THE VENEZUELAN MAINLAND

 

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
Paria Peninsula
2013-11-13 11:00
Assault
Computers, electronics, cash
N/A
10 miles west of eastern tip of Paria peninsula - 10:30 am yacht was boarded and attacked by armed pirates; money and valuable items were demanded and surrendered and the skipper was beaten. Returned to Trinidad and reported to the Coast Guard
Venezuela
PLC CMO/PMO/TMO boatyard
2013-11-06 12:00
Burglary
Camera, 4 full sets of dive gear (BC'S, regulators, dive computers)
Locked
Items stolen during daylight hours while boatyard employees were doing work on the boat. The boat was locked, although the workers had asked that the hatches be left open so that they could complete the polishing work properly.
Venezuela
Golfo De Santa Fe
2012-08-09 00:00
Assault
Cash and electronics
N/A
Mid-day, boarded by five men from pinero armed with hand gun and four machetes; held one crew at gunpoint while boat ransacked
Venezuela
Mochima Isla Cachicamo
2012-06-16 00:00
Robbery
Cash, etc.
N/A
Robbed by 4 men armed with pistols who took cameras, cash and cell phones, reported to police
Venezuela
Orinoco Delta Manamo River
2012-06-10 00:00
Robbery
Cash, camera
N/A
Just after boarding previous yacht, 1 robber forced captain to bring him in dinghy to this yacht where he demanded money and also took a camera, reported to police
Venezuela
Orinoco Delta Manamo River
2012-06-10 00:00
Robbery
Lots
N/A
About 19:30 boarded by 4 men from speedboat armed with 3 pistols;took clothes, toilet items, cameras, computers, cell phone, reported to police.
Venezuela
Playa Colorado
2012-04-03 00:00
Robbery
Cash, phones
N/A
About 2030, three young men armed with pistol & shotgun
Venezuela
Carupano
2012-01-12 13:40
Assault
Everything possible
N/A
Carupano, underway north to Grenada, armed boarders ransacked boat, some crew injuries, but were able to return to Carupano and police contacted.
Venezuela
Carupano
2010-05-13 00:00
Robbery
Lots
N/A
About 2145, boarded by 4 men armed with pistol and large knife. On board 30 minutes, ransacked boat. Took money, computers, cameras, flashlights, binoculars, GPS, etc.
Venezuela
Paria Peninsula
2010-04-03 00:00
Assault resulting in death
All Equipment
N/A
Woman recovered from raft 16 April 100 miles N of Curacao 10+ days in raft; yacht attacked, husband shot and killed; boat drifted onto reef in Los Roques
Venezuela
Cumana
2010-03-29 00:00
Theft
Dinghy and outboard
Not Locked
Anchored near Cumanagoto marina; did not lift dinghy because too windy; dinghy and 15 HP outboard
Venezuela
Cabo Tres Puntas
2010-03-15 00:00
Attempted Robbery
Nothing
N/A
Approached by 4 armed men in white pirogue with red stripe. Circled and fired shots. Yacht sped up, more shots. Captain pointed flare gun at pirogue, they fired more shots then left
Venezuela
Carupano
2010-03-03 00:00
Robbery
Lots
N/A
About dusk boarded by 5 armed men who fired and circled before boarding; took freezer, generator, food , compass, etc. Broke controls to engine and fired shots into engine
Venezuela
Puerto Cabello
2010-02-22 00:00
Robbery
Not Known At This Point
N/A
At 2 pm, boarded by 3 men from pinero who remained on board 20 minutes - further details coming
Venezuela
Cabo Tres Puntas
2010-02-17 00:00
Attempted Robbery
Failed
N/A
At dusk heading west approached by 3 pineros who circled anad followed for 60 minutes; shot flare gun at them several times to warn them off
Venezuela
Punta Angoleta
2009-04-04 00:00
Assault
Nothing
N/A
Three miles offshore heading east, approached by armed men in pirogue with 1 engine; shots fired; captain chased away with flare gun
Venezuela
Isla Borracha
2008-11-08 00:00
Assault
Nothing
N/A
About dusk, see above description, tried to get gun to drive pirates away, captain shot in leg.
Venezuela
Isla Borracha
2008-11-08 00:00
Assault resulting in death
Nothing
N/A
About dusk, visiting neighbor boat which was approached by 3 men in pirogue asking for water. Captain shot twice, died instantly. Mayday to PLC, Coast Guard within 1 hour, back to PLC. American embassy on hand to assist.
Venezuela
Caraballeda
2008-09-14 00:00
Assault resulting in death
Lots
Not Locked
Boarded by 4 armed men, captain tried to fight them off and was shot 3-4 times (later died of wounds) wife held captive while looted boat. When robbers left, wife shot off flare gun to attract attention.
