Incident Date: 2025-11-26 at 01:00
Event Type: Theft
Stolen Items: Dinghy (small panga w/outboard), Outboard Motor
Secured: Locked
Source Type: 2nd Hand Report
Incident Details: A small panga/outboard was stolen from a yacht berthed in Marina Carenero. It was recovered the next day, minus the outboard motor.
Incident Date: 2025-11-16 at 01:00
Event Type: Theft
Stolen Items: Dinghy (Arimar), Outboard Motor (Yamaha 15HP)
Secured: Not Locked
Source Type: 1st Hand Report
Incident Details: Overnight while the owner slept onboard in St. Anne, their in-the-water and not locked dinghy/outboard were stolen.
Crime against yachts in the Caribbean – Annual Report 2024 Released In 2024, reported incidents of crimes against yachts reached an all-time high of 145 – up 41 % from 103 in 2023. The surge was driven almost entirely by non-violent offenses, which rose 57 % (137 vs. 87). Violent
CSSN’s 2024 Annual Report on yacht crimes in the Caribbean provides vital insights and safety information for sailors and yacht owners. In 2024, reported incidents of crimes against yachts reached an all-time high of 145 – up 41 % from 103 in 2023. The surge was driven almost entirely by non-violent offenses, which rose 57 % (137 vs. 87). Violent incidents, by contrast, fell 50 % to 8, their first decline in recent years.
Incident Date: 2025-10-23 at 02:30
Event Type: Theft
Stolen Items: Dinghy (Kapa tender), Outboard Motor (Yamaha 9.9HP-4 stroke 6 #AUK-1090770), Fuel Tank
Secured: Locked
Source Type: 1st Hand Report
Incident Details: Overnight while the owners slept on board in Linton Bay, Panama, their in-the-water and cable locked dinghy / outboard was stolen. A report was made to the police in Portobello.
CSSN UPDATE: The fuel tank (only) was found by cruisers on a nearby reef, the chain cut.
Incident Date: 2025-10-15 at 03:30
Event Type: Attempted Theft
Stolen Items: None
Secured: Not Locked
Source Type: 2nd Hand Report
Incident Details: At 0330HRS the crew of a catamaran berthed at Crews Inn heard footsteps on deck. The captain went topsides and interrupted 4-5 men in balaclavas rummaging in backpacks and luggage that had been left in the cockpit area earlier that day. He began yelling and they quickly jumped onto the dock and ran toward shore.
Later that day the crew checked the luggage and it did not seem anything had been stolen. Marina Security was contacted and they took a report, it is not known if a police report was made.
Incident Date: 2025-08-04 at 13:00
Event Type: Suspicious Activity
Stolen Items: None
Secured: Does not apply
Source Type: 1st Hand Report
Incident Details: A yacht transiting from Guanaja, Bay Islands, Honduras to Grand Cayman altered course due to easterly winds and a developing tropical weather system, redirecting to Isla de Providencia, Colombia. The revised route traversed the Thunder Knoll area.
At position 16°00’34.4″N 81°02’31.3″W, approximately 145 nm NE of the Honduras/Nicaragua border, at 1300HRS, the southbound yacht encountered three traditional lobster fishing boats. The yacht passed the first vessel without incident. As it approached the second boat, the lobster boat altered course, turning eastward on an intercept course. The third boat, (also west of the yacht), was moving southward in parallel.
Concerned about these maneuvers, the yacht executed a 180-degree turn northward and increased separation to approximately one nautical mile. The second vessel subsequently repositioned itself southeast of the yacht’s location.
Faced with deteriorating sea conditions (2+ meter waves) from the east, the yacht turned southward planning to pass between the first and second lobster boats, which were separated by over one nautical mile. As the yacht came closer to the second vessel, it again altered course toward the yacht. Simultaneously, the third boat turned and maneuvered northward, attempting to block passage between the first and second boats.
The yacht immediately turned hard to port (SE) and proceeded at maximum speed on a beam reach in 18-20 knot winds. While the first vessel did not pursue, vessels two and three followed for approximately 3-4 hours before discontinuing pursuit.
The yacht had been scanning VHF continuously and no transmissions between the 3 boats were heard, and none of the lobster boats attempted contact with the yacht. There were no injuries and the catamaran continued its passage without further incident. A report was made to the Colombian Coast Guard on arrival in Isla de Providencia.
Incident Date: 2025-10-14 at 22:00
Event Type: Theft
Stolen Items: Dinghy (Talamex Highline), Outboard Motor (Suzuki 9.8)
Secured: Not Locked
Source Type: 2nd Hand Report
Incident Details: A dinghy / 9.8HP Suzuki outboard tied to the dock was stolen overnight. A police report is planned.
CSSN UPDATE : the dinghy minus engine was recovered in Port Bonaire
Incident Date: 2025-10-06 at 02:15
Event Type: Theft
Stolen Items: Outboard Motor (Yamaha 15HP Enduro serial number 6B4K-1495831), Fuel Tank (Yamaha 6 gallon gas tank)
Secured: Locked
Source Type: 1st Hand Report
Incident Details: Overnight thieves used a handsaw to cut the lock securing an outboard and cayuco to a launcha at a private dock. The engine was stolen from the cayuco, and the fuel tank from the launcha before both were set adrift. The handsaw was left behind.
The launcha and cayuco were recovered the next morning, minus engine and fuel tank.
Reports to the police and Aeronaval are planned.
Incident Date: 2025-09-30 at 16:00
Event Type: Theft
Stolen Items: Dinghy, Outboard Motor (Tohastsu 9.8HP)
Secured: Not Locked
Source Type: 2nd Hand Report
Incident Details: A Dinghy/outboard was stolen from the Anse Mitan dinghy dock between 1500-2200HRS.
It is not known if a police report was made.
