THE VENEZUELAN ISLANDS

 

Events:

Vandalism – deliberately mischievous or malicious destruction or damage of property

Theft – no weapons, no violence, possibly boarding the yacht

Attempted theft – unsuccessful theft, see above

Burglary – breaking and entering a locked yacht while crew is away

Attempted burglary – unsuccessful burglary, see above

Robbery – boarding a yacht by one or more persons with weapons

Attempted robbery – unsuccessful robbery, see above

Assault – injuries to and/or physical restraining of crew in the course of a robbery

Assault resulting in death – injuries to or physical harm to a person that results in death

Piracy – boarding and theft on or of a vessel while underway

Attempted piracy – unsuccessful piracy, see above

Suspicious activity –  threatening or potentially dangerous activity by others

Other – details in description

COUNTRY
LOCATION
DATE
EVENTS
STOLEN-ITEMS
HOW-SECURED
NOTES
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2013-09-03 00:00
Assault resulting in death
Unknown
N/A
The captain, a dutch citizen, was shot and later died from his injuries at a local hospital.
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2011-12-31 00:00
Assault
Lots
N/A
Boarded by 5 amed men, beat captain. Only 3 other yachts in anchorage at the time so reporting boat left immediately
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2011-09-09 00:00
Assault
Cash and electronics
N/A
Captain needed stitches; wife shot in leg with rubber bullet
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2011-08-21 00:00
Assault
Cash and electronics
N/A
Captain on anchor watch during stormy night; approached by local pirogue as if needing help; they boarded, pistol whipped captain, may have injured wife
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2011-02-28 00:00
Assault
None
N/A
Up to 13 shots exchanged between captain and boarders; captain shot in hand; boarders left with nothing
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2010-10-26 00:00
Assault
All Electronics
N/A
Four men swam to yacht towing pinero, armed with guns and knives. Beat captain and two crew, took most of electronics, including computer
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2010-09-08 00:00
Assault
Nothing
N/A
Boarded by 2 men about 0200, armed with knives. Held knife to captain's throat. Captain able to fire flare gun, scared baorders away, captain burned by flare gun
Venezuela
Margarita Boca Del Rio
2010-08-29 00:00
Assault resulting in death
2 Laptops maybe more
N/A
Man found shot to death on yacht; police suspect robbery; 6 Sept - 4 arrested, two laptops found in one suspect's home
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2010-02-22 00:00
Theft
Outboard and bike
Unknown
Outboard taken from dinghy lifted out of water, also bicycle from on deck (another boat lost old running shoes the same night)
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2010-02-22 00:00
Attempted Theft
Failed
Locked
Awoke to noise about 1 am, found fellow on boarding ladder trying to lower dinghy from davits (dinghy locked), scared him away
Venezuela
Margarita Boca Del Rio
2010-02-15 00:00
Theft
Camera and GPS
Not Locked
While the parents and two children were asleep
Venezuela
Los Testigos
2010-02-11 00:00
Assault
Lots
N/A
About 1 hour out of Los Testigos bound for Porlamar, boarded by 5 armed men in pinero from the south, who tied and blindfolded him. Demanded money, stripped boat including snorkel gear
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2010-02-10 00:00
Theft
Outboard
Unknown
Three out of three - boat is for sale and they went home!
Venezuela
Los Testigos
2010-02-09 00:00
Robbery
Lots
N/A
1 hour out of Los Testigos to Margarita, boarded by 5 armed men who stripped the yacht inlcuding the anchors
Venezuela
Los Testigos
2010-02-08 00:00
Attempted Robbery
Failed
N/A
Trinidad to Los Testigos, 60 miles out of Trinidad, approached by 5 armed men in pinero, fired shots at yacht, steel yacht rammed the pinero, pinero left
Venezuela
Margarita
2009-11-06 00:00
Attempted Robbery
Failed
N/A
About 1700, midway between Margarita and Tortugas, followed by 3 men in pirogue with large outboard. Crew of yacht pointed flare gun. After several approaches and falling back, pirogue left.
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2009-08-23 00:00
Burglary
Electronics, outboards
Locked
Returning to yacht about 1930 saw young man jump from deck of yacht into waiting pinero which sped off. 2 outboards locked to stern rail, companionway boards shattered, main cabin trashed, 2 VHFs, laptop, 3 tool boxes, 2 GPSs, etc.
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2009-08-23 00:00
Attempted Theft
Failed
Not Locked
After attempt above, same young man tried to cut dinghy painter on another boat. Wife called out on VHF and all surrounding yachts shone spotlights on pinero, which sped off
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2009-08-23 00:00
Attempted Theft
Failed
Not Locked
About dusk, pinero with older man, 2 younger men, older woman, younger girl came off beach and young man jumped into water to cut dinghy painter. Owner jumped in water and saved his dinghy
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2009-08-09 00:00
Attempted Robbery
Failed
N/A
About dusk, approaching Margarita from Los Testigos, 2 pineros, one on each side, shadowed yacht. Called on VHF for Coast Guard, but no answer. Fired 2 flares each at pinero, hit one, both left
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2009-08-05 00:00
Attempted Robbery
Failed
N/A
