Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News
In addition to reporting the incident to a cruise ship security officer as soon as possible, you can also report the incident to the FBI directly. Knowing your rights can help you speak up if something happens.
For investigators, a big challenge is delayed reporting.
Pagliarini stressed the importance of immediate reporting by victims and witnesses, especially considering the complexities of investigating crimes at sea.
Delays often occur because victims feel ashamed or uncertain and may only report the incident after discussing it with others once they return home, said Pagliarini.
“We get that a lot, or somebody has something stolen, and they don’t know until they got home and then report it,” said Pagliarini. “This delay complicates investigations, especially when victims are far from the location of the incident.”
Parker and Pagliarini suggest passengers avoid taking valuable jewelry—as it’s easy to lose or have stolen—be responsible when drinking, and go directly through the cruise line company when booking excursions.
They also explained that it is important to familiarize yourself with the guest services locations on the ship. And if you see an incident, do your best to be a helpful witness.
Behind every cruise ship crime incident is a human story of victims seeking justice and families grappling with loss. The FBI’s Victim Services Division offers support to those affected by crimes at sea.
“It’s very common if we have a juvenile involved, we make our best efforts to notify Victim Services ahead of time, and often they’ll accompany myself or whoever’s going out initially on the investigation,” said Pagliarini. From counseling referrals to support navigating the criminal justice process, their efforts extend to both victims and their families.
Additionally, the FBI conducts specialized training for industry partners, enhancing their ability to assist law enforcement with securing and documenting a crime scene at sea.
“We try to hold trainings with the cruise industry personnel, kind of a best practice as far as evidence preservation,” said Parker.
The collaborative approach to security at sea, along with passengers understanding how to mitigate risk, is vital to ensuring the FBI can work with partners at every level to investigate crimes on the high seas and keep Americans safe.