Assault - 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

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

1945 – Assault in Haiti – Petit Port a Piment

Incident Date: 2015-04-16 at 23:00

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: cash, solar panles,computers,navigation electronics, etc.

Secured: Locked

Source Type: Unknown Hand Report

Incident Details: An Australian couple aboard their sailboat en route from Cuba to Ile a Vache Haiti anchored overnight near Petit Port a Piment , Haiti . At approximately 11 PM it was boarded by 10-15 men armed with clubs, sticks and machetes. They cooperated with the attackers and offered everything, but they were violently assaulted. The captain was beaten badly, resulting in broken bones and machete wounds. His wife sustained significant injuries also. The steering compass was intentionally damaged/disabled. The next day local police arrived and both were taken to a local hospital where they received treatment, and the husband confined for several days. Various officials provided assistance and the damaged boat was taken by a delivery captain to Ile a Vache, Haiti. The captain and his wife returned to Australia where their injuries were re-assessed, and they received additional medical care.

April 16, 2015

1944 – Assault in Dominica – Prince Rupert Bay – South End

Incident Date: 2015-03-30 at 01:00

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: Laptop, mobile phone, VHF, cash

Secured: Locked

Source Type: Unknown Hand Report

Incident Details: A single hander anchored in the south end of Prince Rupert Bay was awakened at 1:00 AM by noise on deck.Somewhat disoriented, he unlocked and went up to the cockpit where he encountered 2 men, one with a gun. The theives stole his laptop, phone, VHF, cash and demanded his credit card and PIN. He informed them he did not have a credit card and the they left. The next day he informed other boats anchored nearby and made a report to the police. CSSN NOTE: PAYS operates a nightime secutrity patrol in the NORTH end of Prince Rupert Bay, and a radio call from the locked cabin may have prevented this incident.

March 30, 2015

1937 – Assault in Dominica – Anchorage Hotel

Incident Date: 2015-03-15 at 16:00

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: None

Secured: N/A

Source Type: Unknown Hand Report

Incident Details: While on a previously paid for mooring in front of the Anchorage hotel, a yacht was approached by a small local boat whose occupant threatened them with a spear gun and then attempted to use a machete to cut their line. The yacht left the mooring . Reports were made to the police and Coast Guard. CSSN UPDATE 2015-04-14: Our original posting failed to include that the Coast Guard responded very quickly, within about 10 minutes, to this threatening situation. We later learned that the yacht subsequently returned to the mooring, and that business interests in the area conducted a meeting with local boatmen to convey the seriousness of this type of behavior and to (hopefully) prevent any future occurrences.

March 15, 2015

1943 – Assault in Venezuela – Puerto Cabello

Incident Date: 2015-03-07 at 07:00

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: 3 occupied weekend motorboats were boarded around 10AM Saturday morning by thieves armed with guns , those on-board were sequestered in cabins, the boats were then ransacked and pillaged. The criminals then stole 1 of the 3 boats to depart.

Secured: N/A

Source Type: 1st Hand Report

Incident Details: Three families in weekend motor yachts were boarded about 10 AM by men armed with guns near Cayo Sur, which is located between Puerto Cabello and Chichiriviche in Morrocoy National Park. The 3 boats/occupants were taken to a remote location, the vessel occupants locked below in cabins and the boats ransacked/pillaged . At 4 PM when the criminals were done, they took one of the 3 boats and departed. From Noonsite piracy reports 2015 – http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/Venezuela/venezuela-morrocoy-national-park-three-local-motorboats-held-hostage-and-ransacked-march-2015

March 7, 2015

1946 – Assault in Haiti – Corail

Incident Date: 2015-01-21 at 03:00

Event Type: Assault

Stolen Items: All Cash ( $1000 US ), laptops, diving equipment, etc.

Secured: Locked

Source Type: Unknown Hand Report

Incident Details: A French couple and their children had anchored overnight between Corail and Pestel, Haiti. At 3 AM they were boarded by 12 men armed with machine guns and machetes. The leader of the group was in uniform. The boat was “inspected” for 2.5 hours, rummaging drawers, lockers, etc. The roller furling and main sheet were deliberately damaged. The men were agressive, with much yelling and arm waving, but the crew cooperated. They forced the boat to go 2 miles back to Corial at first light after taking all the cash on board ($1000), laptops and some other gear from the captain . The official then “allowed” the boat to depart to go onward to Pestel, Haiti the next planned stop. It is unlikely a police report was made. CSSN became aware of this incident of piracy/assault while confirming details of the next incident of piracy/assault, (also in Haiti), dated 16 April 2015

January 21, 2015

Tag: Assault Archives