Tourists’ rental vehicle is burglarized at Tank Beach
A car rented by a family of tourists was burglarized yesterday afternoon at Tank Beach in Kagman, causing the owner to express disappointment as it was their 7th vehicle to be burglarized at the same beach this year.
The Chinese couple said they lost $2,000 cash, two iPhones, and one camera. The couple were sightseeing at Tank Beach with their 2-year-old son when their rented car, a 2014 Camaro, was burglarized in the parking lot of the beach.
It was another group of tourists in the area that told them that their car had been burglarized.
The Camaro’s front passenger side window was shattered and the canopy was also cut, possibly with a knife.
Witnesses said there were three suspects but only one got down from a car and burglarized the tourists’ vehicle. The burglar was described as wearing a light blue shirt and dark blue short pants.
“It’s a shame. We’re here for a few days of vacation and this thing happened to us,” said the husband, who claimed that he’s been to many places but this was his first time to become a victim of burglary.
Aside from losing their money and other items, the husband said that QQ Car Rental also asked them to pay $4,000 for the damage to the car because it was apparently not covered by insurance.
When Saipan Tribune asked QQ Car Rental president James Han to explain why the couple are being made to pay $4,000 when they’re the victims in the case, Han said he will lower the amount to $1,000. Han said the canopy is very expensive.
Han said they have been telling their customers not to leave money or items inside the car because that will not be covered by insurance.
Han also appealed to police to arrest these burglars, whom he believes are the same persons who victimized their customers at Tank Beach.
The tourists arrived on Saipan on Monday. They were scheduled to fly back to China tonight, Thursday.
The insurance will not cover the contents of the car but please explain why the comprehensive will not cover the damage? These cars are fairly new and most likely are under finance through a bank somewhere and are required to be fully covered by insurance to protect the lien holder.
Now to make matters worse, after this couple looses $2k this rental car manager tries to “steal” $4k from these people. But then reduces it to $1k? This makes this whole thing insurance thing more questionable.
It seems like Han (Korean??) is trying to stiff the Chinese for his own pocket money.
This whole incident will cost the NMI many visitors after the couple return home.
I am curious as to how many of these crimes are committed in Guam at their tourist sites?
Hopefully the witnesses got the license plate number of the crooks. ut then again nobody expects any action on this as “they are only Chinese” as is the consensus by many at DPS and in the NMI…
This type of incidents are more reason why there should be mandatory sentencing laws in regards to crime against tourists. (as in Hawaii)
Hopefully the Hotel will comp this family.
If the owner expressed disappointment that their vehicle had been burglarized fot the 7th time at the same beach this year, then why is he saying it’s his first?
Who knows, maybe this on-going rash of car burglaries are committed by the rental company that the family is renting, just saying.
These types of crimes have been happening for as long as I can remember, but our elected leaders cannot seem to figure out a solution. To me, it’s very simple. Hire private security company to post guards at these sites during daylight hours, and pass the costs on to the tourism related companies who benefit from these sites. Tour agencies, rental car agencies, hotels, etc. A small earmarked fee.. problem solved.