Shots Fired As Phuket Yacht Robbery Thwarted

[Lite Beer]

Shots fired as Phuket yacht robbery thwarted
Phuket Gazette -

PHUKET: Witnesses reported at least two shots fired in the dark on Chalong Bay tonight as a gang of thieves gave chase to a Phuket boat captain who outfoxed the criminals until the police arrived in force.

Capt Bruce Issell was warned by a silent alarm at about 11:30pm that intruders had boarded the well-known Davinci catamaran, renowned in local yachting circles for its participation in the annual Phuket King’s Cup and Phuket Raceweek regattas.

Capt Issell raced to Chalong Pier, boarded the Davinci's dinghy and headed for another Davinci vessel, a Sunseeker 50, to investigate what had triggered the alarm.

Once aboard the Sunseeker, he motored to the Davinci catamaran with spotlights ablaze at full strength.

“The thieves found themselves well and truly lit up, but could see only one person aboard the Sunseeker," a witness told the Phuket Gazette.

Seeing only one boat approaching them, the thieves attacked the Sunseeker and attempted to board the luxury yacht and capture Capt Issell and his one young Thai crewman.

A chase ensued throughout the moored yachts and commercial craft in the bay for some 20 minutes, with the Sunseeker ducking and weaving to hold off the raiders.

“There were at least two bright flashes as the thieves fired shots at the Sunseeker. You could see the flashes from the shore,” the witness said.

Police reinforcements quickly arrived in dinghies, changing the balance of power.

The thieves soon surrendered and were escorted to the floating marina under construction in the bay.

“They were questioned and handcuffed, and the stolen items were inspected,” the witness told the Gazette.

“For all their efforts, the thieves had managed to steal only some children’s foam paddle boards, a set of binoculars, some flashlights and other odds and ends,” the witness confirmed.

Scuffles broke out as the officers placed the gang of about four men under arrest.

The men were then transported to Chalong Police Station in the back of a police pickup truck.

The bright yellow dinghy the thieves had used in the thwarted raid was also seized as evidence.

The Davinci catamaran was taken from its mooring to the marina for further police inspection later this morning.

“I could not be less than 100% impressed with all concerned – Bruce Issell and his crewman – and the very professional Chalong Police,” said the witness, who asked not to be identified publicly.

The Gazette has yet to confirm whether or not the men arrested tonight were the same raiders who have terrorized the Baan Nit area off Cape Panwa for the past week.

A Frenchman whose yacht was anchored in that area was startled by raiders late Thursday night. A scuffle broke out on board and the Frenchman suffered at least seven knife lacerations during the attack, including a cut to his head.

Fearing for his safety, the Frenchman did not return to sleep on his yacht last night. It may have proved a prudent move as the thieves returned last night and made off with what was reported as a substantial bounty of yachting 'removables'.

The yacht has been since moved from the area.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Shots-fired-as-Phuket-yacht-robbery-thwarted-20900.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2013-04-27

[JetsetBkk]

Well, it's low season now. What's a poor Thai guy going to do to get some dosh these days?

'Night, 'night, sleep tight everyone. And don't forget to lock up.

[jaapfries]

Well; I must say: this is really great for the Yachting Business in Thailand . . . . . .

Not long ago, the current government did utter words like "Thailand; the Yachting-Hub of SEA" . . . .

When a (local) government rents-out anchoring-spots to yacht-owners, they have the responsibility to

ensure a certain degree of security.

It is unbelievable that this French yacht-owner got attacked on his own boat and almost got cut to ribbons !

And all this is happening in Phuket ? ? ? ?

Cudos to Capt Bruce Issell for his quick thinking & clever actions !

Luctor@Emergo !

JaapFries

[KarenBravo]

This has been going on in Chalong Bay for decades as any long term yachties can attest.

[andreandre]

This has been going on in Chalong Bay for decades as any long term yachties can attest.

And your point is???

I would say that near everything posted these days regarding '"bad goings on'" on phuket also fits :your reply..ie [things have been going on for decades],,sometimes you "long termers" seem to forget that theres' many on this forum now who are newcomers and should be made aware of such events.

[KarenBravo]

This has been going on in Chalong Bay for decades as any long term yachties can attest.

And your point is???

I would say that near everything posted these days regarding '"bad goings on'" on phuket also fits :your reply..ie [things have been going on for decades],,sometimes you "long termers" seem to forget that theres' many on this forum now who are newcomers and should be made aware of such events.

