TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Ballerina Robbed/No Answer at 911!

The robbery is very concerning. Police not answering 911 is even worse.

It makes one wonder in many ways about the situation.

Just boggles the mind. We went jewelry shopping while on the island, and I have to admit that I was apprehensive.

It is concerning as we often spend a couple of hours in our favorite store each trip. Having been on the wrong end of an armed robbery many years ago, I can understand a lot of what the employees must feel.

Very sad all the way around.

The robbery at AMA jewelry I felt was more dangerous to the tourists.

DH article here

Wendell

Some tourists carry of lot of cash, especially if jewelry shopping. It is sad what is going on. I believe another store was hit within the past 2 weeks also. Caribbean Gems

You have reached 911. All of our operaters are busy at the moment. Your call is important to us. Please stay on the line and our next available client representative will handle your call shortly.....Christmas reggae musak.

A message was sent out,while we were there in November, via the Newspaper that the 911 line was not working and that people should call the regular police number for assistance. Of course I cannot remember THAT number...pfffft.
That said, most of the business people I spoke with had already posted, or had in their cell phone ,the police direct line. No, I have no idea what the problem was with the 911 line.

I don't remember seeing that in the DH, but I believe you. That seems like something that would happen in SXM. Now, why would the 911 phone not be working for an extended length of time??

....edited to note--According to a December 1 Daily Herald story, the police were telling people then to call 911... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Carol,

It had to be in the on-line version because I also recall seeing it but really, that was back in mid to late Novembe. And how many people know the regular police number off the tip of their fingers? We do because we have friends working there but I doubt most people would know it without having to look it up and by the time you've done all that, chances are, it's already too late to do much good in a situation like was described. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

I'm old and forget a lot of things! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> But, as I said, the police spokesperson said to call 911, as of December 1.. Not sure if they got it working again, and now it's broken again, or whether the police spokesperson just never knew it wasn't working?? Either way, ridiculous..

While we see more police driving around St Maarten, I do not remember any walking up and down Front St while the ships are in. Wouldn't this be a deterrent to all these "hit and run" crimes. It is sad to see what has happened to this beautiful island since our first trip in 1991. Sadder still to see nothing happening to change it

We were there last week and did see an obvious presence of police including teams with dogs.