Assault - The Caribbean Safety and Security Net

3916 – Assault in Martinique (France) – St. Anne

Incident Date: 2026-09-10 at 08:30

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: None

Secured: Does not apply

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: The non-French speaking captain of a yacht anchored in St. Anne, took his dinghy ashore at 0830HRS at the St. Anne dinghy dock to do laundry at a laundromat near the Carrefour grocery. Once things were well underway he left to do some grocery shopping and then returned to the laundromat. His laundry was still drying, so he waited. No one else was in the laundromat.

An older man entered the business and began yelling at him in French, then went to his car parked just outside the door, and retrieved a machete. He returned to the laundromat, blocking the doorway and continued yelling and pointing the machete at the cruiser’s head, standing only a meter away. Several CCTV cameras were evident in the laundromat. The cruiser did not understand why the man was agitated, and attempted to calm the man, without success.

Apparently hearing the commotion, two French speaking persons came into the laundry, briefly distracting the man with the machete, and the cruiser managed to slip out with his groceries, but without the laundry. He went to the nearby police station, and found no one there. After attempting to speak with other locals and expressing his desire to make a police report he understood it would take some time for the police to arrive, but they apparently made a call on his behalf. The cruiser took his groceries to the yacht and returned to meet the police and collect his laundry. He was met by some policemen near the laundromat. They could not speak english or take a report. A helpful person communicated that to take a report the police would require the cruiser to get the CCTV video from the French speaking owner of the laundromat, and to go to another police station. While they were standing there the man with machete passed by them in his car, and the cruiser pointed the car/man out, but the police showed no interest in doing anything at the time.

The cruiser went to the laundromat and retrieved his (now finished) laundry, then returned to his yacht. He plans to depart the anchorage in the next day or so.

September 10, 2026

3915 – Assault in Martinique (France) – St. Anne

Incident Date: 2026-08-27 at 17:45

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: None

Secured: Does not apply

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: An English-speaking cruising couple and their dogs were snorkeling in shallow water along a rocky shore south of Plage Anse Tonnoir beach at 1745HRS. A man approached on swimming noodles and began yelling at them in French. He left and 3-4 minutes later a coconut sized rock was thrown off the adjacent 40 ft. cliff, and splashed about 3-5 feet behind their heads. Several more large rocks were thrown by the man who could be seen through the trees by the road. Luckily, none of the rocks struck the couple or the dogs. They quickly gathered the dogs into the dinghy and departed.

They attempted to make a police report but found the police station was closed. They departed the next day.

August 30, 2026

3913 – Assault in Saint Lucia – Anse Cochon

Incident Date: 2026-07-18 at 00:30

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: Other: 2 knives, flashlight, handheld VHF radio

Secured: Not Locked

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: Cruisers were asleep in their center cockpit yacht, anchored among other yachts in Anse Cochon, on the evening of July 18, 2026. They were awoken at 0030HRS by noise on deck. The captain went through the dark cabin to the open companionway and found two men in the cockpit. He began yelling at them to leave immediately.

One of the men pushed past the captain and went down into the dimly lit salon. The captain followed, and noticed the intruder was very agitated and seemed impaired. The intruder picked up a wine bottle and struck the captain in the head, stunning him. The second man remained in the cockpit.

The intruder continued his assault with another blow that broke the bottle, scattering glass and wine about the cabin and floor. Now armed with the broken bottle, he proceeded to slash at the captain, inflicting serious, life-threatening injuries to his head, neck, arms, and hand. He pinned the captain to the floor. The captain had managed to locate a small pocket knife, but was unable to open it fully with his badly injured hand. During the struggle, with blood spraying about the cabin, the captain pleaded with the intruder, telling him he was being murdered. The attacker, apparently understanding the potential lethality of the situation, finally aborted his attack and moved up into the cockpit. He and another man were trying to reach back into the companionway, grabbing at items stored there. Then they moved to the stern of the yacht and were picked up by another boat.

