I have a story to tell and it isn't very nice! I have first had knowledge but it didn't happen to me. This happened in a nice area of Puerto Plata.
Eaerly Saturday morning a woman's apartment was entered by (apparently) 3 men. They entered thru the locked gate of the building by removing the lock - no forced entry. They entered her front door without making any noise, or not enough noise to wake her. There is no sign of forced entry. The window beside the front door could have been opened but again there is no sign the window was forced and no noise.
They took her laptop, tv, personal items, her blue jeans, they entered her bedroom and took the cell phone beside her bed - WHILE SHE LAY THERE SLEEPING! They went into her closet and took her jewellery. She is a representative for a travel company. They took her bag that she uses for work. It contained most of her id, not her passport, and some money.
This woman is not a neat freak. In fact her apartment is a mess! These men knew exactly where to go and what to take. Her jewellery was in a box, in her closet, along with a bunch of other stuff... nothing else in the closet was disturbed! Now imagine all this was done in the pitch dark while she slept.
Thank goodness she was not disturbed or injured or killed. Had she woke up I am sure it would not have ended the way it did.
Some background info: she has been sharing an apartment with a Dominican man for the last 2 months. They have known each other 12 months. For the last few weeks they have had some problems.
These 3 men stole her car and left the apartment. They were seen leaving at approximately 4 am by a night watchman in the area.
The boyfriend returned to the apartment after 5: 30 am to find the door ajar and items missing.
The police were contacted etc. Her boyfriend's only concern was that he not be blamed!!! He insisted they would all blame him, as he has keys. He seemed to be oblivious to the fact that she coud have been killed. I also have keys but no one looked at me!
Now, the police were suggesting that her car had been seen in Monte Cristi. The boyfriend and the police concoct this story of her renting a car, paying for all the expenses and they drive to Monte Cristi to find the car!!! We talked her out of that idea....
Of course there is no expectation of recovering anything! IT is all gone.
I am telling this story to warn people. My opinion: she was set up by the boyfriend! No amount of security will protect you from someone with a key and inside information! HOw one earth would they get in so easily and know where everything was? I am not the only person with this opinion, it is shared by the police, her landlord and other dominicans!
Being naive and trusting is one thing! Putting yourself in danger is quite another! Be careful of everyone and everything!!!! Take immediate action if you suspect a problem. Get a dog!!! (just an idea)
Always keep a copy of all your indentification somewhere else: a safe deposit box, with a family member etc.
I am not sure that this story will help anyone! I hope it might. We hear all the time about crime here and this is another example! My opinion is that an aweful lot of the crime here is probably similar : IT IS AN INSIDE JOB!!!
I am concerned for my friend who doesn't want to see what is going on. Don't worry I took my own steps, changed my locks immediately. She has a set of my spare keys in case of emergency and he has had access to them.
The car has now been found but the rest of the items are gone. I will post more information as it comes available!
Eaerly Saturday morning a woman's apartment was entered by (apparently) 3 men. They entered thru the locked gate of the building by removing the lock - no forced entry. They entered her front door without making any noise, or not enough noise to wake her. There is no sign of forced entry. The window beside the front door could have been opened but again there is no sign the window was forced and no noise.
They took her laptop, tv, personal items, her blue jeans, they entered her bedroom and took the cell phone beside her bed - WHILE SHE LAY THERE SLEEPING! They went into her closet and took her jewellery. She is a representative for a travel company. They took her bag that she uses for work. It contained most of her id, not her passport, and some money.
This woman is not a neat freak. In fact her apartment is a mess! These men knew exactly where to go and what to take. Her jewellery was in a box, in her closet, along with a bunch of other stuff... nothing else in the closet was disturbed! Now imagine all this was done in the pitch dark while she slept.
Thank goodness she was not disturbed or injured or killed. Had she woke up I am sure it would not have ended the way it did.
Some background info: she has been sharing an apartment with a Dominican man for the last 2 months. They have known each other 12 months. For the last few weeks they have had some problems.
These 3 men stole her car and left the apartment. They were seen leaving at approximately 4 am by a night watchman in the area.
The boyfriend returned to the apartment after 5: 30 am to find the door ajar and items missing.
The police were contacted etc. Her boyfriend's only concern was that he not be blamed!!! He insisted they would all blame him, as he has keys. He seemed to be oblivious to the fact that she coud have been killed. I also have keys but no one looked at me!
Now, the police were suggesting that her car had been seen in Monte Cristi. The boyfriend and the police concoct this story of her renting a car, paying for all the expenses and they drive to Monte Cristi to find the car!!! We talked her out of that idea....
Of course there is no expectation of recovering anything! IT is all gone.
I am telling this story to warn people. My opinion: she was set up by the boyfriend! No amount of security will protect you from someone with a key and inside information! HOw one earth would they get in so easily and know where everything was? I am not the only person with this opinion, it is shared by the police, her landlord and other dominicans!
Being naive and trusting is one thing! Putting yourself in danger is quite another! Be careful of everyone and everything!!!! Take immediate action if you suspect a problem. Get a dog!!! (just an idea)
Always keep a copy of all your indentification somewhere else: a safe deposit box, with a family member etc.
I am not sure that this story will help anyone! I hope it might. We hear all the time about crime here and this is another example! My opinion is that an aweful lot of the crime here is probably similar : IT IS AN INSIDE JOB!!!
I am concerned for my friend who doesn't want to see what is going on. Don't worry I took my own steps, changed my locks immediately. She has a set of my spare keys in case of emergency and he has had access to them.
The car has now been found but the rest of the items are gone. I will post more information as it comes available!