Assault - The Caribbean Safety and Security Net

2104 – Assault in Dominican Republic – Boca Chica

Incident Date: 2017-01-25 at 01:00

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: cash and jewelry

Secured: Not Locked

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: Owners of a yacht berthed on the outside dock at Marina Zar Par awakened to a masked intruder at their bedside. He spoke only Spanish (which they understood) smelled of alcohol and was dripping wet. He had gained entry thru the unlocked companionway.|| A brief struggle ensued, he demanded cash and jewelry, which was freely given. The intruder tied both crew up holding a knife to the woman's neck. He held his hand roughly against her mouth to silence her causing minor injuries, which were later treated by a doctor. After he departed, the crew managed to untie themselves and reported to the Zar Par Marina Security office. ||The security team provided immediate assistance by calling the police, who arrived promptly, and in gaining medical treatment for the woman. A formal report was also made to the Coast Guard the next day, and the police are investigating.||CSSN wishes to thank our information sharing partner, Noonsite, where the victim's detailed account was first published, read it HERE .

January 25, 2017

2079 – Assault in Grenada – Grenada – St. George’s – Port Louis Marina

Incident Date: 2016-10-29 at 01:30

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: None

Secured: N/A

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: At 1:30 AM a female cruiser was attacked from behind and pushed to the ground, banging her head, outside the toilet area in Port Louis Marina. The victim believed he was after her purse. She struggled, kicked and yelled, and eventually two marina guards arrived as the attacker fled (without the purse). A report was made to the local police the next morning.

October 29, 2016

2073 – Assault in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – St. Vincent – Chateaubelair

Incident Date: 2016-10-10 at 19:00

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: None

Secured: N/A

Source Type: 2nd Hand Report

Incident Details: Two yachts were at anchor in Chateaubelair. At approximatley 1900 hours one was boarded by four men armed with machetes. The captain was able to repel them, but suffered a slash to his forearm and several cuts on his hands. He was later treated at the local hospital. A VHF MAYDAY call was made for assistance but there was no response. He received help and assistance from those aboard the second yacht. A report was made by phone to the local police.

October 10, 2016

2062 – Assault in Grenada – Grenada – Hog Island

Incident Date: 2016-07-30 at 17:00

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: None

Secured: N/A

Source Type: 2nd Hand Report

Incident Details: At about 1700 a male cruiser left his wife aboard and took his dog by dinghy for a walk on the east end of Hog Island. After a short while he was met by 3 english speaking men and was greeted in a friendly manner, he continued the walk. After about 20 minutes he began his return to the dinghy and encountered a family of 5, who played with the dog for a few minutes. Continuing the walk, and almost back to the dinghy he encountered the same 3 men, who invited him to join them. When the cruiser did so, one of the men, the Primary Perpetrator, (PP) produced a small handgun, pointed it at him, and demanded that the cruiser dinghy them out to the yacht, stating that the cruiser, the family of 5, and the dog would all be killed if the cruiser refused, and that the 3 would then go to the vessel (where the cruiser's wife had remained). ||At approximately 1800, the cruiser transported 2 of the perpetrators, (PP) and a 2nd Perpetrator, (2P) to the anchored yacht, where the PP demanded that the cruising couple haul anchor and provide transport to Puerto Rico. The yacht's engine had not functioned for several weeks, but PP demanded that the couple sail out of the bay and then to Puerto Rico. It was clear neither perpetrator had skills as a mariner. The couple complied, but the yacht became grounded while leaving the bay and was unable to proceed. The PP assaulted both the husband and wife as well as his accomplice, while showing signs of instability, sometimes mumbling and shouting incoherently at no one. ||At approximately 1930 the PP forced the wife and his accomplice into the dinghy, indicating that he would hold the wife hostage until the husband freed the yacht and they were able to proceed to Puerto Rico. The dinghy was then taken to the mainland of Grenada, landing in the area of Fort Jeudy (approx. 1.5 miles away). PP forced the wife and his accomplice to proceed to an unoccupied home with him. Over the next several hours, PP continued to assault both the wife and his accomplice (2P). ||At approximately 2330, PP forced the wife and 2P to return to the dinghy, and attempted to return to the yacht. On approach, the presence of other vessels engaged in assisting the husband with the stranded yacht discouraged PP from re-boarding and hijacking the yacht. They returned to shore, PP and 2P eventually departed, and the wife was able to return by dinghy to the yacht at about 0100, July 31. ||Those assisting the yacht were then informed of the circumstances and authorities were summoned, and the Grenada Coast Guard arrived promptly to provide assistance. They remained with the yacht overnight, while the couple received medical treatment, which is ongoing. The yacht has been refloated, but was damaged. The primary perpetrator (PP) has been identified and is being sought by the local police. ||CSSN NOTE: This report is classified as second hand, we would like to thank the close friends of the victims who provided the report on their behalf.