It was in response to the post above mine (duh!).

Many things are relatively new phenomena such as traffic jams, foreigners murdering foreigners, the bad attitude of tuk-tuk drivers etc.

But, nicking stuff off boats in Chalong Bay has been going on a loooooong time.

Edited April 28, 2013 by KarenBravo

[Payboy]

Robbery or piracy?

[captnhoy]

Well; I must say: this is really great for the Yachting Business in Thailand . . . . . .

Not long ago, the current government did utter words like "Thailand; the Yachting-Hub of SEA" . . . .

When a (local) government rents-out anchoring-spots to yacht-owners, they have the responsibility to

ensure a certain degree of security.

It is unbelievable that this French yacht-owner got attacked on his own boat and almost got cut to ribbons !

And all this is happening in Phuket ? ? ? ?

Cudos to Capt Bruce Issell for his quick thinking & clever actions !

Luctor@Emergo !

JaapFries

I've not had my boat there for 2 years now but used to be there frequently. At that time there was no fee to anchor. It seems like response time wasn't all that bad all things considered.

[NamKangMan]

This has been going on in Chalong Bay for decades as any long term yachties can attest.

And your point is???

I would say that near everything posted these days regarding '"bad goings on'" on phuket also fits :your reply..ie [things have been going on for decades],,sometimes you "long termers" seem to forget that theres' many on this forum now who are newcomers and should be made aware of such events.

It was in response to the post above mine (duh!).

Many things are relatively new phenomena such as traffic jams, foreigners murdering foreigners, the bad attitude of tuk-tuk drivers etc.

But, nicking stuff off boats in Chalong Bay has been going on a loooooong time.

Ahhhh, "nicking stuff" by stabbing and slashing the owner of one boat and chasing and shooting at the owner of another boat "has been going on a loooooog time" - has it, really????

I must have missed those articles.

[grumpyoldman]

NKM you took it a step further than KB was describing.

Thefts off of boats here due to poor harbor security has been going on a long time, shootings and stabbings during these thefts, no.

[andreandre]

This has been going on in Chalong Bay for decades as any long term yachties can attest.

And your point is???

I would say that near everything posted these days regarding '"bad goings on'" on phuket also fits :your reply..ie [things have been going on for decades],,sometimes you "long termers" seem to forget that theres' many on this forum now who are newcomers and should be made aware of such events.

It was in response to the post above mine (duh!).

Many things are relatively new phenomena such as traffic jams, foreigners murdering foreigners, the bad attitude of tuk-tuk drivers etc.

But, nicking stuff off boats in Chalong Bay has been going on a loooooong time.

Duh! ?? Quaint ..in a childish kind of way...

[pagallim]

Duh! ?? Quaint ..in a childish kind of way...

KB was only pointing out that this particular type of crime is not a new phenomenon in southern Phuket, particularly Chalong Bay and off Rawai Beach. Ao Yon some time ago had a spate of outboard engine thefts from beached inflatable dinghies with the culprit eventually found to be a local Thai charter fishing boat captain. Mooring and anchoring of vessels that are unoccupied are always going to attract opportunistic thieves anywhere in the world.

Inevitably it's a price that boat owners pay for mooring for free (here in Phuket anyway) rather than pay expensive berthing fees in marinas.

[JulesMad]

Nothing but problems in Phuket

Why anyone wants to be/go there, is a BIG mystery

[Phronesis]

Free mooring in Chalong bay....

Nothing is free in Thailand...NOTHING...

[KarenBravo]

Nothing is free in Thailand...NOTHING...

The "balloon-chasers" wouldn't agree with you......

[LivinginKata]

Off topic posts removed

[pagallim]

Free mooring in Chalong bay....

Nothing is free in Thailand...NOTHING...

Another uninformed post. I had a mooring installed in Ao Yon 3 years ago, paying only for the buoy, weight and lines, plus installation cost. Thereafter nothing to pay. I don't know of anybody who pays for a mooring in this area.

[JetsetBkk]

Robbery or piracy?

Chalong, the Somalia of Southeast Asia.

[hansgruber]

Robbery or piracy? Chalong, the Somalia of Southeast Asia.

It has nothing on Indonesia.

[Phronesis]

Free mooring in Chalong bay....

Nothing is free in Thailand...NOTHING...

