Theft & Muggings
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Theft & Muggings
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Another frequent question we get concerns security: are there
risks of theft or, worse, violent attack in the visited places? Obviously, as relatively rich tourists visiting poor
Countries, we are potential targets for the local hoodlums. Thieves do not care
if they harm their Country’s tourism industry!
Similarly, there are some townships, such as Colon and the slums of Panama City, at the two ends of the Canal, which are dangerous even for the locals, let alone a solitary tourist! The possibility for someone to break into the un-attended boat must be considered, and there are even some places where a particularly light-stepped thief may dare boarding a boat at night while the crew is asleep (it happened to us in Djibouti!). Finally, it must be remembered that dinghies are particularly exposed to theft, both when left ashore and when tied to the boat’s stern during the night; even loose items on deck or in the cockpit are at risk. NOTE: in this case, often fellow boaters have been found to be the culprights, rather than the locals! Having said all that, it must be said also that very seldom we felt being at risk, and locals are almost always friendly and honest. There are known exceptions, and a quick check on a website such as “noonsite” will tell you which are the current hotspots. Paranoia is not entirely warranted then, but a few elementary
precautions should be taken, such as never leave the boat open when
unattended, and secure the dinghy (and the outboard motor) with chain and
padlocks (and preferably lifted out of the water at night). It’s generally a very bad idea to quarrel with the locals
(who may be tempted to come back at night to retaliate) and is conversely good
to let them do a little business with you: indeed, they may offer non-requested services,
such as helping with the moorings, and become very insistent, but in most cases just a small tip will be enough, no need to
mistreat them. It’s always a good idea being in company with another boat, and especially to avoid being alone in an anchorage. When you go ashore, ask around to find out if it’s safe to go alone or if it’s better to go by taxi or anyway being escorted by a local. Firearms on board?? Some considerations: - Firearms must be declared on arrival in a Country, and more often than not they will be taken away by the authorities who will return them upon leaving the Country, which implies leaving from the same port of entry (not always convenient) and defies the whole purpose of having the weapon on board when coastal-cruising. - Keeping on board and not declaring a hidden weapon is a VERY bad idea: if the weapon is discovered or, even worse, is used, the legal consequences may be very tough and easily include imprisonment or the impounding of the boat! - Almost everywhere (except in the USA), use of a firearm in self defence is allowed ONLY if reacting to an armed threat, which means in a disadvantageous situation. Shooting an un-armed aggressor or trespasser is deemed a crime and definitely not a good idea, while starting a gunfight against an already-armed opponent may see you on the losing side! - Never, never, never react with a weapon when outnumbered or outgunned! Against a boatload of Kalashnikov-toting Aden-Gulf pirates, you would need a missile!! - Last but not least, be aware of the risk of misinterpretation, made more possible by language and cultural barriers: that speeding fishing boat with 4 nasty looking guys on a collision course may simply try to divert you from his nets, or might be trying to sell you some fish! The conclusion seems obvious to me, and it’s the same which is recommended by the Rally Organisers: better NOT be armed! What I WOULD consider nowadays is a few pepper-spray cans, which have now become legal in many European Countries: they are cheap, small enough to fit in a pocket or purse, and are very effective at disabling temporarily an opponent (like somebody who jumped onboard uninvited) without inflicting any permanent damage.
Pay attention that the rules concerning these devices are different from place to place, so make sure you get info about the rules of the Countries you plan to visit. In the end, in most cases a good insurance will take care of theft much better than a shotgun!!
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Webmaster: Gianfranco Balducci - email: gfbalduc@tin.it Last Update: 07/09/2017
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