July 30, 2016

2058 – Assault in Colombia – Rosarios Islands – Isla Grande

Incident Date: 2016-07-11 at 01:05

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: None

Secured: Does not apply

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: While at anchor near Isla Grande, a man in a cayuco attempted to steal the dinghy, but he was noisy, awakened the crew and they were able to scare him away. The dinghy was secured and the couple slept in the cockpit. About an hour later 2 swimmers were able to board the boat, and attacked with knives. During the altercation the crew received bruises and many cuts, but were eventually able to repel the attackers. The crew immediately upped anchor and moved offshore. They made an emergency radio call. The Colombian Coast Guard arrived about an hour later, and met them offshore. After completing a report to the Coast Guard the crew departed for Cartagena.CSSN Information sharing Partner, Noonsite, also received a first hand report about this incident, it included a few more details, read it here .

http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/Colombia/colombia-islas-del-rossario-isla-grande-boarded-attacked-july-2016

July 11, 2016

2032 – Assault in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Tobago Cays

Incident Date: 2016-05-25 at 23:00

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: Cash and cell phones

Secured: N/A

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: A British flagged vessel was boarded by 2 armed men (knife and gun), 3rd man remained in pirogue. Injuries were reported, and were treated by a physician on a nearby boat. This report was taken during the daily KPK service net. CSSN will update this report when more information is provided by the victims. CSSN UPDATE: First hand report received from the victims as follows:|At 2300 on 25th May 2016, a British flagged yacht was boarded by two masked men, one with a gun, the other a knife. At the time, the couple were asleep in bed but were woken by the noise of a speedboat's engine and, shortly after, by the noise of forced entry via the companionway, which was closed and bolted on the interior and damaged as a result of the intrusion. The intruders demanded money and one of them hit the Captain several times on the head with the ship's heavy torch, whilst his wife was held with an arm around her neck and a gun (possibly imitation) was pointed to her head. The intruders took about EC$500 from the Captain's wallet but refused to believe that was all the cash on board. The Captain was losing much blood from the head wounds but they still demanded more money. They also wanted cell phones and VHF radios so that the crew "could not contact anyone". The Captain's wife gave them three old cell phones that were not used on board, and they took a handheld radio from its cradle. This was later retrieved from the intruders, along with the heavy torch, during a scuffle as they left the yacht in a hurry after about 12 minutes on board. A third man, waiting in a speed boat alongside the yacht, then sped them away. The Captain suffered several head and face injuries, two fractured ribs and some bruising, and was attended by a doctor in the anchorage immediately after the event. His wife was unhurt. The SVG Coastguard, who were contacted by a neighboring yacht, arrived quickly. Three suspects are currently charged with multiple offenses and are in police custody in Kingstown SV. ||The Captain recommends that all cruisers, even in such beautiful places as the Tobago Cays, take security on board very seriously. The best security is to make it so hard for intruders to get into the yacht quickly that they give up, maybe hastened by floodlights/alarm activated by a panic button inside the yacht.

