Canadian killed in Roatan over iPhone in Roatan ..

[Charleyann]

Leave your iPhones onboard. Canadian government on news calling Roatan murder Capitol of the world and advising people to stay away from Hounduras:eek: after a man was killed for his iPhone. Shot in the head:eek:.

 

http://bc.ctvnews.ca/b-c-man-killed-in-honduras-over-iphone-1.1003267

 

Is it really that bad?

 

Thanks

 

Charleyann

[Cruise-Crazy]

Wow, what a stupid thing to do for a iPhone.

[Charleyann]

Wow, what a stupid thing to do for a iPhone.

 

That is what I thought too. It is all over the news warning not to go . They further say there is a violent death every 74 minutes and it is worse then Mexico:eek:. We cruise there in March. Was gonna do a private tour of the island. Not sure i want to go outside the gates now. :eek:

 

Charleyann

[cv322]

What an incredible shame. I feel so sorry for the family. My thoughts & prayers are with them.

[jonathansburden]

We've had a serious problem in Roatan a few years ago, no one died but it was bad. I assumed it was just a one off occurrence and went back a few years later.... Getting killed for an iphone is just stupid.

[crisp1]

Bar hopping at 1 am?! Roatan, although it is part of Honduras, is not like the mainland. I don't think my plans will change when I visit on my cruise

[curcurt]

It is not just in Roatan, I-Phone snatches & robberies happen almost everyday right here in the good ole USA. With numerous serious injuries and a few homicides over the years. Just do a Google news search and you will find thousands of news stories from around the world. Just the world we live.:confused:

[Robwerks]

I am sorry for his family. Bar hopping at 1am ANYWHERE can be dangerous. We were in Roatan last month and had a great time. Never felt threatened or unsafe. Looking forward to going back!

[KatieCharlotte]

From what I've read, Roatan is much safer than Honduras in general and much of the crime in Honduras targets those involved in the drug trade and organized crime. Similarly, there is great violence in Mexico, but tourists in places like Cozumel are not in any great risk. The linked article doesn't have any actual statistics, just one incident. The 74 minute statistic cited here applies to all Honduran people, not Roatan. This person was also killed barhopping at 1 a.m., statistically a much more dangerous time than the middle of the day.

 

Sadly, people are killed for iphones and other minor items in cities all over the US as well. The closest midsize city has had about ten homicides this year. We vacationed in a city that has had over 400 homicides this year. Although violence overall is down in the US, it can happen anywhere.

 

I never bring anything valuable into any port, including my passport (I read that it is worth about $2,000 in Central America). I'm still looking forward to seeing Roatan with my husband and children.

[loxley]

Roatan is far safer than the city I live in. We recently had 17 killed over one weekend. None of them were tourist that I remember but we did have a dentist killed here a few months ago and he was a tourist.

 

btw, my city is New Orleans.

[bruisin4cruisin]

When I was in the Navy, there was a sailor killed in Virginia Beach for the $6 in his wallet and nothing else.

Crime happens, people are stupid...the world turns and you either roll with the punches or sit in the corner. I prefer to roll with it.

[Brenna's Mom1]

I land vacation in Roatan all the time and have driven the island from tip to tip and have never encountered a problem though I don't go into "town" at night and dinner at reputable resorts.

 

Now would I bar hop at 1am...never. But I wouldn't do that in my hometown either.

[KirkNC]

That is horrible. I always take mine as I use some apps to store maps and such.

[Mekamax]

We have been to Roatan 3 times and still don't like it. For some reason we haven't ever felt safe there. I know we are in the minority.

[Ehpride]

Roatan is not mainland Honduras and I'm not at all concerned about going there. Flashing iphones at 1 am on any caribbean island probably isn't the smartest thing to do.

[Cruise-Crazy]

That is what I thought too. It is all over the news warning not to go . They further say there is a violent death every 74 minutes and it is worse then Mexico:eek:. We cruise there in March. Was gonna do a private tour of the island. Not sure i want to go outside the gates now. :eek:

 

Charleyann

 

Not an excuse for what happened but he was out partying with two local women at a bar at 1am. Not the best choice....

[tomsuelaw]

I've been to Roatan before, never felt unsafe and I am street smart paranoid kind of traveler. The nice thing about a cruise visit is you will be there during daylight hours and there will 1,000s of extra tourists around. In addition, it is probably safe to go now because typically after an "incident" cruise ports beef up security to prevent a bad rap.

 

Of course, if you really don't feel safe, you can always just stay at the port and enjoy the extra security and beautiful beach there (assuming you are going to Mahogany Bay).

 

Be aware, be smart, and be alert everywhere you go!

[mariorossi]

We have been there and it was very safe. I've worked in Centro America and the statistics considers the mainland that it is another world.

 

Mario

[stardancer1]

That is what I thought too. It is all over the news warning not to go . They further say there is a violent death every 74 minutes and it is worse then Mexico:eek:. We cruise there in March. Was gonna do a private tour of the island. Not sure i want to go outside the gates now. :eek:

 

Charleyann

 

there is a large difference in the Island of Roatan and mainland Honduras. I've traveled there several times and never felt the least bit intimidated. Now Belieze, that is another story. Don't ever want to go out into the streets of Belieze for anything without an armed escort!

[LHT28]

I think there is more to the story

Sad that it happened

[LHT28]

Now Belieze, that is another story. Don't ever want to go out into the streets of Belieze for anything without an armed escort!

did not have any problem with Belize ...

there are a few islands I will not get off the ship in but neither Belize or Roatan are one

[mitsugirly]

This is very sad no matter where it happened. It seems like every time I get ready to go on a cruise (a few months prior) there is always some type of murder that makes it to these boards and my heart just drops and I start second guessing myself as to whether or not we should get off the ship and proceed with our regular plans. I know this could happen anywhere but still it's scary. :(

[LHT28]

This is very sad no matter where it happened. It seems like every time I get ready to go on a cruise (a few months prior) there is always some type of murder that makes it to these boards and my heart just drops and I start second guessing myself as to whether or not we should get off the ship and proceed with our regular plans. I know this could happen anywhere but still it's scary. :(

You may want to book a cruise that does not stop anywhere

 

What is it like in Ohio ??

Do not come to Toronto as we have murders every day it seems

Sad but true

[Snow cat]

I think the best we can take from this is to be sure that you are aware of the situation in the countries/islands that you are visiting, and not assume they are safe just because the cruise line stops there or lots of tourists visit.

 

Sometimes there are just particular areas you should definitely avoid. I know on our foreign affairs website (canada) they are very specific about caution in certain areas of Belize for example.

 

Once you are armed with information you can make the decision that is best for you and your comfort level.

[mitsugirly]

You may want to book a cruise that does not stop anywhere

 

What is it like in Ohio ??

Do not come to Toronto as we have murders every day it seems

Sad but true

 

 

I've worked at the hospital since 1984 and I work in the emergency room along with taking care of all the traumas when they come in on the days I'm at work. I've SEEN it all. So I'm very aware that this happens everywhere. ;) I was just stating some major story always seems to happen months before I go on a cruise, to a third world country, and it's scary to think about. Although usually the story that's posted here is related to a cruise passenger.