Venezuela
Cabo Tres Puntas
2008-09-07 00:00
Attempted Robbery
Failed
N/A
About 5 in afternoon, 4 miles NW of Cabo Tres Puntas, approached by pirogue with 6 men. Captain says he "did what he had to do" to keep them off
Venezuela
Macareo River Cano Guapoa
2008-09-05 00:00
Theft
Outboard
Not Locked
15 HP outboard mounted on transom of yacht, not locked
Venezuela
Punta Pargo
2008-07-25 00:00
Robbery
Lots
N/A
10 miles off coast heading west, boarded by 8 armed men; took all they could carry in 20 minutes; boat returned to Trinidad and reported to TT Coast Guard
Venezuela
Puerto Santos
2008-07-05 00:00
Assault
Lots
N/A
Underway to Trinidad 10 miles out from Puerto Santos, boarded by 5 armed men who looted boat, shot and stabbed dog; injured wife trying to get wedding ring
Venezuela
Playa Cacao
2008-06-30 00:00
Robbery
Lots
N/A
About 1500, 4 miles NE Playa Cacao, 6 armed men, 4 outboards on pirogue, took 2 computers, money , other electronics
Venezuela
Puerto Santos
2008-04-29 00:00
Attempted Robbery
Failed
Locked
Awakened at 2145 by men yelling and banging on hatches/companionway. Fired flare gun thru hatch and the men left. Called on VHF 16, a local man answered and called the Guardia Nacional
Venezuela
Caraballeda
2008-04-27 00:00
Assault
Lots
Not Locked
Boarded and beaten by 3 armed men, tied to bed and mast; long list of items taken; Coast Guard assisted after report but with no results
Venezuela
El Oculto
2008-03-12 00:00
Theft
All topside articles
Locked
About midnight, awoke to noise on deck, 2 men trying to take dink lashed down; took clothes from line, cockpit cushions, life sling, horseshoe buoy, fenders; climbed up knotted rope tied to wind vane
Venezuela
PLC El Morro
2008-02-14 00:00
Attempted Theft
Failed
Locked
Anchored near El Morro marina, heard noise on deck during night, saw someone dive overboard, found shirt left on deck
Venezuela
Mochima Town
2008-01-13 00:00
Assault
Lots
Unknown
Boarded by 2 men armed with gun and knife; tied up crew; took lots of stuff; captain able to identify 1 robber to police
Venezuela
Cabo San Francisco
2008-01-02 00:00
Robbery
Nothing
N/A
Mid-afternoon, approached by 5 men in pirogue with 2- 75 HP Yamahas; tried to sell drugs, asked for water, tried to board; shots fired hit boat
Venezuela
Punta Pargo
2007-09-15 00:00
Assault
Cash, etc.
Not Locked
Late afternoon approached by 3 men aged 18-25 asking for water; boarded; armed; hit captain on head; took US$600 in various currencies, watch, camera
Venezuela
Mochima Ensenada Toporo
2007-06-23 00:00
Assault
Various
N/A
Boarded by 4 armed men, captain beaten, reported to police in Mochima and also to Guardia Costa in Cumana
Venezuela
PLC Bahia Redonda
2007-01-02 00:00
Assault
Nothing
Not Locked
Early am 3 young men, struggle, 1 crew injured and required outpatient surgery, 1 arrested
Venezuela
PLC CMO/PMO/TMO Marina
2006-11-13 00:00
Burglary
Electronics
Locked
Came back from home to find boat ransacked and stripped of electronics
Venezuela
Cumana Navimca
2006-10-14 00:00
Theft
Outboards (2)
Unknown
One dinghy recovered from rocks, one from drifting in golfo, one ooutboard was 4 HP Johnson
Venezuela
Carupano
2006-07-09 00:00
Robbery
Cash
N/A
Men in fatigues armed with automatic weapons in small fishing boat boarded 4 miles off Paria peninsula. Demanded money
Venezuela
PLC Bahia Redonda
2006-06-12 00:00
Other
N/A
N/A
Pierre Rollins (yard owner) & wife driving into gate at yard shot thru windshield, two men in custody (6/28) termed a "hit"
Venezuela
Islas De Piritu
2006-04-28 00:00
Assault
Unknown
Not Locked
About noon, 5 armed men, captain/singlehander shot in belly, hospitalized in PLC, lost kidney during surgery
Venezuela
Mochima Town
2006-02-04 00:00
Attempted Robbery
Failed
Unknown
Dog scared armed men off boat
Venezuela
Golfo De Cariaco Laguna Grande
2006-01-06 00:00
Theft
Outboard
Not Locked
Early afternoon, beached dinghy to hike, returned to no dinghy, found deflated dignhy in bushes without outboard