- Thread starter chico bill
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American Teacher Murdered in Cabarete
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That approach may not necessarily be out of fear. There are practical considerations that are defensible.
We are discussing the shocking torture and murder of a foreign resident. The reports suggest she was seen walking around and became the focus of interest for the Ne'er-do-wells. The DR is a developing country and as much as we like to dismiss the chances of bad things befalling us, usually in support our decision to live here, the reality is that driving around or being in public after dark is an additional risk to one's safety and well being that is completely optional.
There are lots of factors that need to line up for someone to find themselves in a bad situation and many of those circumstances the individual cannot control. So for those who choose not to tempt fate more than necessary, staying home is an easy, practical and 100% effective means of eliminating that risk.
At home, you could still fall down the stairs and kill yourself, however, the chances of being in a vehicle accident, having your pockets picked, getting into scuffle or mugged is practically zero since the individual opted not to make any of those scenarios possible.
We all get to make our own decisions. Some will still be with us tomorrow, others perhaps not. To each their own...
We prefer to get up at 6. To enjoy the beautiful weather and ocean swim before too hot. To walk around during the day. And to leave the street scene before the skin trade begins and tigers go out hunting for gringo expats. For MANY years this tactics is a success. Going to the bar or restaurant here after dark in this country - is not a smart and safe idea.
My daily operational philosophy is much the same. I get my errands done during the day and unless going out for dinner or some other special event, plan to be home before the sun sets and I stay there. I have beer and lots to drink in the fridge if that's what I feel like doing. I'm not a dancer so discos don't interest me and I don't chase the ladies so do not feel the need insert myself into that scene and explain numerous times why I'm not looking for company.
If we have visitors, we'll go for dinner or hit a few bars later to show them Sosua but it's not a habit and and only happens rarely. For me, I like not driving at night and I like not having to pay for a ride home even more. I just have to watch myself on the stairs and avoid brushing against the electrified fence. If the fence gets me, at least my wife gets everything in my pockets...
If we have visitors, we'll go for dinner or hit a few bars later to show them Sosua but it's not a habit and and only happens rarely. For me, I like not driving at night and I like not having to pay for a ride home even more. I just have to watch myself on the stairs and avoid brushing against the electrified fence. If the fence gets me, at least my wife gets everything in my pockets...
Thats insane. This county is no more dangerous
than any American city with a population of a million or more.
I'd rather die free then live caged.
Personally, I would never venture out after 10 or 11 PM, but that's just me. It's also academic because I'm in bed by 930 at the latest.
But going out for dinner at 630 or 730 is completely safe in my opinion.
But going out for dinner at 630 or 730 is completely safe in my opinion.
Guess that depends on where and when. I prefer to be home before 10 pm but often when my wife and I go to friends places or a restaurant it is closer to midnight. I am only worried about the drunks and other crazy drivers on the road. Jarabacoa does have some dangerous areas but I am never in any of them at night.
DR a as whole is very unsafe! There are some areas that are relatively safe but the country as a whole in not safe. Right now I'm in Toronto and there is almost 0% chance that I'd get killed within a mile radius on where I live, I've never felt that safe in DR. You wanna compare DR to US which is the worst country crime wise of all G7 countries. Well ok, DR has on average about 4 murders a day (and that's what's reported, I'd bet my life that number is at least 25% bigger, I personally know of a few murders that never made the news, but crime here goes unreported because it's in the country's interest), now compare that to NYC which is about the same population wise they average less than 1 murder a day, or compare that to Chicago which is pretty bad and they average 1.5 a day, so still nowhere close to DR. And I guarantee DR beats US in all other categories (home invasions, robberies, rapes, assaults...) too. DR is not safe, but a few safe havens can be found.
It is not a correct statement. In general it is possible that the data is similar to the USA.
But the crucial difference is THE TYPE AND CHARACTER of the crime. In the USA 90% of all crimes and murders is committed inside the minority groups and neighborhoods.
In this country it is mostly violent night time robberies and home invasions against expats. Who by local standards are considered "wealthy". Even with $1500/month pension.
I think that exposure to a violent crime in the DR for a European looking person is ten times higher than in the USA.
As in most countries most of the crime in the DR is committed against Dominicans. Expats are relatively safe. Nobody looks more white than me and I have, cross my fingers, never even been threatened. I don't live in a gated community, and I spend 99 percent of my time with Dominicans. I listen to them and my wife and only go where/when they tell me is safe.
Totally completely and utterly untrue. According to the data from ONE, the statistics office from 2007 to 2018 there were 24,132 homicides. Of these 89% were Dominican and 10% were Haitian. Which means 1% of homicides were against foreigners. Not "mostly violent night time robberies and home invasions against expats." If you want the data by country - over the same time period the numbers of homicides of expats were: Unclassified by country 49, German 19, USA 19, Swiss 12, Venezuelan 11, French 11, Canadian 11, Chinese 10, Spanish 10, Puerto Rican 8, Dutch 8 Italian 7, Columbian 5, Belgian 4 Cuban 1.
https://www.one.gob.do/culturales-y...accidentales-violentas-y-suicidios/homicidios
Matilda
Everybody is entitled to their opinion....
But FACTS are what decides.........
The facts won't change opinions in many cases, .... sorry to say
Perception is reality.
But FACTS are what decides.........
The facts won't change opinions in many cases, .... sorry to say
Perception is reality.
My son got mugged twice in Toronto and he isn't a small lad or without self defense training but he isn't going to argue with a gun. Both times in relative safe areas.
This year has been the worst crime wise over the past 40 years and it's been 1 homicide every 4 days (usually the average is 1 homicide a week), in DR it's 4 homicides every day.
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