Crime in Curacao

This from the U.S. State Dept.

Curacao 2014 Crime and Safety Report

Travel Health and Safety; Transportation Security; Stolen items; Theft; Murder; Rape/Sexual Violence; Burglary; Financial Security; Fraud; Counterfeiting; Hurricanes; Oil & Energy; Maritime; Aviation; Intellectual Property Rights Infringement; Drug Trafficking; Disease Outbreak

Western Hemisphere > Netherlands Antilles

8/8/2014

Overall Crime and Safety Situation

Crime Threats

The U.S. Department of State rates the criminal threat level in Curacao as Medium. As a major tourist destination, the principal crimes of concern are petty theft and street crime, but Curacao also saw sporadic incidents of violent crime, including homicide, armed robbery, rape and sexual assault.

Although it appears that gangs are becoming more common, with a corresponding increase in gang violence, homicides have so far remained fairly steady, averaging 20 per year since 2009. Official 2013 statistics were unavailable, but armed robberies had increased from 492 recorded incidents in 2011 to 503 in 2012. Rapes and sexual assaults are infrequent but do occur, with 57 incidents reported in 2010 and 27 incidents reported in 2011. Home invasions have also become more common in the last few years.

In 2013, police reported several cases of credit/debit card skimming. The perpetrators were generally organized groups from Latin America or Eastern Europe and were eventually apprehended by authorities.

Although widely available, purchasing counterfeit or pirated goods is against local (and U.S.) law. Expatriate who do could find themselves arrested or prosecuted by local law enforcement.

The legal drinking age (18) is not rigorously enforced, so extra supervision of children may be appropriate.

This from the U.S. State Dept.

 

Curacao 2014 Crime and Safety Report

Travel Health and Safety; Transportation Security; Stolen items; Theft; Murder; Rape/Sexual Violence; Burglary; Financial Security; Fraud; Counterfeiting; Hurricanes; Oil & Energy; Maritime; Aviation; Intellectual Property Rights Infringement; Drug Trafficking; Disease Outbreak

Western Hemisphere > Netherlands Antilles

8/8/2014

Overall Crime and Safety Situation

 

Crime Threats

 

The U.S. Department of State rates the criminal threat level in Curacao as Medium. As a major tourist destination, the principal crimes of concern are petty theft and street crime, but Curacao also saw sporadic incidents of violent crime, including homicide, armed robbery, rape and sexual assault.

 

Although it appears that gangs are becoming more common, with a corresponding increase in gang violence, homicides have so far remained fairly steady, averaging 20 per year since 2009. Official 2013 statistics were unavailable, but armed robberies had increased from 492 recorded incidents in 2011 to 503 in 2012. Rapes and sexual assaults are infrequent but do occur, with 57 incidents reported in 2010 and 27 incidents reported in 2011. Home invasions have also become more common in the last few years.

 

In 2013, police reported several cases of credit/debit card skimming. The perpetrators were generally organized groups from Latin America or Eastern Europe and were eventually apprehended by authorities.

 

Although widely available, purchasing counterfeit or pirated goods is against local (and U.S.) law. Expatriate who do could find themselves arrested or prosecuted by local law enforcement.

 

The legal drinking age (18) is not rigorously enforced, so extra supervision of children may be appropriate.

We can reach 20 murders in Chicago on a hot summer weekend. So I would have to say Curacao is very safe.

We can reach 20 murders in Chicago on a hot summer weekend. So I would have to say Curacao is very safe.

Yes ... BUT we know where NOT to go in Chicago! ;)

LuLu

I do not think any major Caribbean port is "very" safe after 6pm. I intend to see Curacao during the evening but will remain vigilant in only the tourist areas

We can reach 20 murders in Chicago on a hot summer weekend. So I would have to say Curacao is very safe.

Chicago has a population of almost 3 million. Curacao's population is 153,000. I would be more concerned with the armed robberies at 503 and a trend that seems to be on the increase. There are no mention of the unarmed robberies like purse snatching, pick pocketing etc. What to look for is the ratio of specific crime to population size.

What a relief !

I can't wait to experience this safer than Chicago place.

With prepaid food and drink package aboard why get separated from

your cash ,either by fair or foul, while ashore after dark.

I will concede that without the drink package there might be some benefit

to cheaper booze ashore .

Chicago has a population of almost 3 million. Curacao's population is 153,000. I would be more concerned with the armed robberies at 503 and a trend that seems to be on the increase. There are no mention of the unarmed robberies like purse snatching, pick pocketing etc. What to look for is the ratio of specific crime to population size.

We reached 1K people shot this year already. We're on the pace of 2K shootings. No other city can catch us.

Really a shame. Seems very strange that the people affected by high crime, poverty, etc. keep the same types of politicians in office forever

We live in a rural area near Pine bluff AR. 18 homicides last year. Population 49K. But I don't go there after dark! Still looking forward to curaçao!!

We went on a land based vacation to Curacao last year. It seemed rather safe. We drove all over the island. It is very industrialized and while the unemployment rate is higher than that of the US it doesn't have the poverty like you see in a lot of other Caribbean ports. With poverty and unemployment you tend to see more crime.