Good News About Caribbean Crime, Except in Panama

Harsher Penalities for Outboard Theft

Peter Swanson Apr 6

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Caribbean crime reports declined last year, but suddenly Panama emerged as a hotspot for theft in its anchorages, according to the Caribbean Safety & Security Net.

In its recently released report for 2025, the crime reporting organization also noted that incidents in the British Virgin Islands appear to have declined dramatically. And violent crime in general dropped slightly, down to seven reports from eight in 2024.

From the CSSN summary:

In 2025, reported incidents of crimes against yachts in the Caribbean totaled 124, a 14 percent decrease from the record high of 145 incidents reported in 2024. This moderation follows a year of unprecedented activity and signals a return toward the five-year average of 119 incidents. Violent crimes continued their encouraging decline, falling to seven incidents (from eight in 2024).

Geographic concentration was a defining characteristic of 2025. On a positive note, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) saw a dramatic decline from 20 incidents to four.

Offsetting this improvement, Panama emerged as the most active country in the region, with all-time region-wide record high activity of 33 reports, a 200 percent increase from 11 in 2024. Activity in Panama was concentrated in the Bocas del Toro archipelago, and the Linton Bay area.

Activity in French Saint Martin increased modestly (from 13 to 15 incidents), remaining elevated; however, the nature of the activity shifted. St. Vincent and the Grenadines trended upward (from seven to 12 incidents) as cruising patterns normalized during the continued recovery from Hurricane Beryl.

In July 2025, three West Indian men received long sentences in connection with the murder of an American couple the year before, one of the most heinous crimes against foreign cruisers in recent memory. Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel of Fairfax, Virginia, were killed after the trio boarded their catamaran off Grand Anse Beach on Grenada in February 2024.

Long Sentences for Their Killers Peter Swanson   ·   August 1, 2025 Read full story

Panama’s government last year recognized the problem of outboard motor theft when it instituted harsher penalties for the crime. The penal code was amended to impose a prison sentence of six to eight years for the stealing motors valued over $250. The penalty also applies to those who anyone who deals in stolen motors.

The Bocas Del Toro cruisers page on Facebook contains the same type of advice heard through out the Lesser Antilles about securing dinghies and outboards at night and not leaving valuable items on deck.

If you area foreign cruiser in Panama waters, and you have some insight on the problem, please leave a comment below.