May 25, 2016

2028 – Assault in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Union – Clifton Harbor

Incident Date: 2016-05-20 at 23:30

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: Unknown

Secured: N/A

Source Type: 2nd Hand Report

Incident Details: 3 sailors returning from dinner at 11:30 PM were attacked and pelted with stones. The attacker demanded money. 1 man was knocked unconscious, and held overnight and airlifted out from the local health facility the next day. 2 companions were treated for their injuries and released. Police are reported to have 1 person in custody. Further details from local press http://www.iwnsvg.com/2016/05/23/attacker-knocks-swiss-visitor-unconscious-in-union-island/

May 20, 2016

2015 – Assault in Saint Lucia – Soufriere

Incident Date: 2016-03-02 at 22:00

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: Wallets and Camera

Secured: N/A

Source Type: 2nd Hand Report

Incident Details: UPDATED as FIRST HAND REPORT 11 March 2016:On the evening of March 2, 2016, returning from dinner ashore at 10 PM, on the SMMA dock that serves the Hummingbird and Still Resorts at Soufriere, St. Lucia, a party of 7 cruisers, accompanied by the Still Resort security guard, were robbed by 3 masked attackers who had a gun, a machete and a club. The security guard was knocked down. The robbers demanded money at gunpoint. They were given wallets and a camera. One woman’s purse was cut off her shoulder with the machete. Her husband was struck on the head with the blunt side of the machete. When the group came into the dock originally, they declined the dinghy watching “service” of some teenagers. The teens were quite unhappy about it and threatened to return with a machete. The cruisers departed St. Lucia immediately. The Still Resort staff has kept the victims advised after making a report to the Royal St. Lucia Police, who are investigating. The camera and wallets (containing only ID)have been recovered.

March 2, 2016

2003 – Assault in Belize – Bannister Caye

Incident Date: 2016-01-13 at 22:00

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: Outboard motor, computers and hard drives, passport, cash, jewelry, food

Secured: Locked

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: An unidentified launch came along side at anchor while everyone aboard was asleep. Four men in 20-30 age range came aboard each armed with a pistol. One female guest was sexually assaulted, and later treated at the local hospital.||Cash, camera, computers, food, drinks, jewelry, and an outboard motor were stolen.||The launch left at high speed in a southwesterly direction.||The entire event lasted about 45 minutes, and was reported to the Police, Coast Guard, Port Captain and marina.

January 13, 2016

1989 – Assault in Colombia – Santa Marta – Taganga Bay

Incident Date: 2015-11-25 at 02:30

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: Robbers grabbed everything they could see of value including all jewellery, tanzanite, pearls, 2 diamond rings, including a Cullinan diamond. Also stolen were outboard motors (both gone), watches, phones, computers, cash, credit cards, fishing rods etc.
Fortunately they did not take passports & boat papers, nor did they rip out main navigation equipment (other than hand held vhfs & binoculars) nor ropes.

Secured: Locked

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: We were boarded by armed PROFESSIONAL THIEVES & robbed in Taganga Bay, near Santa Marta, Colombia. The incident took place at around 2.30am and reads almost identical to this one, reported on noonsite in 2012, down to them being high on drugs:
There were 5 men, who arrived in a dugout canoe. 4 boarded, at least 2 had guns & 1 had a knife, that we saw. We were both tied up & hit by 4 thieves, at least 2 of the 4 on board had guns & one had a small knife at my husbands throat. The dogs did not bark.
We did have a plan of action if this kind of thing happened, unfortunately, my husband heard something hit the side of the boat & woke up. Instead of turning on the cockpit lights, he unlocked the door & went out to look. We had agreed that we would turn lights on & make noise. If we were locked inside the boat, at least we would have time to make radio & phone calls, but he was sleepy, not thinking straight & went straight out to 4 guys with guns & knives. I had actually hidden away our tablet, which has a good navigation program & they missed taking the dongle from the computer which had a local sim with airtime, so I was able to get a call out to our agent Dino who raised the alarm with police & coastguard.I could not get anyone on channel 16 or channel 72 for 1/2 hour and it was at least an hour before the coastguard came.
We had spoken with other people who advised us to go into the marina. We made an informed decision with an unfortunate outcome. Always read noonsite, Caribbean safety & security network, Facebook cruising group reports prior to going anywhere.
Our incident was almost identical to the one reported on noonsite in 2012. I wonder if it was the same ‘gang’? The police didn’t even come on board to check the 100 ‘ s of fingerprints, so the follow up comments from that report that the authorities are taking such incidents seriously is suspect! We really hope that local stakeholders in this area can provide an organised safe haven for cruisers, perhaps something similar to PAYS in Dominica.. We truly hope this never happens again in this bay.
Reported to Police, Coast Guard and Marina.

November 25, 2015

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