Attempted robbery Archives - Caribbean Safety and Security Net

2024-03-292024-03-30

3264 – 2024-03-27 – Colombia – Cabo de la Vela – Attempted Robbery

DATE: 2024-03-27 20:30
LOCATION: Colombia – Cabo de la Vela
EVENT: Attempted Robbery
HAND: 1
STOLEN ITEMS: Unsuccessful
SECURED: N/A
DETAILS: A yacht made an unplanned stop at 1700HRS at Cabo de Las Vela to wait for more favorable sailing conditions, planning to depart at 0300HRS. No other yachts were anchored there. At 2030HRS they heard voices and found three masked men in a boat tied to their stern. Communications were difficult but the boarders were clearly told NO and asked, then told to leave.

The boarders were becoming more aggressive. The crew had prepared with bear spray, and used it on the first man who continued his attempt to climb aboard. He retreated but a second man began to board. They were using/swinging large poles in an attempt to subdue the crew. Both crew then shot more bear spray and the 3 men finally retreated to their boat and departed.

The crew made a VHF call (no response) and immediately departed.
ID: 3264

2023-05-302023-05-30

3031 – 2023-05-27 – Colombia – San Andres – San Andres Harbor – Attempted Robbery

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

2022-10-162022-10-23

2897 – 2022-10-16 – Saint Lucia – Anse Canaries – Attempted Robbery

DATE: 2022-10-16 01:00
LOCATION: Saint Lucia – Anse Canaries
EVENT: Attempted Robbery
HAND: 1
STOLEN ITEMS: None
SECURED: N/A
DETAILS: A cruising yacht with 2 persons onboard anchored for the night at Anse Canaries. No other cruising yachts were nearby. At 0100HRS they were awoken by noise and the captain went topsides and found 1 of 2 men on a kayak had boarded. The captain pushed the man into the water. The 2 men threatened the captain/crew by sharing their intention to return with a gun and kill them, and then departed.

The police were called, and the marine police arrived in less than 1 hour to take a report.

CSSN NOTE: An assault/armed robbery occurred in this anchorage in July 2022 as follows:

• DATE: 2022-07-08 20:00
LOCATION: Saint Lucia – Anse Canaries
EVENT: Robbery
HAND: 1
STOLEN ITEMS: Cash and personal electronics – tablet, cell phone
SECURED: Does not apply
DETAILS: At about 2000HRS two men armed with hand guns boarded a catamaran that had stopped for safe harbor overnight in the north end of Canaries Bay, St. Lucia, while on passage from Martinique to St Vincent. They held the singlehanding owner/captain at gunpoint in the salon and demanded cash and electronics that were readily surrendered. A demand for the “big money” was made but there was no large stash to surrender. After about 45 minutes the 2 left with what was assumed to be a third man who had remained in their boat. There were no injuries to the captain or damage to the yacht. The yacht departed at first light, no police report was made.
ID: 2848

Also, there were 2 assaults in nearby Soufriere in August 2022 , (see 2876), and again in October 2022, (see 2894).

ID: 2897

2022-03-31

2768 – 2022-03-28 – Grenada – Grenada – Clarke’s Court Bay – Attempted Robbery

DATE: 2022-03-28 05:25
LOCATION: Grenada – Grenada – Clarke’s Court Bay
EVENT: Attempted Robbery
HAND: 1
STOLEN ITEMS: None, not successful
SECURED: N/A
DETAILS: The captain of a yacht anchored near Woburn discovered 2 men onboard the deck of his yacht at 0530HRS. He challenged their presence verbally and made clear his willingness to discharge the flare he had pointed at them from 3 meters. They quickly retreated to their waiting pirogue, described as orange with a blue stripe.

The captain was not injured and the thieves were not successful. A police report was made.
ID: 2768

2021-03-15

2608 – 2021-03-07 – Guadeloupe (France) – Marie Galante – St. Louis – Attempted Robbery

DATE: 2021-03-07 21:30
LOCATION: Guadeloupe (France) – Marie Galante – St. Louis
EVENT: Attempted Robbery
HAND: 2
STOLEN ITEMS: nothing, not successful
SECURED: N/A
DETAILS: At 2130 hours 2 young men approached cruisers at the ferry dock and attempted to grab a backpack and demanded cash and phones. The cruisers resisted and began yelling and the robbery was abandoned. A police report was made.
ID: 2608