RSSAruba: Crime Increased 11.3% Last Year … Youth Crime a Major Concern
What ever happened to Aruba … “One safe island” where no crime ever took 
place? It would appear that myth has now been put to rest. Aruba may want to revise the following articles regarding the crime rate to unsuspecting tourists. Of course there are other crimes that occur in Aruba that are not referred to in much of any manner. However, the increase in youth crimes make it completely believable that the 2005 disappearance of Natalee Holloway could have been entirely planned and perpetrated by youths.
Since crime in Aruba is relatively low, you can travel with peace of mind
On rare occasions, armed robbery and car theft have occurred. Vehicle leases or rental contracts may not be fully covered by local insurance when a vehicle is stolen or damaged, so make sure you are sufficiently covered when renting cars and jet skis.
The crime discussed by the ALE is referring to youth and gang violence, not petty pick pocketing. Rare? You be the judge. Since 2005 to 2007 there has been an average criminality increase per day of 2.10 crimes. Rare?
According to reports from the ALE, criminality has increased with 11.3 percent last year. Home robberies and youth crime have been targeted as the reason for the increase. Crime is on the increase in Aruba and there appears to be a disturbing trend with youth and crime. Have the youth in Aruba become out of control and feel a sense of invisibility?
Points of concern are the development of the youth criminality and “the growing ease with which firearms are being used”, said chief of police Peter de Witte looking back on last year.
The youth criminality has been raised to priority one this year. “Youth criminality, definitely after the serious incidents of last year, is heavily qualified for the subjective safety feeling.
Thus, the number of crimes has increased last year. The number of crimes committed in 2005 was 5511; in 2006, 5643; and in 2007, 6277
Looking back to 2005 and the Natalee Holloway missing persons case when Aruba became a household name to many for all the wrong reasons, we see that three suspects were named at the time. Was the Natalee Holloway case and her presumed death just one in the many of a trend of youth violence taking place in Aruba? Many people had thought at the time how could 3 young suspects, Joran Van der Sloot, Deepak Kalpoe and Satish Kalpoe, pull such a crime off? With the ever increasing crime rate and Aruba and the ever increasing crime rate among youths, is it really that unbelievable now?
Criminality increased with 11 percent (Amigoe: June 13, 2008)
Looking back on 2007, chief of police Peter de Witte is of the opinion that the shooting incident near Arubus in December of last year, whereby a 19-year old boy shot a police officer and was self shot and killed, is an example of the hardening in the society and especially with the youth.
ORANJESTAD – From the tentative figures of the Police Corps of Aruba it appears that criminality has increased with 11.3 percent last year. This has to do with mainly the sharp rise of the number of robberies, especially in homes. The police are highly satisfied with the approach of the local drug dealings and the use of narcotics; more than 200 kilo cocaine was confiscated last year, double the amount of 2006.
Points of concern are the development of the youth criminality and “the growing ease with which firearms are being used”, said chief of police Peter de Witte looking back on last year. “The shooting incident in December of last year is an example of that. It started with a fight and it ended in a shout-out, whereby one police officer was hit by two bullets and the shooter that finally died.”
The chief of police is also very concerned about the armed confrontations between several youth groups that in addition are getting more and more involved with criminal activities. “A hardening has taken place.” De Witte doesn’t want to talk about gangs. “That gives them too much status. These are groups that represent certain neighbourhoods, of which some are engaged in criminality like drug dealing and burglary.”
Besides, the police corps has no perception of the age structure of those that commit crimes; at least not until a new registration system is introduced soon. The youth criminality has been raised to priority one this year. “Youth criminality, definitely after the serious incidents of last year, is heavily qualified for the subjective safety feeling. More and more people are wondering: Do I have to go to carnival due to the problems caused by the young people.”
FEWER CAR THEFTS
Thus, the number of crimes has increased last year. The number of crimes committed in 2005 was 5511; in 2006, 5643; and in 2007, 6277. Again, the highest number of crimes committed is robbery, especially due to the increased number of housebreakings. Lowering the number of burglaries is therefore on the priority list of this year. The number of car thefts has decreased with 19 percent compared to 2006; which is positive, according to De Witte.
Same as past years, destruction and ill-treatment are the common crimes. The number of deadly violent offences is dropping; 3 versus 7 in 2006 and 6 in 2005.