Between 6-8 men had boarded the yacht. While the captain was being attacked in the salon, the crew had been busy working to close and secure an open hatch in their cabin that an intruder on deck was attempting to raise fully. After all the men left the yacht, the captain and crew were able to close and lock the companionway and hatches, securing themselves inside.

Once the cabin felt secure, they turned on the lights and assessed the captain’s injuries, which were severe and still spraying blood. An immediate VHF MAYDAY call was made, and answered. However, the Coast Guard responder did not ask for location information before assuring the captain and crew that help was on the way. A 911 call was then placed and all details were communicated. A police boat was dispatched to the yacht.

The marine police boat arrived promptly. After the crew verified that the officers were in fact police, the captain and crew member were rushed to the local hospital. The captain was given emergency treatment and taken for immediate surgery to save his life. Stabilized, he underwent further surgery the next day to repair the extensive damage done by the attacker.

A full police report was made at the hospital once the captain had sufficiently recovered. There was considerable confusion because, a short time earlier the night of the attack, two local party boats carrying many Carnival celebrants had collided at speed further off Anse Cochon. Local agencies were already managing that serious maritime emergency when they received the VHF and 911 calls. The yacht was secured as a crime scene and taken into custody by officials.

Tragically, four persons had died and fourteen others were injured in the collision. Authorities in St. Lucia opened an investigation into the two-boat accident, now reported to be 90{f171658a09bfa8f3fb56ec6ea12741367367f7b871737af52b8d65e5d8501b79} complete. A second investigation into the assault was also begun. The attacker was identified and had been onboard one of the party boats. Charges of trespass and grievous harm were laid against Lester Jean of Soufriere, St. Lucia. After being formally charged, he was offered bail, met the conditions, and was released. The next court date has been set for mid-September 2026.

After discharge and recovery, the owners returned to their yacht and discovered that two knives, a flashlight, and a handheld VHF radio had been stolen from the yacht. During their investigation, the police recovered one of the knives; it is being held as evidence.

August 28, 2026

3827 – Assault in Panama – Portobello

Incident Date: 2026-04-21 at 21:30

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: Laptop Computer, Mobile Phone (3), Camera (GoPro), Cash (USD), Binoculars

Secured: Not Locked

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: At 1745HRS, the owner and crew of a monohull diverted from their original plan, and anchored off Portobello, Panama. They anchored among 6-7 other yachts, and visited a neighboring yacht.

At 2130HRS they were boarded by 7-8 armed men, who rapidly entered the yacht through multiple hatches and the companionway. Most of the intruders wore hoods, masks or balaclavas. There were approximately 6 visible weapons – handguns with extended cartridges, semi-auto type machine weapons, and a semi-auto rifle. After initially being pistol whipped, the crew was compliant and remained seated on the salon settee, held at gunpoint, as the yacht was rapidly and fairly thoroughly ransacked/searched. The intruders spoke only Spanish and seemed to ask about cocaine as they tore up floorboards and searched the entire yacht. They took some valuables but left others behind. Taken were a laptop, 3 phones, a camera, power bricks, binoculars, and cash. The radio was not disabled. The event lasted about 20 minutes and the men all departed.

The crew made a pan-pan/mayday call on VHF 16, but got no response. They examined and treated their injuries and then contacted neighbor yachts and described what had happened. Three yachts, including the victims, departed soon after. The next day reports were made to the Coast Guard and Federal Police in Colon. Police have begun the forensics process.

CSSN UPDATE: The victims have confirmed that the police visited the yacht for additional forensics and that one of the phones has been recovered. The investigation continues.

April 23, 2026

3814 – Assault in Panama – Bocas del Toro – Red Frog

Incident Date: 2026-04-08 at 16:45

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: None

Secured: Does not apply

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: The crew of a yacht anchored off Red Frog Marina, approached at speed and attempted to land their dinghy at one of the private marina docks. They were met by a marina employee who was agitated, and directed them to another nearby public dinghy dock, and informed them about the no wake zone.

