Bad Taste from Hatteras

[LeftOar]

The "BAD" side of Hatteras
Had a couple things happen to my group in Hatteras this past weekend that really made my blood boil. In my 25 years in the navy, and 14 years since, traveling all over the world for business or fishing to all kinds of countries, I know you have to look over your shoulder in third world countries and keep a very close eye on your wallet and possessions. I did not expect to have to deal with this during our trip this past weekend though. On Friday when we returned to the dock at Oden's Marina we were greeted by the fish cleaners but politely refused their help in cleaning our fish since we didn't have much to fillet and bag up. So we went to the far end of the cleaning area and got to work. We didn't take long to get out stuff done, but as we were putting the bags of fillets in the cooler on ice not five feet away from the cleaning table, my friend's knife box with over $500 worth of knives and sharpeners suddenly disappeared. Someone took the case literally right out from under our noses as we had our backs turned to cover the fillets with the ice. And of course no one sitting there noticed anything and would give us any help in finding the person who hijacked my friend's valuable knives. But that wasn't the only thing to happen. When we returned to the Hatteras Marlin Motel a few minutes later, one of the zippers on a clothing bag was found open, and $100 in twenty dollar bills was gone. I know its not a good idea to leave cash anywhere including your motel room, but why are people going through one of my friend's luggage looking for valuables OR cash to steal? The check-in person at the motel had a one word answer for my friend when he reported it to them, and it was "sorry". He debated calling the sherriff's dept in to report the crime but was promised a call later in the evening from the manager to "work something out". he never got a call.

I'm sure things in Hatteras aren't going all that well for fishing and other economic reasons, but its highly unlikely they will get my or my friends' business any more based on the reception we got this trip. If the locals are going to prey upon and steal from trusting fishermen and tourists the way they did us, things will not get any better until and unless the owners of these businesses take some action themselves to clean this sort of thievery up.

LO

[Playnhooky]

I too am sorry your group experienced this sad happening in my second home of Hatteras....I sincerely hope the person pays the price for what was done.....as all thieves should....BUT is this a Hatteras problem? I would say not....I would have to say your experience is one that is isolated...We run a charter operation out of Hatteras from March/April through Sept/October and have never had any issues....I have found a very few people in the area to be anything but welcoming. Most of the "locals" have a way about them, but that is no different than that of traveling anywhere you go in the world....so again I apologize for your friends misfortune but would really chalk it up to an isolated incident than a Hatteras problem...

P.S He should of filed a police report....on both counts.

[scattered_grass]

I too am sorry your group experienced this sad happening in my second home of Hatteras....I sincerely hope the person pay the price for what was done.....as all thieves should....BUT is this a Hatteras problem? I would say not....I would have to say your experience is one that is isolated...We run a charter operation out of Hatteras from March/April through Sept/October and have never had any issues....I have found a very few people in the area to be anything but welcoming. Most of the "locals" have a way about them, but that is no different than that of traveling anywhere you go in the world....so again I apologize for your friends misfortune but would really chalk it up to an isolated incident than a Hatteras problem...

P.S He should of filed a police report....on both counts.

agreed. we have owned a 2nd home in Hatteras for over 20 years and I know many of the locals in the village. I have spent many an hour at the docks and never had anything like this happen. I do however sympathize with the parties that had property stolen from them.

[LeftOar]

On the opposite end of the spectrum, we ate both nights at the Quarterdeck Restaurant and the people there couldn't have been any nicer to us. It was not up to me to file the police reports, it was my friend's decision not to follow through on that. Don't know if I would have pressed it or not. I've had a few times when things were taken from my vehicle (broken into), once in Asheville NC on vacation and once in Ontario Canada fishing. On both occasions I did file reports with the police but got nothing back.

If you are someone they know because you live or work there on a routine basis, I would imagine you get treated better than someone they don't know at all or is just passing through. Part of human nature I suppose. You can bet if I do go back there I will be on guard ALL the time for all of my stuff and anyone who's with me.

[scattered_grass]

On the opposite end of the spectrum, we ate both nights at the Quarterdeck Restaurant and the people there couldn't have been any nicer to us. It was not up to me to file the police reports, it was my friend's decision not to follow through on that. Don't know if I would have pressed it or not. I've had a few times when things were taken from my vehicle (broken into), once in Asheville NC on vacation and once in Ontario Canada fishing. On both occasions I did file reports with the police but got nothing back.

If you are someone they know because you live or work there on a routine basis, I would imagine you get treated better than someone they don't know at all or is just passing through. Part of human nature I suppose. You can bet if I do go back there I will be on guard ALL the time for all of my stuff and anyone who's with me.

How was the ole Quarterdeck? Been a while since I've eaten there. They used to have a kick ass broiled sampler!

[joeksr]

On the opposite end of the spectrum, we ate both nights at the Quarterdeck Restaurant and the people there couldn't have been any nicer to us. It was not up to me to file the police reports, it was my friend's decision not to follow through on that. Don't know if I would have pressed it or not. I've had a few times when things were taken from my vehicle (broken into), once in Asheville NC on vacation and once in Ontario Canada fishing. On both occasions I did file reports with the police but got nothing back.

If you are someone they know because you live or work there on a routine basis, I would imagine you get treated better than someone they don't know at all or is just passing through. Part of human nature I suppose. You can bet if I do go back there I will be on guard ALL the time for all of my stuff and anyone who's with me.

Sorry to hear of your misfortune. I've found that sometimes the police, Particularly in a small town, or neighborhood, know who is up to what. Let them know who was around, they may have a pretty good idea who to chase.

[trex]

On the opposite end of the spectrum, we ate both nights at the Quarterdeck Restaurant and the people there couldn't have been any nicer to us. It was not up to me to file the police reports, it was my friend's decision not to follow through on that. Don't know if I would have pressed it or not. I've had a few times when things were taken from my vehicle (broken into), once in Asheville NC on vacation and once in Ontario Canada fishing. On both occasions I did file reports with the police but got nothing back.

If you are someone they know because you live or work there on a routine basis, I would imagine you get treated better than someone they don't know at all or is just passing through. Part of human nature I suppose. You can bet if I do go back there I will be on guard ALL the time for all of my stuff and anyone who's with me.

No, just like anywhere else a thief will strike occasionally, once in a blue moon the locals get things stolen from them as well. Hatteras has not been, isn't, nor will it ever be a place where the tourists have to fear for their belongings any more than any other location. Sorry about your buddies luck. He should have filed a report

[Squidnation]

Sorry to hear about that Doug. It happens anywhere in the world.

[seapower]

I know quite a few folk's that live in the Hatteras area, that would have personally stomped the living crap outta' the thief for you. Like anywhere else there are just enough "low life's" to make it miserable for the rest. I can speak for the majority of us in this part of the State. They get away with it until caught, then there's no need to call the Law. We tend to it ourselve's. Sorry you had a bad experience caused by the minority. Frank

[Zummie]

File the police reports, it's not too late. As for the motel register at tripadvisor.com and file a "review" of the motel with your story. Wouldn't surprise me if the motel owner didn't call you once that review is uploaded at tripadvisor.com asking what it will take to remove it. LOTS of travelers use those reviews all the time.