67 Percent of these crimes are solved.
The stricter approach of the local dealing in drugs and use of narcotics that the police has started with last year and is also a spearhead for this year, is according to De Witte very successful. Not only did the number of cocaine that was confiscated last year doubled compared to 2006, but the police also confiscated 1078 XTC-pills versus 340 in 2006. A total of 152 persons, including 11 drug dealers were arrested during police actions in the entertainment centre. “The local drug dealing and use of drugs remains a big problem. It caused a lot of inconvenience in the districts and peripheral criminality, like burglary. Especially the youth is very vulnerable when they come into contact with drugs. We know that drugs is being used and sold on several schools and I an very worried about that”, said De Witte.
TRAFFIC
Despite the extra traffic surveillances in 2007, the number of deaths in traffic accidents increased to 18; a big increase compared to the past 4 years. The number of reported collisions keeps dropping (-6.2 percent to 5858). With all the police actions in traffic, the traffic behaviour has changed, says De Witte. He hopes that a combination of traffic surveillance and prevention would change this. The biggest problem is still alcohol in traffic. “Most optimum would be to conduct traffic surveillance every day, but that is not realistic. The corps doesn’t have enough capacity.”
Posted June 13, 2008 by Scared Monkeys Amigoe, Aruba, Child Welfare, Crime, Deepak Kalpoe, Joran Van der Sloot, Main, Missing Persons, Natalee Holloway, Travel | 19 comments |
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19 Responses to “Aruba: Crime Increased 11.3% Last Year … Youth Crime a Major Concern”
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Are you kidding me? This comes as a surprise?
When the whole damned island knows what j2k did to Natalee, KNOWS that paulus covered up the crime, and SEES how the corrupt ALE and govt allowed them to walk free…why WOULDN’T you feel pretty damned safe about committing other crimes???!!!
Aruba has put tourists $$ before the safety of it’s tourists and citizens. Of course the youth feel pretty confidant they can get away with crime…j2k got away with the ultimate crime!! The death of Natalee.
Trying to sweep the death of Natalee under the rug and cover up the crimes committed against her has backfired in so many ways for Arubans. Potential tourists no longer believe the myth that Aruba is a crime free happy island. Just as substantial is the message ALE & the govt sent to it’s youths, we will cover up your crimes for the sake of tourism!! theyjust saw yesterday pics of a naked joran partying on the beach with American tourists. If he can kill and and get away with it, why can’t I? To the youth of Aruba, those pics of joran must be very poignant, even liberating!!! The message is clear, I can do what I want, when I want, and no one in Aruba will punish me.
Just remember the little girl who was gangraped in the bathroom AT SCHOOL ON FILM!!!! Was anyone prosecuted????!!!!! NO!!! Of course the crime rate is going up, thats a no brainer!!!
The solution to crime, as many states are finding out, is to issue concealed carry permits to law-abiding citizens. More guns in the hands of decent law-abiding citizens equals less crime. To look at me, you would never think I carry; but I do, everywhere I legally can. If I can’t carry, I don’t go there.
Jerry
Response to post of June 12th.
52 Amsterdam 020
“I know the government (police/authorities) screwed up in handling this case.
I’m not trying to justify this although I think it had also to do with the lack of experiences with this kind of cases.”
Just what kind of cases did you mean by lack of experience? Kidnapping, Rape, Murder, Disposing of a body. Just which one?
In 2005 there were over 5500 criminal acts on Aruba and this is according to your new chief of Police DeWitt. That is one criminal act for every eighteen persons living on Aruba.
BTW He has never mentioned the name Natalee Holloway anywhere.
Let’s see what went unsolved since 2005.
First Natalee Holloway’s disappearance.
The attempted rape of an American tourist the week before Natalee disappeared.
The murder of Fr. Montoya.
The murder of Rene van Hygenen.
Rene van Heyningen, … born Jan. 12, 1973, lived at van Lennepstraat 17 in Sabana Basora. The beheaded body was found in bushes, near his grey truck, at government cemetery at Sabana Basora.
The badly decomposed nude female corpse.
Pitbull. Now here is where a new coroner is in order. Legs cut off, nailed to a cross, set on fire and cause of death was an overdose. I agree with the coroner. An overdose of brutality.
Dinesh ?Pitbull? Djoegan, the 25 year old bouncer from Choose a Name Bar that was found on 4-5-06 in Guadirikiri cave. His body was cut to pieces, crucified, and set on fire. Dinesh ?Pitbull? Djoegan had died of overdoses cocaine. At this moment, the Public Prosecutor does not have evidence that the 25-year old man that was found dead in the vicinity of the Guadirikiri cave on April 5th They have deemed him a suicide.