10 miles NE of Margarita, approached by pinero w/ 4 armed men; shots fired; called on VHF for coast guard but no response; outran pinero and went to Juan Griego
Venezuela
Margarita
2009-01-22 00:00
Assault
Lots
N/A
15 miles NE on way to Martinique, boarded by 7 armed men; tied up crew, stole everything possible, smashed radios then left. Crew untied themselves and returned to Margarita
Venezuela
Margarita
2009-01-22 00:00
Assault
Dinghy
N/A
See above report - 6 miles from Margarita, boarded by another group of armed men who beat the crew and took dinghy - nothing left to steal
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2008-07-19 00:00
Theft
Outboard
Locked
9 HP outboard taken, locked to dinghy,dinghy locked to yacht but not lifted
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2008-07-19 00:00
Assault resulting in death
Nothing
N/A
1200 returning to boat 30 yards from dock, run over by local pirogue, man and woman in water, pulled out and rushed to hospital. He died in surgery from internal injuries and swallowing lots of water: boat taken to PLC; family and body returned home 11 August
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2008-07-08 00:00
Assault
Cash
Not Locked
Swimmer with knife about 1100, tied up young woman with duct tape and towel, ransacked boat
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2008-07-04 00:00
Theft
Lots
Unknown
no details
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2008-06-28 00:00
Theft
Lots
Not Locked
Taken from dinghy locked to dock at the Rum Bar
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2008-06-27 00:00
Theft
Lines and fenders
Not Locked
Anchored at back of pack, occurred while captain off the boat in the evening
Venezuela
Las Aves Sotovento
2008-04-08 00:00
Robbery
Cash
N/A
During day, boarded by Coast Guard in official t-shirts from official pirogue; searched boat; took expired flares and fined $5 US for each CG official; took bolivars. Legal search but questionable confiscation of flares & bolivars
Venezuela
Las Aves Sotovento
2008-03-22 00:00
Robbery
Cash
N/A
Boarded by 4 young men claiming to be coast guard searching for drugs; left after 2 hours with US$100, bottle of rum and cigarettes as fine for supposedly improper clearnace papers to Bonaire
Venezuela
Los Testigos
2008-01-26 00:00
Assault
Unknown
Not Locked
Boarded by 5 men with guns; captain shot in stomach; wife screamed and attracted attention; fisherman applied tourniquet and rushed captain to Porlamar hospital
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2008-01-12 00:00
Robbery
Cash
Not Locked
Three men armed with shotgun and two pistols
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2007-12-25 00:00
Burglary
Electronics, cash etc.
Locked
Between 1900-2100. Boat ransacked- lost cash, cell phone, spotlight, handheld VHF, liferaft
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2007-11-15 00:00
Assault
Dinghy and outboard
Not Locked
Captain found two men cutting davit lines; tried to grab dinghy; slashed on hand by knife; went below to get flare gun and came back to see men towing dinghy away
Venezuela
Don Pedro (10-44N 61-56w)
2007-09-16 00:00
Attempted Robbery
Failed
N/A
About 5:50 pm approached by open boat with 7 men aged 20-45, scared off with flare gun
Venezuela
Don Pedro (10-44N 61-56w)
2007-09-16 00:00
Attempted Robbery
Failed
N/A
About 4 pm approached by open boat with 6 men aged 20-30, asking for water; attempt to board; scared off with flare gun
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2007-07-31 00:00
Theft
Outboard
Locked
Dinghy left in water, 8 HP Yamaha locked to dinghy, dinghy locked to yacht, outboard taken
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2007-07-31 00:00
Theft
Dinghy and outboard
Locked
Dinghy left in water but locked to yacht, outboard locked to dinghy, both stolen
Venezuela
Margarita
2007-06-09 00:00
Robbery
Cash
N/A
Underway off north coast of Margarita, boarded by three men armed with handguns; took $US and bolivars
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2007-03-11 00:00
Theft
Dinghy and outboard
Unknown
Three in one night; had been no problems for a long time so dinghies weres being left in the water
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2006-11-17 00:00
Theft
Outboard
Not Locked
Dinghy not lifted and not locked to yacht, 4 HP outboard not locked to dinghy
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2006-09-16 00:00
Theft
Dinghy
Unknown
Not hauled out of water
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2006-07-09 00:00
Burglary
Computer
Locked
At marina Miguel
Venezuela
Margarita Juangriego
2006-07-02 00:00
Assault
Lots
Not Locked
Swimmer hit captain with oar, threw captain into water, took lots of stuff, reported to coast guard with description of boarder, boarder arrested within 24 hours and items returned
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2006-07-01 00:00
Burglary
Unknown
Locked
Boat at marina Miguel, people not on board
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2006-06-02 00:00
Theft
Outboard
Locked
Dinghy not lifted - 15 HP
Venezuela
Los Testigos
2006-04-13 00:00
Theft
Dinghy and outboard
Not Locked
Beached dinghy early evening to watch turtles
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2006-02-20 00:00
Theft
Cash
N/A
After using atm at Rattan, someone charged 1000 pounds against credit card
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2006-01-11 00:00
Theft
Outboard
Locked
Also locked to marina Juan dock, paid security guard, returned from dinner to no outboard
Venezuela
Margarita Porlamar
2006-01-11 00:00
Theft
Outboard
Locked
Locked to marina Juan dock, paid security guard, returned from dinner to no outboard