Following the arrests of two men connected to the looting of a grounded barge in Abaco, police are urging residents to return stolen property,and Bahamians are weighing in with mixed reactions.
The barge, Brooklyn Bridge, ran aground in Abaco waters on November 11 after a mechanical failure. The Jacksonville-based shipping company Trailer Bridge reported that by November 13, dozens of people were attempting to remove goods and cargo from the stranded vessel. The company estimated that as many as 50 people were involved.
Trailer Bridge CEO Mitch Luciano called the situation “rapidly unfolding,” saying the barge was “actively being robbed.”
“Our top priority is the safety of our personnel,” he said. “We have alerted Bahamian police as well as the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy.” The company stated that the the Bahamas police unit could not intervene initially because “they feared violence.”
Click here to watch looters take supplies from the stranded cargo: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1VusAGuu1h/
Police in the Northern Bahamas confirmed the first arrests. Press Liaison Officer Stephen Rolle said two men were taken into custody and appealed to the public to return items removed from the barge.
But that appeal has triggered pushback online.
Lashan McIntosh commented, “Y’all going crazy about return items. We still waiting on the set from Dorian.”
One user suggested officers were more upset about missing out than the theft itself: “The force only mad they didn’t get there first.”
Others questioned whether arrests were necessary. Lovely McIntosh wrote, “Insurance will cover the loss regardless. Ask them to hand over the stuff and let them go.”
Another commenter agreed: “Try let them go. If you chase them, you have to go behind all those other people.”
Some took a more mocking tone. “Catch me if you can,” one user said, adding the hashtag #AbacoChristmas.
Others found the situation embarrassing. “I never would’ve thought to take my boat over and steal washing machines,” one commenter said. “But that’s just me and my character.”
Nigel Bower added, “It speaks a lot about our society.”
There was also criticism of media framing. Several users objected to The Tribune labeling the suspects as “looters,” with one questioning whether the paper confirmed the barge owners’ stance before using the term.
Another joked that the entire incident resembled a movie title: “Pirates of the Caribbean 2025.”
As police continue their investigation, officials request that other looters return the cargo removed from the vessel. It is unclear whether anyone will face charges.
Photo credit: Trailer Bridge