Robert Wayne Benson. Found in a container locked from the outside and the ALE called it a suicide.
The disappearance of Sergio Gomez.
Galyson Winster died from gunshot wound to the head.
Young boy body found in place of Natalee’s.
Bernard Ramsaran stabbed to death.
And last but not least…
Kerwin Anthony Orville Gaijla
http://www.mementomori.com/05139.html
Died from seizures…
So Amsterdam 020; how friggen Naïve do you think we are?
As Deepak said :STOP NOW WITH THE BULLSHIT”.
Aruba will never recover. What do we want the people of Aruba to do??? I’ll tell you.
First Find Natalee or her remains.
Second. Prosecute all those responsible.
And if you don’t know who did it; just ask Dennis Jacobs, Jan Van Der Straaten or Jorge Pasquere.
But Jorge fled Aruba and is in Palm Beach, FL. I would guess he did not want to end up like “PITBULL”
And I think it’s safe to say that the increase in REPORTED crime on Aruba is not the entire increase. Anyone agree that intimidation is likely to be a factor? To those in the drug trade, and perhaps to the average citizen as well, the threat that someone might end up like Pitbull if he goes to the police could be a potent reason to keep quiet.
Who knows how many people in the government and (isn’t this a funny term for Aruba) law enforcement are in on the drug gang activities?
Let the Aruban people deal with the Frankenstein monster that their society has become.
My concern: don’t you think that our own government, tourism industry, etc. should be taking note of this sort of thing? Maybe it would occur to someone that Aruba is not the place to promote. It is, in fact, a travel destination that people should be discouraged from going to … something that we have been doing for some three years and more now.
Well, hey, you can’t speak up and interfere with the money flow can you? What do you think … that our government has a duty to our own people?
“The police are highly satisfied with the approach of the local drug dealings and the use of narcotics.”
Yeah, I bet they are … especially with the payoffs.
Meanwhile, I’m just counting off the minutes until one of our ever-faithful trolls posts something like: “Hey, there’s crime in the United States too!”
How can ‘Youth Crime in Aruba’ be a major concern when the cops have the priority set to finish their corn flakes first?
Hey, why not…..If Joran can get away with a crime, don’t you think the rest of the teens think they are entitled to get away with crimes too.
Aruba is pitiful..
what more can be said that hasnt already been said..
plenty!!
THERE IS NO END TO THEIR STUPIDITY..
THEY WILL PAY FOR THEIR ERROR IN JUDGEMENT
WITH TOURISM AND WITH THE MURDER OF NATALEE..
MAKES ME WONDER HOW THE SLOOTS FELT SEEING THEIR SON AGAIN!!!
MAKING AN ASS OF THEM ….AND THEIR EFFORTS TO CONCEAL HIS WHEREABOUTS..
IM LED TO BELIEVE THAT HE WAS IN THE COOCOO’S NEST .. HE GOT OUT AND COULDNT RESIST TO SPIT IN OUR FACES….
SOMEDAY I HOPE TO WAKE UP AND READ HERE THAT HE MET HIS MATCH.. AND WILL NO LONGER TERRORIZE ANYONE…
NO PTY FOR HIS PARENTS HERE..
THEY ARE MORE PITIFUL THAN HIM!!!
When one can sit on tv and confess to what happened to Natalee and then claim they were on weed and nothing is done, what can anyone expect. 2 confessions, nothing done. Everyone can just claim they were on weed and didn’t know what they were saying or doing.
Let me recap for all the Arubans and the Dutch in the HOWZZZZZE that are just showing up to the party late!!!!
Let us all put on our complimentary Mickey Mouse ears, and bring this meeting to order!!!!
I do not hate you. I do not hate all Arubans, I do not hate all Dutch. I do not hate your countries.
I only want to nail the people who harmed Natalee Ann on May 30, 2005.
IT STILL REMAINS UNSOLVED!!!
Until we get her truth, until we get her justice… and I pray to God each night, some of her remains back for her family.
Elmo gonna be T-ing off on your
a$$e$ around the clock…
like Helen Keller throwing a hissy fit, and beating the living SH out of a sack of unsavory things, all wrapped up in a gunnysack!
Thank you for your time.
P.S.
F. Joran right in the ol’ eye socket-a-roonie!!!
Meeting adjourned.
-justice for natalee.
