Caribbean Safety and Security Net
Know Before You Go
Part of Columbia & Central America
DATE: 2025-05-19 01:00
LOCATION: Panama – San Blas – Chichime
EVENT: Theft
HAND: 1
STOLEN ITEMS: 25HP Yamaha outboard
SECURED: Not Locked
DETAILS: Overnight thieves stole the 25HP Yamaha outboard from a hoisted dinghy. No one was onboard at the time.
ID: 3662
UPDATE 7 April 2025 – CSSN has been contacted by the submitter and informed that no theft occurred. The yacht owner had hidden the deposit and forgotten he had done so. He subsequently found the concealed cash and has apologized to the marina and wishes to formally correct the record.
Original report : A yacht berthed at Vistamar Marina, San Carlos, Panama staging for a Pacific-Caribbean canal transit. Between 1830-2030HRS on March 26, 2025 a thief entered the unlocked catamaran and entered the Captain’s cabin and stole the substantial cash canal transit deposit from a briefcase. A report was made to the marina.
DATE: 2025-03-29 03:00
LOCATION: Panama – Rio Chagres
EVENT: Attempted Theft
HAND: 1
STOLEN ITEMS: Nothing, their target was the dinghy.
SECURED: Locked
DETAILS: A catamaran anchored overnight in the Chagres river and was boarded at about 0300HRS. The yacht’s security video captured the masked and gloved thief, armed with a knife as he rummaged the cockpit area. Nothing was taken, but when the dinghy davit lines were cut the loud noise scared the thief off. The dinghy was chain locked to the yacht.
ID: 3630
DATE: 2025-03-19 03:40
LOCATION: Panama – Bocas del Toro – Old Bank Bay
EVENT: Theft
HAND: 1
STOLEN ITEMS: Panga, Yamaha 40HP motor, anchor, life vests, snorkels
SECURED: Locked
DETAILS: A panga and motor (white Caribepro blue Bimini, 40HP Yamaha) was stolen from a dock in Old Bank Bastimentos, the locking chain was cut. There is a wedge shaped lime green stripe under the Enduro decal on engine, and hand hold on rear is lime green as well. A report was made to the police and Coast Guard.
ID: 3622
DATE: 2025-03-08 15:00
LOCATION: Panama – Rio Chagres
EVENT: Theft
HAND: 1
STOLEN ITEMS: Diving Tanks, Snorkeling Gear, Wet Suits, Fishing Gear, Laptop, 2 Tablets, 4 Powerbanks, 3 Hesdphones, 4 Portable Speakers, Electric Induction Stove, Bags, Bathing Suits, Beer, Milk, 3 Wallets
SECURED: Not Locked
DETAILS: While the crew were exploring the river by dinghy their yacht was boarded by thieves. Their companionway was well locked but the thieves found an unsecured hatch and gained access to the interior. They searched thoroughly and many items were stolen from the deck/cockpit/interior including dive tanks, snorkeling gear, wet suits, fishing gear, a laptop, 2 tablets, 4 power banks, 3 sets of headphones, 4 portable speakers, an electric induction stove, swimwear, beer, milk, 3 wallets.
A report was made to the police and Coast Guard.
ID: 3616