Again at speed, the crew moved to the directed dock. The same employee followed the dinghy/crew to the public dock, and became verbally abusive, shoved the captain, as more angry words were exchanged. The captain and crew departed in their dinghy, again at speed, and returned to their catamaran.

Shortly thereafter, the same marina employee arrived at their stern and the confrontation continued. The marina employee was pushed back into his boat when he attempted to board the yacht. He then held a homemade gaff in his hand as he continued to gesture, and according to the captain and crew, to make additional threats. Eventually, the marina employee departed. The yacht’s video system recorded the event.

A report was made to the marina manager and the police. The new marina owner has advised that the employee has been suspended without pay, and that all employees will receive customer service training.

CSSN NOTE: this report has been updated with additional details

April 13, 2026

3783 – Assault in Saint Martin (France) – Sandy Ground Bridge

Incident Date: 2026-02-03 at 13:54

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: None

Secured: Does not apply

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: A cruising family was exiting the lagoon via dinghy when adolescent male youths on the bridge began dropping rocks onto them, striking one adult on the top of his head. An ambulance was called, provided some emergency care, and then transported the injured man to the hospital where he was treated and released. A police report was made.

February 4, 2026

3759 – Assault in Trinidad and Tobago – Tobago – Mt. Irvine Bay

Incident Date: 2025-06-12 at 00:30

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: Dinghy, Outboard Motor, Laptop Computer, Mobile Phone, Cash

Secured: Does not apply

Source Type: 2nd Hand Report

Incident Details: At 0030HRS an unlocked yacht anchored in Mt. Irvine Bay, Tobago was boarded while the owners slept onboard. Two masked men, armed with a metal bar attacked one of the crew, inflicting injuries before stealing cash, credit cards, phones, laptops and other personal electronics, as well as the yacht’s dinghy/outboard. A police report was made.

December 22, 2025

3660 – Assault in United States Virgin Islands (US) – St. Thomas – Brewers Bay

Incident Date: 2025-05-17 at 22:30

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: nothing

Secured: Does not apply

Source Type: 2nd Hand Report

Incident Details: At approximately 2230HRS a cruiser was leaving his car in Brewers Bay beach in St Thomas, USVI and was attacked from behind by a young man with a machete. He received multiple severe wounds to the head/neck but the assailant finally ran off when headlights seemed to be approaching. The victim made it to his dinghy and back to the yacht were he received treatment from his spouse. The police and ambulance were called and the victim was transported to the hospital for further treatment. He was later released. A full report was made to the police.

May 25, 2025

3657 – Assault in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Bequia – Admiralty Bay (Port Elizabeth)

Incident Date: 2025-05-10 at 19:15

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: None

Secured: Does not apply

Source Type: 2nd Hand Report

Incident Details: Cruisers returned to the main dinghy dock with friends at 1915HRS and as the second dinghy was departing some young men began hurling objects/rocks at them from the dinghy dock and stuck one of the cruisers in the head. Injuries were described as minor and both crews returned to their yachts. ||It is not known if a police report was made.

May 13, 2025

3394 – Assault in Venezuela – Offshore03

Incident Date: 2024-10-10 at 03:30

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: None

Secured: Does not apply

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: A monohull singlehander departed Grenada for Colombia. Unfortunately bad weather and rough conditions led to equipment failures and some injuries(broken ribs). At position 12-09.3N and 069-34.8W, approximately 40 nmiles from Venezuela and 50nmiles from Aruba at 0330HRs the captain was motorsailing with AIS Tx OFF and only the anchor light showing. No other vessels/lights were visible to the yacht. ||The captain was injured when a bullet crossed from the port side, into the open cockpit enclosure, passed in front of his face and ricocheted off the cockpit enclosure frame and then grazed his hand. No vessels could be seen nearby, no further shots were fired, and no vessel approached. The captain diverted north to Aruba and contacted port control on arrival. He was met by the Coast Guard, three of them boarded, provided assistance in anchoring and took a report. The normal inspections were made. The captain treated his own injuries and did not require medical assistance.

October 10, 2024

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