conditions in Sosua/Cabarete

[Abe]

Disclaimer--I am not trying to be alarmist nor negative, but I am getting word from North Coast that there is noticeably more crime in this area since the tourism slow down. Break-ins in Cabarete--formerly considered very safe. Anyone care to comment forthrightly? Thanks

 

[Marc]

I don't know whether there are more break-ins or they have been talked about more, but we have heard about a lot more of them in the past month in Sosua.

marc

 

[Sylvia]

I am in sosua and I have not heared from any break ins.....
Where do you get all that bullshit??
And why people allways talk about sosua or cabarete??
There are more break ins in the south...santo domingo..!!

 

[Abe]

I asked the question because of my special interest in the area--I don't want to go anywhere else on the island. However, I also do not want to be naive about the changing reality of just how safe things are. When I first posed this question a month ago, this same gentleman responded to say he hadn't heard of an increase in this type of petty crime. Now he is validating what I am hearing from other sources. If we close our eyes, it doesn't go away.

 

[Marc]

That's right abe, a month ago I was in the same boat as Sylvia. That is why I mentioned that I am not sure that there is an actual increase, or have just been hearing more about the most recent ones.

It is not "bullshit", Sylvia, it is an honest question and an honest answer.

marc

 

["The Tourist Watcher"]

But Sylvia is right, for every break in in Sosua- Cabarete there must be 100 in Santo Domingo. Although it was denied, there was a rumor in the press that even the Sammy Sosa home, a heavily secured mansion worth $5 million dollars with ten security guards was broken in to. Breaking into the high military brass homes was a no-no during the Trujillo era. Now it is common and preferable by thieves, because they can load up on heavy weaponry.

 

[Abe]

TW, Attorneys call that a red herring, I think. It is not all that relevant to my question--I am not interested in Santo Domingo as a destination. So, although it is disconcerting to hear that as well, I am really interested in getting some more inside info on Sosua/Cabarete. Cabarete in particular had made quite a reputation as an oasis of "international laid-back goodwill" and I would like to know if conditions are eroding.