cssn - The Caribbean Safety and Security Net

1972 – Assault in Venezuela – Manamo River

Incident Date: 2015-05-24 at 23:00

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: silver coins and other items

Secured: Not Locked

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: While the Manamo River/Orinoco Basin are not in the strictest sense part of the Caribbean, cruisers from Trinidad/Tobago have often chosen to explore this remote area. CSSN has received a first hand report from a single hander who was boarded, restrained and held at gunpoint while his boat was ransacked on the night of 24 May 2015. Six men boarded from a (stolen) engine-less boat, ransacked the yacht and stole valuable silver coins and other items. The captain did not resist, he was tied up, his head covered with a shirt, but left unharmed. He later reported the incident to the Guardia, who showed little interest and did not follow up. For additional details see a summary report posted in Noonsite here http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/Venezuela/venezulea-manamo-orinoco-assault-robbery

May 24, 2015

1952 – Assault in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – St. Vincent – Chateaubelair

Incident Date: 2015-05-22 at 02:00

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: Wallets, passports, outboard engine

Secured: Unknown

Source Type: Unknown Hand Report

Incident Details: A chartered catamaran anchored by itself in the northern part of Chateaubelair, well away from the 2 or 3 other cruising boats anchored in the bay was boarded at night by swimmers and the crew “roughed up” and robbed of their wallets and passports. The criminals took the dinghy to make their escape, and abandonded it ashore after removing the outboard engine. A police report was made. CSSN NOTE: Times and date are approximate due to the third-hand nature of this report.

May 22, 2015

1962 – Assault in Saint Lucia – Rodney Bay – Reduit Beach

Incident Date: 2015-05-20 at 01:35

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: knife

Secured: Not Locked

Source Type: Unknown Hand Report

Incident Details: In an apparent attempt to rob the vessel, a swimmer tripped over and woke the skipper who was sleeping in the cockpit of a boat anchored near shore at Reduit Beach. The robber proceeded to attack the skipper with a knife; the skipper received 20 stab wounds, 17 of which required stitches, before the skipper was able to throw the attacker overboard. A second person onboard was awakened by the activity and assisted in summoning help and transporting the vicitm to police who were waiting ashore and then transported the victim to the local hospital for treatment Skipper was hospitalized for 6 days and is recovering in St Lucia. A police report was made, but no arrests have followed.

May 20, 2015

1968 – Burglary in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Bequia – Princess Margaret Beach

Incident Date: 2015-05-18 at 20:00

Event Type: Burglary

Stolen Items: Cash

Secured: Locked

Source Type: Unknown Hand Report

Incident Details: Crew and guests left charter yacht around sunset to go ashore for dinner. Companionway was still locked upon return, nothing noticed until the next morning when additional cash was needed for shopping. Cash belonging to crew and guests had been removed from five separate places, leaving behind papers, electronics, etc. Upon investigation it was found that the handle locks on a deck hatch were ineffective, allowing the hatch to be opened even with locks in locked position, the presumptive method of entry. Charter company was advised of this problem at conclusion of the charter. Crew reported to the local police, and returned to boat with coast guard members who took statements onboard.

May 18, 2015

1961 – Assault in Haiti – Petit Paradise

Incident Date: 2015-05-11 at 21:00

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: Cash, bank cards, cellphone, laptop and hard-drives, knives, 2 jerry jugs of gasoline

Secured: Not Locked

Source Type: Unknown Hand Report

Incident Details: An experienced and well traveled female single hander was anchored offshore Petit Paradise for about a week, and had been befriended by the locals. On May 11, she had just gone to sleep at around 9PM when she was boarded, viciously attacked, and robbed by 3 armed men who tied her up, beat her, and finally left when they became nervous about being discovered. She later made her way to the village, sought and received assistance and was treated at the medical clinic. Reports were made to the local police, French Embassy, Belgian Consul, and local judge. She has shared a detailed description of the event and it is published on the Noonsite Piracy pages, and can be viewed here http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/Haiti/haiti-grand-goave-petit-paradis-night-time-robbery-and-violent-attack-2013-may-2015 CSSN NOTE : This is the THIRD violent assault against a cruiser reported from Haiti this year. The other reports can be viewed herehttps://wp.me/p3QFio-Da and herehttps://wp.me/p3QFio-CD and here https://wp.me/p3QFio-CE.

May 11, 2015

1948 – Attempted Theft in Guadeloupe (France) – Guadeloupe – Marina Bas du Fort

Incident Date: 2015-05-08 at 01:00

Event Type: Attempted Theft

Stolen Items: none

Secured: Locked

Source Type: Unknown Hand Report

Incident Details: At 1 am May 8th, 2015, while stern-to at the Marina Bas du Fort in Guadeloupe, a man boarded our boat and came into our cockpit. Both my husband and myself were woken by the footsteps and confronted the man in the cockpit from behind a locked main cabin door. The man quickly jumped off the boat and ran down the dock letting himself out through the security gate. We called the 24/7 marina number. The person at that number did not speak English. When the marina office opened we contacted them and they were very helpful in relaying our information to the marina management, it is uncertain if marina management contacted the police. It was later learned that other boats had been boarded the same night. As a precaution the owners now adjust their med moor lines at night to move their locked boat further off the dock . CSSN NOTE: This is the 3rd incident of this type at this marina in 2015.

May 8, 2015

1950 – Theft in Anguilla (UK) – Road Bay

Incident Date: 2015-05-08 at 02:00

Event Type: Theft

Stolen Items: whaler type hard dinghy with outboard

Secured: Unknown

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: Elvis Beach Bar hard dinghy (whaler type), with outboard stolen overnight/early hours, no further details available

May 8, 2015

1953 – Burglary in Grenada – Grenada – St. George’s – outside lagoon

Incident Date: 2015-05-08 at 21:00

Event Type: Burglary

Stolen Items: computers,iPad,phones, etc.

Secured: Locked

Source Type: Unknown Hand Report

Incident Details: A boat anchored in the southern area outside St. Georges was boarded and burgled between 2030 and 2330 HRS while the owners were ashore for dinner. The boat was locked but the criminals were able to force open a hatch and steal computers, an iPad, phones, etc. A police report was made, and they are investigating.

May 8, 2015

1951 – Theft in Saint Martin (France) – Marina Royale

Incident Date: 2015-05-04 at 13:00

Event Type: Theft

Stolen Items: dinghy and outboard

Secured: Not Locked

Source Type: Unknown Hand Report

Incident Details: Unlocked dinghy with outboard was stolen from Port Royale marina dock, around 1PM. A video of the theft (and the 2 thieves) was posted on SXM Facebook and widely viewed , however the dinghy was not recovered – no further details available, incident may not have been reported to authorities.

May 4, 2015

1949 – Attempted Theft in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Canouan – Charlestown Bay (South House)

Incident Date: 2015-05-02 at 03:15

Event Type: Attempted Theft

Stolen Items: none

Secured: Locked

Source Type: Unknown Hand Report

Incident Details: Occupants of a charter boat anchored at Charlestown Bay, Canouan SVG were awakened in the middle of the night when they heard footsteps on deck, one individual was trying to pry open a hatch. They scared him off by yelling and flashing a light in his face, he scrambled and jumped overboard. The Coast Guard was called, and arrived quickly, nearby boats were notified, and they searched the bay but could not find the intruder . Nothing was stolen in this attempt .

May 2, 2015

Author: cssn Archives