Believe it or not, luggage fell off a vehicle and Police recover them in record time

[Dolores]

Members of the National Police’s South Central Regional criminal investigation division (DICRIM), based in Baní, recovered two lost suitcases containing multiple passports and personal belongings of American citizens. This success was achieved through meticulous investigation and analysis of surveillance camera footage, N Digital reports.

The recovery took place in the Las Cayenas 2 residential area of Santo Domingo Este, following a claim report from a US citizen. One of the suitcases contained seven US passports belonging to the affected individuals, along with clothing, personal hygiene items, and a baby stroller.

According to the woman’s statement, while traveling to Barahona province for religious activities, two suitcases carrying personal documents and daily essentials fell off their vehicle on the Baní-Azua stretch near Cañafistol, Peravia...

Continue reading...

 

[JD Jones]

Translation: Suitcases fell off in a gas station, somebody said "Finders keepers" and took them, were upset to find out the police got their plate number and convinced them to give them back or get arrested.

 

[NanSanPedro]

This does beg the question, why would anyone keep their passport in a suitcase? If I'm out and about, it never leaves my person. Ever.

 

[JD Jones]

This does beg the question, why would anyone keep their passport in a suitcase? If I'm out and about, it never leaves my person. Ever.

A bunch of persons who probably have never travelled being herded by an inexperienced herder.

How would you like to be the guy who tells the group: "Uh, I think I lost our passports"

 

[Manuel01]

This does beg the question, why would anyone keep their passport in a suitcase? If I'm out and about, it never leaves my person. Ever.

The article mentioned they traveled for "religious activities".
Common Sense does not apply here ! These folks live on a pink cloud.

 

[JD Jones]

"OK, everybody give me your passports and I'll make sure they don't get lost." Strength in numbers?

 

[CristoRey]

7 passports in one suitcase left on the roof of a vehicle?
Like I said in another thread recently...
most tourist (especially Americans) are idiots and I make a conscious effort to avoid them whenever possible.

 

[NanSanPedro]

The article mentioned they traveled for "religious activities".
Common Sense does not apply here ! These folks live on a pink cloud.

Except that I travelled for religious (Christian) activities many many times. Never left the passport in a suit case.

 

[Manuel01]

But it's pretty sad that "doing their job" is the cause for a "press conference" !
What's next ? Everybody needs to applaud every time some kid is bagging the groceries of a costumer in a supermarket.?

 

[NALs]

This does beg the question, why would anyone keep their passport in a suitcase? If I'm out and about, it never leaves my person. Ever.

I think some people are allergic to thinking ahead, of the possibilities and reducing the risks. Then the worst happens and they are in shock that it happened and then wonder how could that be. Well, if at first you were clear what the actual situation was and the risks involved we could had been to a good start!

Sometimes the unthinkable does happens in the DR. Take for example this Cuban that has been living in the DR for the past 11 years. She was in the process of reaffirming her migration status as she has to do every year since she isn’t a Dominican citizen yet.* In the process, which took many days, many wasted time in Dominican government offices, the inefficiencies of the Dominican government (something well known among expat circles, lol), ; she lost her cédula, DR drivers license and other documents. Not having those documents makes it almost impossible to reaffirm her migration status.

Surprising her, her mother was randomly contacted by strangers (Dominicans) saying they found the documents and are contacting to return them. At first they thought it was a scam or trying to reel them in into what would become a crime, but it turns out it was legit. Dominicans finding very sensitive documents and returning them to their rightful owner. There is hope, a very sliver hope, but hope is hope.

* She discovered that a grandfather or great-grandfather from her mother side was actually a Dominican from Santiago and moved to Cuba (something not random in certain parts of the DR’s pasts, often times “courtesy” of the neighbors to the west -more their government and military than the actual people-). She is going through the process of discovering legal documents about him in Santiago because she was told she could be Dominicanized via jus sanguini due to that bloodline connection. As Dominican jurisprudence exist right now regarding this topic, it wouldn’t be just her that becomes Dominicanized but everyone direct descendant of that man. The hope is to become Dominicanized via that way to end the yearly update of the migration status.

 

[irishpaddy]

This does beg the question, why would anyone keep their passport in a suitcase? If I'm out and about, it never leaves my person. Ever.

I was just thinking the same thing...how dumb can some people be

 

[drstock]

Well, one year I was going to Santo Domingo to renew my Residency and on the way my car had a puncture. To get at the spare wheel I took my bags out of the boot (trunk, to you Americans) and changed the wheel. I put my bags back in but somehow forgot the briefcase with my Residency papers, passport etc. A couple of miles down the road I had a nasty thought, checked in the back and - no briefcase. I raced back to where I had stopped, but of course - no briefcase. In the five or ten minutes since I had left someone had taken it. I went to the local police station to report the lost passport because I thought I might need some paperwork to get a replacement passport, but they showed no interest, only grudgingly taking my phone number, and of course I never saw the passport again.

So even highly intelligent people like me can make stupid mistakes!

 

[Big]

Well, one year I was going to Santo Domingo to renew my Residency and on the way my car had a puncture. To get at the spare wheel I took my bags out of the boot (trunk, to you Americans) and changed the wheel. I put my bags back in but somehow forgot the briefcase with my Residency papers, passport etc. A couple of miles down the road I had a nasty thought, checked in the back and - no briefcase. I raced back to where I had stopped, but of course - no briefcase. In the five or ten minutes since I had left someone had taken it. I went to the local police station to report the lost passport because I thought I might need some paperwork to get a replacement passport, but they showed no interest, only grudgingly taking my phone number, and of course I never saw the passport again.

So even highly intelligent people like me can make stupid mistakes!

I know one part of the story that's not true.

 

[Big]

Except that I travelled for religious (Christian) activities many many times. Never left the passport in a suit case.

this is one of the reasons I stopped using an expedited service at SDQ airport. A civilian takes your passport and places it with others, puts a rubber band around them and disappears. You get it back at an immigration gate.

 

[CristoRey]

this is one of the reasons I stopped using an expedited service at SDQ airport. A civilian takes your passport and places it with others, puts a rubber band around them and disappears. You get it back at an immigration gate.

Rule #1 when traveling anywhere, my passport, cedula, credit card and cell phone never leave my sight.

 

[drstock]

I know one part of the story that's not true.

if you are referring to my joking statement about me being highly intelligent being not true then for God's sake learn to see a joke. Unlike you, I do not brag about myself except in fun.

If you are talking about part of the actual story of what happened to me being untrue, I would like to know why you are calling me a liar AGAIN.

 

[chico bill]

7 passports in one suitcase left on the roof of a vehicle?
Like I said in another thread recently...
most tourist (especially Americans) are idiots and I make a conscious effort to avoid them whenever possible.

Maybe they were traveling with a hired bus or one of those tourist services who lumps tourist luggage on a funky trailer?
They should have used a motoconcho. I've seen them hauling two over-sized suitcases between the rider and a fat woman

 

[chico bill]

Rule #1 when traveling anywhere, my passport, cedula, credit card and cell phone never leave my sight.

Nor my paddle ball or this book of matches....

 

[RDKNIGHT]

Rule #1 when traveling anywhere, my passport, cedula, credit card and cell phone never leave my sight.

Rule #2 Trust no one