WILLEMSTAD – More than half of Curaçao residents surveyed by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) say they rarely or never see police officers in their neighborhoods, while a majority believe the risk of becoming a crime victim has increased compared with 2014.
The findings are part of the CBS publication "Victimization and Cyberbullying in Curaçao: Results of Enkuesta Sosial 2025," which examines crime victimization, perceptions of public safety, police visibility and measures households take to protect themselves against criminal activity.
According to the survey, 54.9 percent of respondents reported that they rarely or never see police officers in their neighborhoods.
Meanwhile, 47.5 percent believe the police should patrol their neighborhoods more frequently.
The figures point to concerns about police visibility and the perceived risk of crime, even though the survey also indicates that a relatively small percentage of households reported experiencing one of the crimes examined.
Majority Believe Crime Risk Has Increased
One of the most significant findings concerns residents' perceptions of how the risk of becoming a crime victim has changed over time.
According to CBS, 52.4 percent of respondents believe the likelihood of becoming a crime victim has increased compared with 2014.
Another 32.5 percent believe the risk has remained unchanged, while 15.1 percent think the likelihood of victimization has decreased.
These figures reflect public perceptions rather than a direct measurement of changes in the crime rate.
Nevertheless, they provide an indication of how residents assess their personal safety and the security situation in their communities.
The results also raise questions about the relationship between residents' perceptions of crime and the visibility of law enforcement in residential neighborhoods.
Nearly 8 Percent of Households Report Crime Victimization
The CBS survey found that 7.6 percent of households had experienced at least one of the crimes examined during the 12 months preceding the survey.
Residential burglary was the most frequently reported offense, affecting 3.1 percent of households.
Theft of goods from vehicles and theft of personal belongings followed, each reported at 1.7 percent.
These figures indicate that property-related offenses were among the most common forms of victimization identified in the survey.
The findings are based on responses collected through a household sample survey and should not be interpreted as a complete record of all crimes committed or reported to police in Curaçao.
They nevertheless provide information about the experiences of residents, including incidents that may not necessarily be reflected in official police statistics.
Residents Invest in Their Own Security
The CBS research also examined measures households take to protect themselves against crime.
The most commonly reported security measure was keeping one or more dogs, mentioned by 44.2 percent of households.
Security cameras were the second most frequently reported measure, used by 27.6 percent of households.
Another 15.8 percent reported having burglar alarm systems, while 10.6 percent had installed additional security measures for windows and doors.
The findings show that many households rely on a combination of animals, surveillance technology and physical security improvements to protect their property.
The use of security cameras by more than a quarter of households is particularly notable, reflecting the role that electronic surveillance plays in residential security.
However, the survey does not establish whether households adopted these measures in response to actual criminal incidents, perceived risks or general precautionary considerations.
Police Visibility Remains a Public Concern
The finding that 54.9 percent of respondents rarely or never see police officers in their neighborhoods may be particularly relevant for discussions about community policing and the distribution of police resources.
Nearly half of respondents, 47.5 percent, explicitly expressed a desire for more frequent police patrols.
The survey does not determine whether police patrols have actually declined or whether some neighborhoods receive less police attention than others.
It also does not establish a direct causal relationship between police visibility and crime victimization.
Nevertheless, the results provide policymakers and law enforcement authorities with information about how residents experience police presence in their communities.
The CBS publication offers an opportunity for further discussion about crime prevention, public confidence and neighborhood safety.
While the percentage of households reporting victimization was 7.6 percent, the considerably higher proportion of respondents who believe crime risks have increased suggests that concerns about safety extend beyond those who have personally experienced a criminal offense.
For the Curaçao Police Force and government authorities, the findings may provide useful information when evaluating community policing strategies and public expectations regarding neighborhood security.