What Would You Have Done?

[Soulshine]

Around dinner time last night a dock neighbor couple came in after a night at the local sand bar anchorage. This is where I usually go myself.

He told me that he heard something at 3:30 in the morning and found 4 teenagers hanging out in his cockpit. They were apparently wading around and saw an opportunity to get comfortable.

When he lit into them and told them to get lost they told him to calm down..."We're just chilling here" and "We're not bothering anyone."

He eventually chased them off, but couldn't believe the balls on them.

How would you guys have handled it?

 

[Jus Cruisin]

My dog would have cured that situation before they started "chillin" ....

 

[DWABoat]

I would have collected all their names and as much information as they would divulge and clearly let them know they were trespassing for future reference.
I would have inspected the boat for damage, and if none, would have allowed them to leave.
I would then contact the local sheriff’s office to file a report over the phone, for future reference if they ever came back.
I would have not tried to have them arrested on the first violation, unless they caused some intentional damage. Too often the cops are called too soon on these matters.

 

[my3sons]

I probably would have gone along the lines of the above post, calling the cops first so any exchange would be on record. The gun in my hands but not in a threatening way most likely would have raised a different response than "relax, we're just chillin".
Keep in mind that when living on a boat, that is considered a home invasion, no different than hearing a noise in the middle of the night and finding someone Lounging around out in your garage or on your patio. A reasonable assumption would be that the trespassers are there with the intent of wrongdoing.

 

[Soulshine]

The gun in my hands but not in a threatening way most likely would have raised a different response than "relax, we're just chillin".

Here that would be considered brandishing and probably frowned upon to the extent that the permit could be revoked.

That said, I'd do the same.

 

[Pirate Lady]

Offer them a beer but only if they had any weed in exchange. Yo Mon.
And they better have squeegee my windshield. It’s a Baltimore thing.

 

[firecadet613]

Here that would be considered brandishing and probably frowned upon to the extent that the permit could be revoked.

That said, I'd do the same.

Brandishing? BS. Intruders in your home in the dead of night....

 

[GypsmJim]

I would have called 9-1-1 on my cell and made sure they could hear me making the call.

First offense.....pfffft. If they did it then they surely have done it before. One of the problems with society today is that kids are not taught any manners or respect. Its all about "me" and to heck with everyone else. "I got the right".

Maybe a trip in a police car would not stop future crap, but its a start.

 

[my3sons]

Here that would be considered brandishing and probably frowned upon to the extent that the permit could be revoked.

That said, I'd do the same.

And you would be justified in doing so, as long as you did not exhibit it in a way that would be considered to be menacing or in anger. What else would you do with it, it’s hard to keep a 12 gauge concealed in your pj’s while having a conversation with them.

 

[Soulshine]

It would be a hand gun.

I hear you, but different territory.

 

[my3sons]

No worry. Hand guns are perfect for concealed carry. I prefer a shotgun to defend my castles. More thought provoking shall we say, more forgiving if that terrible moment comes and easier to talk about in court. Stay safe.

 

[DWABoat]

Offer them a beer but only if they had any weed in exchange. Yo Mon.
And they better have squeegee my windshield. It’s a Baltimore thing.

This one…this one…this one!!!!

 

[Hoplite808]

Sounds like the boat cleaning crew showed up awful early. Remind them that under 18 U.S. Code section 2199 – Stowaways on vessels or aircraft: Those who stowaway without consent can be imprisoned for up to five years, unless the stowaway acts with intent to commit seriously bodily injury and actual injury occurs in which case the maximum penalty is 20 years of imprisonment. They can then start cleaning or you can start calling the police.

Then again suddenly raising the anchor and throttling up out to sea while yelling back at them "How you boys feel about Mexico?!?" is a fun way to make sure they never do that again.

 

[dwna1a]

Bond Texas Ranger is always on the boat with me. It’s has two 410 shells.

Now I don’t know your area but here if it happens on the water you call a Marine Resource Office, on land it’s PD. No matter who it is it will take time to respond to the issue.

