioned will keep the really determined criminals away, but they act as a first line of defense until help arrives. Getting to know one's neighbors and the local police is very important.

By the same token, one needs to have enough courage to put their butt on the line in the event that a neighbor needs them. This isn't really hard to do if one becomes friends with their neighbor - they almost become like family and the urge to want to help even in the face of harm is the natural and compelling.

[mountainfrog]

Originally Posted by Chip

... the junta would have carried ...

No such thing as a 'junta de vecinos' there.

m'frog

[mountainfrog]

Originally Posted by Chip

... Getting to know (...) the local police is very important.

Oh yes, I could not agree more...

m'frog

[Squat]

I haven't yet been commenting on that crime. First, let me say that I am sorry it happened. Indeed, the "Abra Grande" neighborhood is a bit remote, and is known to be an easy target for burglars. I agree with both Mountainfrog and Chip in the measures that one should take, as it is good common sense.
As of the Las Terrenas area is actually booming, there are indeed more opportunities for crime, but it doesn't seem to be any worst that the Cabarete/Sosua area, as I often read crime reports here in DR1.
It makes sense for any visitor to check on every doors and windows of the house. Those have to be well secured. Avoid leaving the house open. After dark, stay inside, and make sure the house is locked. That is especially true in remote areas...

[Rocky]

Originally Posted by Squat

I haven't yet been commenting on that crime. First, let me say that I am sorry it happened. Indeed, the "Abra Grande" neighborhood is a bit remote, and is known to be an easy target for burglars. I agree with both Mountainfrog and Chip in the measures that one should take, as it is good common sense.
As of the Las Terrenas area is actually booming, there are indeed more opportunities for crime, but it doesn't seem to be any worst that the Cabarete/Sosua area, as I often read crime reports here in DR1.
It makes sense for any visitor to check on every doors and windows of the house. Those have to be well secured. Avoid leaving the house open. After dark, stay inside, and make sure the house is locked. That is especially true in remote areas...

That is so very true and that much greater a problem for newly arrived folks.

[Ringo]

I can only guess that this invasion was done in daylight hours or a lot of lighting in this area.

You had seen the guard and MAINTENANCE workers around before. (workers had not gone home for the day?)
Saw the one with the gun chase after you and saw the bullets hit the ground around us while running. (Difficult in any lighting while running.)
Ran to the landlords's house and found the guard and workers. (About 100 yards from your rental and after 5 shots fired with a man chasing you.) ??
LEFT the only people that you had found and... climbed a fence and kept running across a field, hid, then ran to a construction site.
Found some of our things on the road.

I take it that the man with the gun had stopped chasing you since you heard 2 more shots, while with the guard and workers, coming from behind the neighbor's house. And no one did anything? You must have thought that the only people that you had found were more of a treat, so you ran away from them? Do you know if the intruders left, headed up into the mountains and into the jungle, on foot, moto or car?

I am not saying that this did not happen. In fact, it appears that armed daylight invasions have been on the rise and aimed more at the newer renters and tourist. Both being easier targets and most likely moving or leaving soon. The police don't seem to care very much about a short timer that will not be around to make a fuss, ID or testify.

Sorry to read about your experience. I have also been in very stressful situations in other countries. The how, what and why someone responds, including near bystanders, can appear not to make sense to others. So please do not be insulted.

But very strange, even to D.R. stuff. I do not know what my live-in grounds keeper would do? Or the armed guards across the street? I would hope that they would at least make some noise. But then again, maybe not. My neighbors I would expect nothing at all.

Best of luck, Ringo

[mountainfrog]

Originally Posted by Squat

...It makes sense for any visitor to check on every doors and windows of the house. Those have to be well secured. Avoid leaving the house open. After dark, stay inside, and make sure the house is locked. That is especially true in remote areas...

Unfortunately it has come to that.

On coming home it's a good routine procedure to check that everything outside is as you left it (doors, windows, screens, etc.).
Do not enter the house if the watchman or the dog(s) are not there.
Do a tour of the house and check possible hiding places.
(I know of several cases where the attackers were hiding in the house for quite some time before they struck.)

Attacks can take place any hour of the day.
Normally the criminals will have checked out your place and your habits for some days and know when you are most vulnerable.

(BTW, at what time was lemunchs house attacked?)

m'frog