DATE: 2015-07-07 02:00
Country Name: Curacao
Location Detail: Spanish Water
EVENT: Attempted theft
Stolen Items: nothing, dinghy painter was cut nearly through
SECURED: Locked
DETAILS: On awakening the crew of a boat anchored in Spanish Waters discovered that overnight their dinghy had been tampered with. The canvas cover for the outboard had been removed, and the painter nearly cut thru with a sharp implement of some sort. The dinghy was cabled and locked to the yacht, the outboard engine was securely locked to the dinghy. The owners asked CSSN to specifically remind and warn others that this pattern of attempted/actual theft has occurred here in Spanish Waters before, the swimout thieves drift off in the night with the dinghy to work away at the locks on the outboard in a remote area, and the dinghy minus the outboard is sometimes later recovered, sometimes the entire dinghy is swum ashore and then taken away by a waiting pickup truck.. This incident was reported on the local Curacao daily VHF net, but it can happen to anyone, anywhere.
CSSN NOTE: Cables, stainless steel chains and sturdy locks do provide a first order of defense against casual “sneak” thieves, but LIFTING and then also LOCKING provides a more robust deterrent.