Gary Vanhoeck, 44, who worked at the Stuart Cove dive centre in New Providence, was shot twice in the head in front of his wife Kathryn, 42, who had been tied up by gunmen wearing masks. The two had been enjoying a quiet evening on their Yacht, Two men ambushed the couple, demanding money at 10pm on Friday. Mrs Vanhoeck, who was unharmed, was forced to watch her husband die as she made a frantic call to police. Mr Vanhoeck, was originally from Grimsby in Lincolnshire and had been living in the Bahamas for five years. ----------------------------------------------- The Bahamas has the third Highest Murder rate among 13 Caribbean Countries (2013) One person every 3 days is Killed, Armed robberies, property theft, purse snatchings, and general theft of personal property remain the most common crimes perpetrated against tourists. Many criminals carry firearms, machetes, or knives. Unless provoked, criminals engaged in property crimes do not generally engage in gratuitous violence. There have been several reported armed robberies using a knife where the assailant assaulted the victim after the victim fought back and resisted. Many of these armed robberies were snatch-and-grabs involving purses, jewelry, and gold necklaces.
Residential security also remains a great concern, with the police reporting a large number of home burglaries and break-ins, including the December 2013 robbery of the Acting Prime Minister at his residence. A number of armed home invasions that occurred in both New Providence and Grand Bahama in 2013 occurred very close to U.S. Embassy residential housing.
The Embassy has received reports of burglaries and thefts, especially thefts of boats and other watercraft. Grand Bahama is somewhat of an exception, in that criminality has increased on that island, notably crimes involving the use of machetes (large blades). The U.S. Embassy has received an increase of reports of assaults, including sexual assaults at residences, hotel rooms, casinos, outside hotels, and on cruise ships. In some sexual assault incidents, the victim had reportedly been drugged. Fraudulent use of bank and credit card account numbers occur in The Bahamas. There have been numerous reports of credit and debit card numbers being compromised and unauthorized charges being placed on the card holder’s account from other countries to include the U.S. and Europe.
[i"]Why would you want to go there with that risk ?"[/i]
Exactly. Very high crime rate and about 10 murders a month, how many warnings do you need ! Nearly 50 murders so this year. I know it could happen anywhere, but with violent crime and a high murder rate like that, Bahamas not a very safe place !
Facts[i"]Why would you want to go there with that risk ?"[/i]Exactly. Very high crime rate and about 10 murders a month, how many warnings do you need ! Nearly 50 murders so this year. I know it could happen anywhere, but with violent crime and a hig