Assault Archives - Page 2 of 10 - Caribbean Safety and Security Net

2022-12-182022-12-19

2943 – 2022-12-18 – Saint Lucia – Pitons – Assault

DATE: 2022-12-18 03:00
LOCATION: Saint Lucia – Pitons
EVENT: Assault
HAND: 2
STOLEN ITEMS: Mobile phones (other : unknown, to be updated)
SECURED: N/A
DETAILS: PRELIMINARY REPORT : At 0300HRS a charter catamaran on a SMMA park mooring at Pitons was boarded by six(6) men armed with machetes and robbed of cellphones , plus other items tbd. It is not known if there were any injuries. A report was made to the SMMA park rangers. Further details expected when the charter returns to its base on Monday, December 19.

CSSN UPDATE : 19 December – The charter company has refused to provide any details or contact information for the victims. If you are a victim, please complete the CSSN online incident report so that others can understand the facts about what did/did not occur.

This is the 5th reported violent incident in the Soufriere/Pitons area in the last 5 months, see CSSN incidents 2894, 2897, 2876 and 2848.

Patrols are reported to have been recently put in place, but were clearly not an effective deterrent in this latest case.

ID: 2943

2022-10-092022-10-10

2894 – 2022-10-06 – Saint Lucia – Soufriere – Assault

DATE: 2022-10-06 00:30
LOCATION: Saint Lucia – Soufriere
EVENT: Assault
HAND: 1
STOLEN ITEMS: phone, tablet, computer and clothing
SECURED: Not Locked
DETAILS: A cruising couple on their yacht on an SMMA mooring were awoken and boarded at 0030HRS by 4 masked/hooded men with knives and machetes. The thieves stole electronics (phone,tablet,computer) and personal items (clothing). The crew was not injured. A police report was made, no forensics were taken.

CSSN NOTE: approximately one month ago a similar incident was reported at this location, see 2876 .

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ID: 2894

2022-08-27

2876 – 2022-08-26 – Saint Lucia – Soufriere – Assault

DATE: 2022-08-26 02:15
LOCATION: Saint Lucia – Soufriere
EVENT: Assault
HAND: 1
STOLEN ITEMS: A small amount of cash
SECURED: Not Locked
DETAILS: At 0215HRS a yacht on an SMMA mooring for its 3rd night was boarded by armed thieves. One of the assailants came thru an open hatch and then entered the salon where a female crew member was awake, and she began yelling. He attempted to silence her with a hand over her mouth and attempted to stuff a rag in her mouth and then began choking her, as she continued to struggle and yelled. A second crew member (male) awoke and it became violent and louder as many blows were exchanged. A second assailant entered thru the companionway and began assaulting the crew as well. The activity woke a third male crew member who came from the V berth, with crew now outnumbering the intruders 3 to 2. At this point the intruders jumped overboard and swam toward shore.

A knife that belonged to one of the intruders was found on the salon floor. The crew was well bloodied, and the intruders left behind significant blood as well. The crew chose to treat their own injuries. A small amount of cash had been taken, and the cover on the cockpit chart plotter had been removed.

Reports were made to the police, Coast Guard and SMMA authorities. No forensics were taken.

ID: 2876

2022-04-25

2785 – 2022-04-19 – Panama – Linton Bay Marina – Assault

DATE: 2022-04-19 22:00
LOCATION: Panama – Linton Bay Marina
EVENT: Assault
HAND: 1
STOLEN ITEMS: None
SECURED: N/A
DETAILS: The owner/captain of a cruising yacht docked for one night at the Linton Bay Marina, and was ashore having dinner at the restaurant when it began to rain at about 2200HRS. He returned to his boat to close the hatches and was overtaken by 4-5 men who were lying-in-wait in darkness inside. They had already searched the boat, and immediately wrestled him to the floor, and then held an automatic weapon to his head and began to demand “the drugs” they believed he had brought from the San Blas. Once a phone camera was shined in his face a third party seemed to conclude he was the wrong person.

The captain sustained minor injuries and was warned to remain quiet and on the floor. The men departed after about 15 minutes in their small launcha that was tied alongside. Nothing was stolen. After some time the captain returned to the restaurant and reported the incident.

Reports were made to the Linton Bay Marina management, the Navy/Coast Guard (Aeronaval) and the police. The victim was told the only security cameras at the marina were pointed at the restaurant and not the dock.
ID: 2785

2022-01-202022-01-23

2737 – 2022-01-16 – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – St. Vincent – Buccament Bay – Assault

DATE: 2022-01-16 02:30
LOCATION: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – St. Vincent – Buccament Bay
EVENT: Assault
HAND: 1
STOLEN ITEMS: Camera, computer, cash, phone
SECURED: Not Locked
DETAILS: Two yachts were the only visiting yachts anchored in Buccament Bay, St. Vincent. On the second night of their stay, the singlehanded captain/owner of one of the yachts awoke when he was being choked by 1 of 2 men who had boarded through a closed but not locked companionway. After the attackers displayed a gun to ensure cooperation a cloth/hood was placed over the captains head and he was tied up. The thieves ransacked the boat taking cash and electronics (phone, computer, camera). The thieves seemed unprepared to take the lifted and chain locked dinghy from the davits. They departed in an unpowered boat, which authorities indicated may have been stolen from a nearby bay.

A call was made on VHF 16 and a lighthouse station responded, and then contacted the Coast Guard, who arrived promptly and also contacted the police. The police arrived promptly to take a report, but no forensics were collected.

CSSN NOTE: The thieves had attempted to board the other yacht earlier the same night, but were not successful when the owners awoke and were able to discourage the two men. VHF calls to their buddy boat (victim above), were not answered.
ID: 2737