As for the handgun, I’m not sure you would get charged with brandishing while you are on your own property. Or protecting your property for that matter.

It shall be unlawful for any person to point, hold or brandish any firearm or any air or gas operated weapon or any object similar in appearance, whether capable of being fired or not, in such manner as to reasonably induce fear in the mind of another or hold a firearm or any air or gas operated weapon in a public place in such a manner as to reasonably induce fear in the mind of another of being shot or injured. However, this section shall not apply to any person engaged in excusable or justifiable self-defense.

I think with the last sentence brandishing would not apply in this case.

 

[440 Jim]

Good question, I would probably go balistic on them and scare the sh$t out of them so bad they would never do it again. At 3:30 in the morning, yeah, that sounds about right.

 

[Carpediem44DB]

I might be inclined to be a nice guy at first and assess what kind of kids they were. If they seemed like good kids that got lost and needed refuge and were polite and considerate. If just one copped an attitude, I’d start the boat, go out to the middle of the lake or water way and send the swimming home. I remember as a kid ending up lost a night on a big lake and ended up coming up on a camp late in the evening. We were very gracious and polite and were offered what ever assistance we might have needed.

 

[PlayDate]

Imagine what it would take for you to do the same thing to someone else’s boat.

Most of us can’t because if we want respect you have to give it to others.

These perps have no respect for anyone’s property so any interaction with them is bound to end poorly.

We had an incident at our marina where a homeless guy decided to occupy a neighbor’s boat. When challenged he became belligerent claimed the owner gave him permission. The police were called and they arrested him for trespassing.

Find another place to “chill” or explain it to the cops.

 

[BillK2632]

Years ago I had something similar happen on the 290. Early spring, I was alone with our Pug and heard voices on the dock and then felt/heard someone in the cockpit. I guess adrenaline took over, the Pug cowered in fear and didn't make a sound (he usually barked like hell at everything). Don't know why, I had never thought about this scenario, but I grabbed my flare gun - then hit the arch lights and confronted them in the cockpit. 4 teenage kids - 3 of them ran pretty quick and I cornered the 4th at the end of the dock. So it was either go through me and the flare gun or hit the water. He finally realized he could run faster than the old guy in his boxers so he ran too. Police were already aware of their antics, showed me pictures of the group, easy to identify. Turned out one of the kids actually worked at the yacht club and they were responsible for a rash of boat break ins -- steeling booze and a little partying on the boats. The club pressed charges and two of the Dad's called me (got info from the police report) and tried to explain they were good kids -- one tried to get defensive with me over the flare gun - I told him to f himself and his son, the other thanked me for not shooting and said his kid would not see daylight until he was 21. I guess different parenting styles!
I really don't what I would have done in this situation, probably the flare gun routine -- they were more into mischeif, not crimes it sounds like. The thing is you didn't know what they were up to and things could turn real bad over a couple of kids being stupid.

 

[Soulshine]

The problem with this anchorage is that's its the only one and wade accessible from shore.

On a busy weekend, non boaters outnumber boat owners and the drunk kids wandering all over the place have no sense of place or property.

A few years ago we heard a commotion on the bow of one of the boats in our raft string. I popped my head through my forward hatch to find a couple getting busy on the boat next to me on the port side.

When I looked to starboard, a group was sitting there filming the whole thing.

The boat's owner confronted the couple in mid bang. The guy slithered off the boat like a snake, but the naked girl got in his face claiming that she could do whatever she wanted.

She got tossed overboard.

 

[Skybolt]

There are a lot of nice people here and this is a public forum so I guess some aren't going to actually say how they think they would react, I get that. But as mentioned above, if someone or a group were to just come over and decide to hang out in your backyard or as in this case your living room, now what would you do? If anyone says they would offer them a beer or take down names (as if they would give them to you) I don't believe it. Your boat is your castle just as your home is. No one is just going enter your domain and just expecting to be aloud to hang out, unless you know them in some way and that is totally different. They're there for a reason and it isn't to hang out, no matter what they say.