Incident Date: 2024-05-13 at 01:00
Event Type: Burglary
Stolen Items: not determined, owners absent
Secured: Locked
Source Type: 2nd Hand Report
Incident Details: An unoccupied yacht berthed at RYC was burglarized. No further details are currently available.||CSSN NOTE: If you are a victim please make a firsthand report here. The online form is quick/easy and private.
Incident Date: 2024-05-10 at 01:30
Event Type: Theft
Stolen Items: Dive gear and binoculars
Secured: Not Locked
Source Type: 1st Hand Report
Incident Details: A yacht anchored in French Cay was boarded while the owners were away for two days. The thieves were unable to enter the locked yacht, but stole dive gear and binoculars from an unlocked lazarette.
Incident Date: 2024-04-20 at 18:30
Event Type: Suspicious Activity
Stolen Items: N/A
Secured: N/A
Source Type: 1st Hand Report
Incident Details: A motor yacht moving at 8.2kn was transiting from the San Blas islands, Panama, to the US via the Yucatan channel. At 1830HRS at position 16-21.197N 081-26.630W, approximately 130nm from the NE coast of Honduras in the Thunder Knoll area, they observed a 50-65' white fishing vessel with beige superstructure at a distance of 1.8nm. The yacht altered course and added speed (8.8kn). Radar indicated that the fishing vessel had significantly increased its speed (8.5kn) and altered its direction to an intercept course. There were no radio communications. As a precaution the yacht went dark (lights and AIS transmit off). Several course changes by the yacht were mirrored by the fishing vessel that continued to track at speed on an intercept course. ||The yachts crew prepared in accordance with their previously agreed boarding plan. They readied multiple flares, a spear gun and had already preprogrammed USCG phone numbers in their devices/Starlink. They began to close and secure all access points. PLB's and EPIRBS were hidden but remained easily accessible to the crew. || After about a half hour of pursuit/evasion the yacht had increased the distance to 2.3nm and the fishing vessel turned around, reduced speed and slowly headed SSW back to the area where it had first been sighted. ||The crew notified another vessel traveling behind them about the situation and they chose to alter course 30nm further east. After some distance had been achieved the yacht restored its lights/AIS transmit and continued its passage. They will make a report to officials on arrival.
Incident Date: 2024-03-15 at 12:01
Event Type: Theft
Stolen Items: 2 fishing rods
Secured: Not Locked
Source Type: 1st Hand Report
Incident Details: An unlocked yacht on a West End mooring was boarded during daylight (1200-1700HRS) while the owner was away and 2 fishing rods were stolen. Nothing else was taken, other yachts were moored nearby. No police report was made.
Incident Date: 2023-11-14 at 01:00
Event Type: Theft
Stolen Items: Trolling rod and reel
Secured: Not Locked
Source Type: 1st Hand Report
Incident Details: A sailing catamaran moored overnight on one of the installed moorings near shore and the fuel dock in main harbour of Utila. A trolling rod and reel were left unsecured in a rod holder mounted on the stern and were missing in the morning. It wasn’t noticed until shortly after departure, so it was not reported to local authorities.
Incident Date: 2023-04-20 at 07:30
Event Type: Attempted Piracy
Stolen Items: N/A
Secured: Does not apply
Source Type: 1st Hand Report
Incident Details: A yacht transiting north from Providencia, Colombia to Caymans traveled in stealth mode (no lights, AIS Tx) overnight and observed a large fishing vessel on radar. At 0730HRS at position 15° 16.095N 81° 12.270W, approximately 100 miles off the coast, they had visually sighted the large steel vessel to port and it was tracking back and forth in a small area. As the yacht continued on its northly course they noted the fishing vessel had altered course and was now moving on a parallel course but closing the gap. The vessel attempted VHF communications with a trailing buddy boat, and the fishing vessel repeatedly |jammed their communications by continuously clicking over them. The buddy boats began using satellite texts. At a distance of about 1 mile the fishing vessel again altered course to intercept directly and put on speed, large amounts of dark smoke were now billowing from its exhaust. The buddy boat issued a pan pan, and the yacht activated their Iridium SOS feature and began voice communications with the emergency response team that included the USCG, Colombian Coast Guard, and the Nicaraguan military. None had assets in the immediate area but maintained continuous voice contact with the crew. The yacht put on all possible speed with sails and engine and turned sharply southeast, and the fishing vessel continued to follow at speed. At 8+knots the yacht was able to slowly increase the separation and after some time the fishing vessel gave up the pursuit, it remained in the area for several hours. Both yachts left the area and returned south.||A full report will be made by the crew at their next port of entry.
Incident Date: 2023-04-18 at 02:30
Event Type: Assault
Stolen Items: Cash, backpack, cellphone
Secured: Not Locked
Source Type: 1st Hand Report
Incident Details: A yacht anchored alone in Coxen Hole. On the second night at 0230HRS two masked and armed men boarded through the lit cockpit/open companionway. They proceeded to tie the crew at gunpoint with braided shoelaces they had brought with them and covered their victim’s face with a tshirt. They ransacked the forward cabin briefly and took cash, a phone and a backpack they had emptied. The boarders spoke a non-Spanish local language and were onboard for only 3-5 minutes before leaving the scene with their accomplices in a panga. The crew was not injured. ||A police report was made. No forensics were collected.||The yacht departed later the same day.
Incident Date: 2023-03-29 at 02:05
Event Type: Attempted Theft
Stolen Items: unsuccessful
Secured: Locked
Source Type: 2nd Hand Report
Incident Details: boat 3 of 3, see incident 3013
Incident Date: 2023-03-29 at 02:03
Event Type: Theft
Stolen Items: 15HP Hidea outboard
Secured: Locked
Source Type: 2nd Hand Report
Incident Details: locked outboard stolen off dinghy, boat 2 of 3, see incident 3013
Incident Date: 2023-03-29 at 02:00
Event Type: Theft
Stolen Items: 15HP Suzuki outboard and 15HP Hidea outboard
Secured: Locked
Source Type: 2nd Hand Report
Incident Details: Three boats in the north end of the mooring field were targeted by 3 well prepared thieves equipped with bolt cutters. Yachts #1 and #2 had the locks on the engines of their in-the water (locked) dinghies stolen. Yacht #3 interrupted the thieves as they were attempting to cut the lock on their raised and locked dinghy's outboard. Two of the men jumped in the water and the third left in the motorized panga, and it is believed he picked the swimmers up. Yacht #1 made a police report.||See incidents 3015 (boat#2) and 3016 (boat#3)