ARUBA HAS NO LAW AND ORDER THEY MAKE UP RULES TO SUIT THEIR FANCY
After letting off J2K go free,what did they expect?
BOYCOTT ARUBA JUSTICE FOR NATALEE
SUPPORT FOR BETH AND DAVE
[...] finally getting serious and taking on the big issues that plague its citizens and tourists. Is it public safety and the increased crime rate? Is it drug trade and money laundering? Is it the increasing inflation, taxes and the bbo? Is it [...]
You people talk about crime in Aruba. Have you ever been to Aruba?
Crime do occur their. It happens everywhere. But Every time I go there I feel the safest man on the Planet.
Aruba is not a safe haven. But compared to other countries including Europe and especially USA, Aruba is Heaven or paradise if you will.
As an American protecting other Americans asses and interests in another country I’m ashamed of what I am reading and watching on the news about Aruba.
The figures in Holland that Aruba and the Dutch Antilles make up 9 % is a Lie. I read the real figures when I was stationed in the Netherlands. Aruba makes up 0.1% of the crime. The other 5% not 9% is from Curacao and the Dutch Antilles. Be informed before you make accusations. And Dutch people as Americans are Hypocrites. When a person with another ethnicity born and living in Holland steals he is a foreigner. But when he or she wins a gold medal he or she is the most important Dutch(wo)man. Just like back home.
DO NOT GET ME WRONG. I LOVE MY COUNTRY. I WEAR THE FLAG EVERYDAY WITH HOUNOUR AND PRIDE TILL THE DAY I DIE OF OLD AGE OR K.I.A. Unlike some of you only talk about being true Americans. Only talk about blaming other people and countries for our own problems I took more than one bullet for America. There are many ways to prove your patriotism besides enlisting. Sitting on your ass and bashing on other countries will not help.
Just for your info. Things that the news will not tell you.
I was on Vacation on Aruba when the diapering of Natalie Holloway happened. When the news was heard on the local news more than half of the population went out and started looking for her. I know because I was a part of the search party.
Did you know that there are Arubians in the US Navy? Of course you did not. I did get the chance to talk to one of them. He sounded and looked more patriotic and brave than most Americans in the Navy. I met him after a conflict in the place that is on the news everyday.
And yes, Aruba supports the USA against drug, terrorism, etc. Even after the crap we did against them. They are the friendliest people on the planet in my opinion. So when you want to talk crap about other people anywhere look in the mirror first. You said they care about $$ and not security? When was the last time in the states that a group of people came to me and buy me a beer and hear my (war)stories, never!!!!. Because I am a soldier I’ve been treated like shit back home.
The Dutch s.o.b. Joran van der Sloot is guilty. He is being protected by the Dutch government and treated like a rock star. Oh yes he is 100% Dutch and not form Aruba.
So if you want to be a scared monkey, be frightened for the image you see in the mirror.
Give me a break, crime happens everywhere in the world, open your eyes people…
Sergeant, I hate to say it but you sound like an idiot. You being American, I am sure when you visit Aruba you stay on resort, and don’t step foot into the real world of Aruba. Just like tourist visiting Jamaica, are advised to state on location. Let’s not fool ourselves here, you wouldn’t be caught dead outside your resort, “Every time I go there I feel the safest man on the Planet” is that while your chillin in the pool? Moving on, I am really shocked to read from “REAL RESIDENTS” about the problem in this country. Never been, but my aunts family still lives there, and it’s still on my places to visit one day. Being from Trinidad and a citizen on the US, I thought only my homeland had issues. But the crime committed by our young men, and the drug trade as plagued our countrie. As we as corrupt police, army, and politicans that are posioning our countries.
Misprint…countries, as well as
Sergeant, I have never been to Aruba but I know about crime patterns and organizations. Van Der Sloot and his cohorts are guilty as sin and wont ever answer for their crimes because their protected. Its a great public relations scheme that “half of the country” went to look for Natalee because Aruba is a tourist country, duh! The fact remains Natalee has not been found and the case will never be solved because the Dutch take care of their own, do you really believe that the Dutch would admit involvement in any of the cover up! Not in this lifetime
We were in Aruba recently with my entire family. Someone came in my childrens rooms through the sliding door–while they were asleep. They took jewelery, money sunglasses etc.
We were staying at the Divi-golf. We feel it was an inside job–the resort response to us was we should have made sure the bar was in place on the sliding door.
I feel Aruba has a crime problem being so close to South America.
I would not recommend Aruba to anyone.