THE MIDNIGHT SHOPPERS

On Monday March 31st a Bahamian “midnight shopper” decided to check out the “goods on offer” at the Nassau Harbour Club where we were keeping our boat. After swimming out to the sailing vessel “Allegoria” which was tied up in a slip just two down from Fortnight, the “shopper” silently boarded her and quietly stole into the cabin. Here he selected a computer, camera and purse from the “merchandise” prominently displayed on Allegorias nav station. And then, leaving the couple sleeping in blissful ignorance only a few feet away, he paddled off in their dinghy. At his next stop however things did not go according to the shoppers plan. After boarding “Jaya,” her owner—Vincent—suddenly awoke. Upon finding an intruder loading up with “his stuff,” the enraged Vincent let out a huge “roar” and lunged toward him. The startled shopper was so intimidated by the ferocity of this attack that he dropped the merchandise, flew back up the companionway stairs and dove empty-handed into the water leaving the dinghy with its “loot” behind. The next day after everything was returned to the rightful owners we thought we had seen the end of it. Wrong!

On Tuesday the shopper paid a visit to the boats anchored just off the marina. “Fin McCool” had an oar taken and his neighbour lost his dinghy. On this occasion several boats were boarded and something taken from each as their owners slept on. The next morning both dinghy and oar were found abandoned at a nearby dock but there was no sign of the stolen merchandise.

Thursday, just two days later, as we were enjoying lunch with friends at the “Green Parrot,” another couple told a similar story. The previous night the shopper had struck yet again! His modis operendi was the same. After an early morning swim out to steal a dinghy, he made his way from boat to boat in the anchorage. But this time he was almost apprehended. After inadvertedly awakening one of the boaters, a hue and cry was raised as sailors stumbled out of their vessels in hot pursuit. One shone a powerful spotlight onto the culprit as another paddled out after him. But just before he was reached, the shopper jumped ashore and disappeared off into the night—forced to abandon his goods once again.

The woman who was telling me this tale thought that she had been spared a visit but was puzzled by the puddle of water she had found on the floor of her galley that morning. Later on in the day as she prepared to leave for a pot-luck dinner, she was surprised to find that an enormous slice had been removed from the cake she had baked for that event the day before! Putting “two and two” together it became obvious that the shopper had indeed stopped off at her boat—but only for a snack!

We mentioned these incidents to Peter, the marina manager. He shrugged it off with “its just kids.” Kids or not, valuable items WERE stolen and it’s very disconcerting to imagine total strangers staring down at you while you sleep. Vulnerable or what?! We are extremely grateful that it’s almost impossible to board our boat from the water because of its overhanging transom. Nevertheless, after learning of the existence of Nassau’s notorious “midnight shoppers” we now ensure that our companionway is securely locked each night before turning in for bed.