Trinidad, Scotland Bay: Fisherman Suspected in Thefts and Assault
CSSN has received reports of three separate incidents in the Scotland Bay and Chaguaramas areas of Trinidad involving a fisherman who offered to sell fish and other services to those onboard before assaulting one skipper and stealing from the others.
Published 1 year ago
Two of the three incidents occurred in the anchorage at Chaguaramas and the other occurred in Scotland Bay. The individual CSSN incident reports are detailed below.
DATE: 2023-08-02 20:00
LOCATION: Trinidad and Tobago – Trinidad – Scotland Bay
EVENT: Assault
HAND: 1
STOLEN ITEMS: Cash, 2 phones, 1 tablet and all credit cards, dive mask
SECURED: Does not apply
DETAILS:
A singlehander anchored his yacht in Scotland Bay, Trinidad. No other yachts were present. He purchased fish from a local fisherman. The fisherman returned again a few days later accompanied by a prostitute and again offered fish and also services. The services were declined and the two were invited onboard for a drink.
The captain was knocked unconscious and awoke in a daze sometime later with severe head injuries. He asked the fisherman for help and assistance with transit to the hospital. The fisherman asked for money. When the captain went below to get his wallet, he found that it had been emptied of all cash and credit cards, and realized he had been robbed. Also missing were 2 phones and a tablet. He asked the two to leave, and they departed.
The captain managed to take his boat to Chaguaramas late that night and received assistance from other cruisers. He was taken immediately to the hospital and admitted.
After discharge he returned to his yacht and a full report was made to the police, and later to his consulate.
Police have identified a suspect but have not been successful in locating/apprehending the man. He is also suspected in another incident of theft, see CSSN ALERT 3088 below.
CSSN will as a matter of policy update this report if new information from the police is made available.
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DATE: 2023-08-09 19:00
LOCATION: Trinidad and Tobago – Trinidad – Chaguaramas – Anchorage
EVENT: Theft
HAND: 1
STOLEN ITEMS: Wallets and contents
SECURED: Not locked
DETAILS:
A fisherman approached an anchored yacht to sell fish, and was invited aboard by the singlehander captain. The fisherman also offered the services of a prostitute, which were declined. After accepting a drink the fisherman departed.
The next day the captain realized his wallet/contents had been stolen. This same fisherman had violently assaulted another singlehander captain, and a police report was made.
A police report was made, and the police have identified a suspect but have not been successful in locating the man.
CSSN will as a matter of policy update this report if new information from the police is made available.
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DATE: 2023-08-16 07:30
LOCATION: Trinidad and Tobago – Trinidad – Chaguaramas – Anchorage
EVENT: Attempted Theft
HAND: 1
STOLEN ITEMS: Not successful
SECURED: Not locked
DETAILS:
A fisherman boarded an anchored yacht uninvited while the captain was below in the galley. When the captain discovered his presence he pushed the intruder who dropped the items he had wrapped in a t-shirt to steal and departed.
The fisherman returned 5 minutes later with a 50cm knife and attempted to retrieve the t-shirt/items but was again repelled by the captain. He again paddled away.
The captain launched his dinghy and located the fisherman, then called the police. The police confiscated the knife and then took the fisherman away. The victim went to the police station and made a report.
Police released the fisherman several hours later, and advised the victim that nothing had been taken so no actual charges were made
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CSSN NOTE: If you are a victim, please take five minutes to complete the CSSN online incident report, it’s quick, confidential and keeps our cruising community fully and factually informed.
Related to following destinations: Chaguaramas, Trinidad, Trinidad & Tobago
Related to the following Cruising Resources: Caribbean, Piracy & Security