Caribbean Safety and Security Net
Know Before You Go
Part of Colombia & Central America
DATE: 2023-09-23 10:00
LOCATION: Colombia – Santa Marta – Taganga Bay
EVENT: Theft
HAND: 1
STOLEN ITEMS: 5 large fenders
SECURED: Not Locked
DETAILS: A yacht was anchored alone in Taganga bay. Between 0600-1200HRS, while they were onboard, their 5 large fenders were stolen, each line had been silently cut.
Reports were made to the police and coast guard.
ID: 3101
DATE: 2023-05-19 22:00
LOCATION: Colombia – Isla Tortuguilla
EVENT: Assault
HAND: 1
STOLEN ITEMS: Cell phones, laptops, outboard and small items.
SECURED: Does not apply
DETAILS: A yacht transiting from Panama to Cartagena anchored late in the day to overnight at Isla Tortuguilla. There were no other boats anchored there. They closed up and locked the boat for the night. At 2200HRs several men armed with automatic weapons arrived in an open boat with 40HP outboard and boarded.
The captain reluctantly opened up and the men ransacked the yacht. They collected valuables and then with a blast of gunfire forced all of the crew into the open boat and took them ashore where they were held hostage at gunpoint overnight. The crew was treated roughly but there were no physical injuries. The youngest crew member was handcuffed and then “interviewed” by the leader. The thieves seemed to think the crew was involved in drug smuggling, but found no drugs. They made it clear visitors were not welcome.
The next morning, the thieves returned the hostages to the yacht and released them, and stole the outboard engine.
The crew departed and plans to make a report to their consular officials.
ID: 3086
DATE: 2023-05-27 04:15
LOCATION: Colombia – San Andres – San Andres Harbor
EVENT: Attempted Robbery
HAND: 1
STOLEN ITEMS: None, not successful
SECURED: Not Locked
DETAILS: After several weeks in the anchorage with several other occupied boats nearby, owners heard noise and discovered 2 men onboard their boat at 0415HRS.
The leader was armed with a handgun and pointed it into the dark and unlocked companionway. The captain surprised and challenged him and the second man retreated immediately to join a third man who started the engine in their waiting speedboat. The leader also retreated when he apparently realized his companions might leave him behind. The attempted robbery was not successful, nothing was taken, and there were no injuries.
The crew shot off a flare to illuminate the departing criminals and immediately contacted authorities ashore. The police tracked the speedboat and detained a suspect. They recovered a weapon that is being tested for forensics. A formal report was made the next day to the Police and Port Captain as well as the Coast Guard and Navy. An investigation is underway.
ID: 3031
DATE: 2023-02-03 23:30
LOCATION: Colombia – Punta Canoas
EVENT: Theft
HAND: 1
STOLEN ITEMS: Genoa furling was cut and stolen
SECURED: Not Locked
DETAILS: Owners decided to anchor for the night at 2130HRS at Punto Canoa after a long and tiring sail from Cabo de la Velas. They were the only boat in the anchorage. The crew awoke at 2330HRS when they heard people talking just beside their boat and shining lights into the cockpit. The captain went out and found 5-6 men in a panga claiming to be fishermen who thought they had run aground, and the men began asking many questions. One of them boarded, and asked for food. The captain spoke spanish and provided some food and asked that they leave to avoid problems since the yacht had not yet cleared in. The panga departed.
The next morning the crew found that the genoa furling line had been cut, and removed. A report was made to the marina on their arrival later that day.
ID: 2982
DATE: 2022-09-16 03:30
LOCATION: Colombia – Cartegena
EVENT: Theft
HAND: 1
STOLEN ITEMS: 2.7m hard bottom dinghy and 15 HP Neptune outboard (SN 210732201)
SECURED: Locked
DETAILS: A yacht anchored near Club de Pesca. The owner awoke to some noise around 0330HRS , and found that the cable locking his in-the–water dinghy/outboard to the yacht had been cut, and the dinghy/outboard/contents stolen. A report was made to the Coast Guard, Port Captain and on the VHF net.
ID: 2883