I just got an email from the Pelican and a woman and her daughter that stay in the Pelican in March, which is the same time as us, told of a terrible crime. They were in Grand Case on a Monday night I believe, and four men in a black car came over to their rental car as they were going home and attack them very badly. Does anyone know about this and they claimed that when they went to the Police station they saw sheets up on a post that alot of kids and people were missing in St. Martin.. I love it there and wonder if anyone else read about this and I wonder what they will do about the crime. I hope things get better, since I don't want to give up going to this wonderful island.. What are your thoughts? The woman is a dr. and her daughter is an adult.. They never got any results from the police.

This is a 2 week old story. It has been written about many times on many BB.
I see no need to continue the discussion here.
yes, it was a terrible crime.
I wish things like that didn't happen here.
They did get results from the police. The police could not escort them home because they are not allowed to operate on the Dutch side without permission. The Tourist Bureau on the french side has issued them an apology.
We all feel terrible when things like that happen here.
The posters of the people missing in the Police Station were posters about people missing in France, not St. Maarten.

Barbara,

You say they got results from the police, but you fail to say what the reslts were. You say what that couldn't do, escort them home. So, what did they do?

well, what do police do when a crime is reported?
they take a report..not much else I guess.
what else could they do?
I think, from what I read, the frustration of the victims is that no one escorted them home and I agree that is unfortunate.
They must have been scared to death to have to get back to their hotel on their own.
That apparently had something to do with crossing over to the Dutch side on the part of the Gendarmes.
I do believe some other kind of help in that area could have been offered.
the real trick now is hoping they find the guys.

Barbara, 'back in the day', my husband was a police officer. When someone needed an escort they'd phone the police dept. in that jurisdiction and they'd meet up on the border, leaving the local police to finish the escort. Something like that, especially in this situation, should have been done. However, not doing anything is what's making people feel frustrated and abandoned. It must be frightening being in a foreign country, being mugged and beaten and feeling that the authorities don't give a darn! I know it would PI$$ me off, big time.
I'm sure you're empathetic........

Regards,
Contessa

I love cooking with wine.......somtimes I even add it to my recipes!!

Hi Jan,

Please read my posting sent in today (4/27) with "our trip to St. Martin" as the subject line. We want you to be well-informed, and your concerns about crime on the island is a valid one...

Sincerely,
Kat