Another uninformed post. I had a mooring installed in Ao Yon 3 years ago, paying only for the buoy, weight and lines, plus installation cost. Thereafter nothing to pay. I don't know of anybody who pays for a mooring in this area.

Well, if any of the bullets found their mark last night some one would have paid for their mooring with their life.

Nothing is free in Thailand. NOTHING...

[cloudhopper]

Free mooring in Chalong bay....

Nothing is free in Thailand...NOTHING...

Another uninformed post. I had a mooring installed in Ao Yon 3 years ago, paying only for the buoy, weight and lines, plus installation cost. Thereafter nothing to pay. I don't know of anybody who pays for a mooring in this area.

I was expecting the worst, but I found that most of the moorings put in by TAT in Ao Chalong, the Butangs, the Surins, Ao Po and Ao Yon to be quite useful. And free.

Nice work by all concerned rounding up the perps, but Chalong Bay has always been a yachting slum with outbreaks of theft and occasional violence.

[johna]

Robbery or piracy?

In national waters its armed robbery, in international waters its piracy.

[NamKangMan]

Free mooring in Chalong bay....

Nothing is free in Thailand...NOTHING...

Another uninformed post. I had a mooring installed in Ao Yon 3 years ago, paying only for the buoy, weight and lines, plus installation cost. Thereafter nothing to pay. I don't know of anybody who pays for a mooring in this area.

Well, if any of the bullets found their mark last night some one would have paid for their mooring with their life.

Nothing is free in Thailand. NOTHING...

Nothing is free, and EVERYTHING is for sale in Thailand. :)

[LivinginKata]

A number of posts removed. Rule 5) Not to post inflammatory messages on the forum, or attempt to disrupt discussions to upset its participants, or trolling.Trolling can be defined as the act of purposefully antagonizing other people on the internet by posting controversial, inflammatory, irrelevant or off-topic messages with the primary intent of provoking other users into an emotional response or to generally disrupt normal on-topic discussion.

[Dr Wanchai]

I hope these four culprits get a slap on their wrists for being naughty.

[lizardofoz]

Well, it's low season now. What's a poor Thai guy going to do to get some dosh these days?

'Night, 'night, sleep tight everyone. And don't forget to lock up.

SOME UPDATES / CORRECTIONS. There were two robbers armed with knives, the police were the ones that shot at the robbers. The robbers didnt have a gun. In the chaos in the dark it was hard to tell who was who with a dinghy with the robbers, the dinghy with Davinci crew in it and Bruce on his own in the Sunseeker. The robbers could have been rammed but for skipper Bruce's decision not to as he didnt want to drown/kill them he just wanted the caught. The press release was done as good as possible with the facts as they were understood at the time at 1.00 in the morning so the report could get out as soon as possible. once it hits the hard copy newspaper I expect it will be more acurate. Following their capture thay made a unsucessfull attempt to escapre from custody on their way to court the next day - inclusive of cutting a officer with a broken bottle. They have been charged wth armed robery for the Davinci incident and further investigations are underway re the French yachty attack a few night earlier. They were Phuket born 2 x 21 year olds coming from a squatters village at the north end of Chalong Bay. They ripped the alarm system off the wall along with the wires but it was still transmitting info by its internal battery . 3 or more Thai TV channels were out their filming so the news has well and truly gotten to the Thai community in Phuket and elsewhere. Police did a bloody good job. It was a very good result considering - 2 less robbers out there on the water. These sort of things are not common in Chalong. They happen very spasmotically usually at the beginning of the low season. I have lived and have had a boat in ChalongBay for 18 years and have had nothing stolen - first 8 years lived aboard - last 10 years not lived aboard and now have two yachts out there both with zip back doors easy to get into. Yet nothing stolen. A 44 foot yacht was stolen about three weeks ago - name Cockatoo 2 and Roberts Offshore 44 well equipped and in pristine condition. One can assume a foreigner stole that one and headed to sea probably Africa to change its identity etc. Not a Thai. That is the first time I recall a yacht being stolen in the 18 years I have been here. Thats progress - Thailand is catching up with the way first world countries are - increase in theft, robbery and such - real pity as I do not believe that to be the Buddist way. I do believe its the western way.

[KarenBravo]

real pity as I do not believe that to be the Buddist way. I do believe its the western way.

The Thais follow Buddhism the same way Western countries follow Christianity.

Best not to have double standards here.