Robbery in Tunisia - common? + fore hatch security issues

sebastiannr

sebastiannr

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Hi there,

I'd just like to post a warning about robberies in Tunisia. We're anchored off Hammamet (36 23.5N 10 36.5E) and our boat got broken into yesterday evening whilst we went ashore for a few hours. The only things stolen were my wife's phone, and all our alcohol - they literally drank the boat dry :(. I think it was probably kids being naughty rather than people setting out to rob the boat as lots of expensive equipment was untouched.

The fore hatch was locked from the inside, but it seems that it can easily be 'wiggled' open, with some perseverance. Does anyone have any ideas for a more secure hatch? And does anyone have much experience of cruising Tunisia? Is this likely to be a one off, or should we not leave our boat unattended whilst at anchor?

Many thanks,

Seb.
 
sebastiannr said:
I don't believe it! For they took all our tea bags! *******s! Why would they do that?
Click to expand...

'Cos they're tealeaves...:)
Trying to be more helpful..I've got a short length of 6mm stainless wire with an eye in each end. One eye slips over the hatch handle inside and the other is padlocked to an eye bolt in the forecabin (where I sleep). It's not possible to open the hatch from outside because the wire come up taught when the hatch is lifted a fraction, but I can just slip the eye off the hatch handle from the inside if I need to get out in a hurry. Cheap...but it works..:D
 
Downsman said:
'Cos they're tealeaves...:)
Trying to be more helpful..I've got a short length of 6mm stainless wire with an eye in each end. One eye slips over the hatch handle inside and the other is padlocked to an eye bolt in the forecabin (where I sleep). It's not possible to open the hatch from outside because the wire come up taught when the hatch is lifted a fraction, but I can just slip the eye off the hatch handle from the inside if I need to get out in a hurry. Cheap...but it works..:D
Click to expand...

Good Idea, thanks!
 
The trouble with trying to thief 'proof' the average boat is that if you get a persistant amateur thief with a large screwdriver the damage they do to your hatches and washboards is likely to be greater than the value of the items they steal.

Of course if it is a pro with an angle grinder they are getting in regardless of what you do.
 
TQA said:
The trouble with trying to thief 'proof' the average boat is that if you get a persistant amateur thief with a large screwdriver the damage they do to your hatches and washboards is likely to be greater than the value of the items they steal.

Of course if it is a pro with an angle grinder they are getting in regardless of what you do.
Click to expand...

Very true, but putting off the chancer is the best we can hope for I guess.

N.B. The screws holding together the closing handles on my forehatch were quite loose, which is why I think it was possible to wiggle the locks free.
 
On my own boat there are bars that fit across the inside of the hatch opening. Once the hatch is opened the thief has the bar blocking the way in. The bars simply fit between pad eyes attached to the coach roof and are then secured with nuts. If a thief wants to get the bars off he could probably work it out but it would be awkward. The fore hatch has a pair of bars for the larger opening. I would still prefer damage to the washboards than a thief getting away with my stuff.
 
Sebastian,

sorry to hear of your problems.

What type was the hatch ?

I plan to travel the French Canals one day in my boat after working on a barge there, as it gets very hot and ventilation is important I have ideas of fitting a fabricated stainless grill over the open hatches.

As mentioned above this wouldn't keep off a persistent pro' thief, maybe one should keep an alligator in the saloon as in ' Miami Vice ' ?!
 
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