Incident Date: 2020-02-27 at 20:00
Event Type: Vandalism
Stolen Items: Nothing taken
Secured: Not Locked
Source Type: 1st Hand Report
Incident Details: Owners returned to their unlocked yacht after an evening ashore and found they had been boarded. Wet footprints were found in the salon and below. Nothing seemed to be missing, but the yacht had been well searched/ransacked. A report was made to the Navy.
Incident Date: 2020-02-03 at 20:00
Event Type: Theft
Stolen Items: Cash
Secured: Not Locked
Source Type: 1st Hand Report
Incident Details: A yacht on a mooring was left unlocked with a large dog on-board while owner was ashore from 8-10PM. A thief boarded and stole cash but left other items . It is unknown if a police report was made. ||If you are, or know this victim, please encourage a complete firsthand report.||UPDATE 2/13/2020: CSSN has received a firsthand report from the victim. Additional details include that there was some damage to the interior of the yacht, and that the thief likely used tools they found there. A report was made to the Navy, who visited the boat and took pictures but no forensics. CSSN has contacted stakeholders in Luperon to clarify the correct reporting process for the Dominican Republic.
Incident Date: 2020-01-30 at 01:00
Event Type: Burglary
Stolen Items: not determined
Secured: Locked
Source Type: 2nd Hand Report
Incident Details: Minders of a yacht in Luperon Bay discovered it had been burglarized. The thief had gained entry via the companionway and used tools to defeat/remove the boats locking hardware. No further details are available.
Incident Date: 2019-12-29 at 21:00
Event Type: Theft
Stolen Items: jewelry
Secured: Not Locked
Source Type: 1st Hand Report
Incident Details: A yacht arrived for its first visit in Luperon and took a mooring. They went ashore and completed checkin procedures with Customs and Immigration. They queried the Capitania about any other requirements, and he shrugged. Later, back at the yacht a boat with two uniformed Navy persons with automatic weapons arrived to complete an inspection. They conducted a very thorough investigation and found a key hidden out side and also a jewelry pouch that was well hidden deep in a locker. They completed their report and asked for a "gratuity" and were given a small sum (USD 10) , and they departed.||Later the crew went ashore from 7-10 PM, when they returned to the yacht the door was locked as they had left it, but the crew was unsure if all closed hatches had been locked. Upon entering a sleeping cabin they discovered the jewelry pouch sitting on the bed and open, and all but 2 pieces missing. Left behind was some costume jewelry, everything else had been taken (rings, watches, necklaces, earrings). No other lockers seemed to be disturbed, and no electronics were taken – tablets, camera, TV, printer, router, were all were visible and out. ||The crew was understandably concerned about the roles officials may have taken in this theft. They departed the Dominican Republic on good weather a few days later. No police report was made before departure.||CSSN NOTE: The victims have indicated a willingness to complete a police report by email/phone. Stakeholders in Luperon are asked to encourage the correct Police party to contact CSSN at safetyandsecuritynet@gmail.com to facilitate this process.
Incident Date: 2018-11-21 at 00:00
Event Type: Theft
Stolen Items: Portable Yamaha generator, many tools, provisions
Secured: Locked
Source Type: 2nd Hand Report
Incident Details: During the night, police stopped/apprehended a suspect carrying suspicious items in his car. They posted pictures of the items along with a photo of the suspect and his driver’s license on the Luperon Cruisers Facebook page. The items were not immediately recognized so a search was made of unoccupied yachts. A caretaker of a sailboat whose owner was away discovered that the locked yacht had been broken into and ransacked and identified the items as belonging to that boat. Charges were filed by the caretaker on the owners behalf, and the items were returned to the yacht.
Latitude: 19.901762 | Longitude: -70.949311
Incident Date: 2018-11-10 at 00:00
Event Type: Burglary
Stolen Items: Honda generator, compressor with hose, water pump and many tools
Secured: Locked
Source Type: 1st Hand Report
Incident Details: Thieves broke into an unoccupied but well locked yacht thru a deck hatch, damaging the hatch. The minder/caretaker discovered the theft the next morning. A stolen dinghy had been used to transport the goods and it was recovered. A report was made to the police, coast guard, port captain, the Puerto Blanco Marina, the tourist office and on the VHF net. CSSN NOTE: In reponse to the recent increase in thefts and boat burglaries, on November 14, 2019, stakeholders in Luperon met and roles/jurisdicitons were clarified, including correct crime reporting procedures. To enhance the security on the water the Navy comandante from Puerto Plata reinstated a patrol boat in Luperon bay with immediate effect. Initially, provisional equipment will be used, but a bigger patrol boat in association with a small patrol boat are expected. Locally, the Navy (call name: Richard) can be reached on VHF channel 68 24/7 in case of emergency. The National Police indicated that a 911-call will activate the patrols around the bay at all times.
Incident Date: 2018-11-09 at 01:00
Event Type: Theft
Stolen Items: Cash
Secured: Not Locked
Source Type: 2nd Hand Report
Incident Details: While the owner was asleep on board, the thief boarded the unlocked boat and stole $150 US cash. Computers and phones were not taken. Footprints were seen on deck in the morning, no police report was made.
Incident Date: 2018-10-29 at 01:00
Event Type: Theft
Stolen Items: Cash
Secured: Not Locked
Source Type: 1st Hand Report
Incident Details: Owners left their yacht on a mooring for 3 days for inland travel. On their return they found a deck hatch that had been left closed but not locked was open and that the cabin had been ransacked. Only cash (which had been hidden) was taken. A report was made to the police, coast guard, port captain, the Puerto Blanco Marina, the tourist office and on the VHF net.
Incident Date: 2018-08-01 at 14:00
Event Type: Theft
Stolen Items: jewelry and cash
Secured: Not Locked
Source Type: 2nd Hand Report
Incident Details: The owners of a recently arrived monohull made a quick trip to shore in the afternoon, leaving their boat closed but unlocked. They returned to find the door open, floor wet and jewelry and a small amount of cash missing. A report was made to the police and navy.
Incident Date: 2017-08-18 at 01:00
Event Type: Theft
Stolen Items: secondary anchor and rode
Secured: Not Locked
Source Type: 1st Hand Report
Incident Details: An unoccupied trimaran on a mooring in the bay had its primary mooring vandalized (released) and the in the water backup/secondary anchor and rode stolen. The boat went adrift and had damage to its stern mounted radio antenna as it struck another yacht before eventually grounding itself in the mudflats. Both yachts had minor scratches. The owner/captain made a report to the local police.
