The accounts all sound alarmingly similar. A hiker is supposedly attacked by a bandit, the victim either fights back or barely escapes, but nobody can positively identify the culprit in a line-up. Candi Cane explains, "I go into the jungle and BAM they knock me out. Let me tell you a story... I went through the copse of trees near the western part of the jungle and BOOM I get attacked? That's no fair! I was exploring!" Similarly, Snake Silvertongue said, "I was mapping that part of the Jungle behind the First Aid Hut. I just really stuck around long enough to map the place. Bandits attacked me some, but I just took 'em out." Jasmine Cronin admitted, "Yes, the first time I ventured into that area, I was hurt so badly that I had to be rushed to the ER via the life 'copter. I don't exactly recall what they look like. I think they were wearing sunglasses, so I probably wouldn't be able to recognize any of them anyway."
The mysterious bandits of the deep jungle have been the source of many an urban legend. One story is of the "plain Jane" bandit who has managed to pull off eight bank robberies at the downtown branch of the Atlantic Bank of Commerce over the past few months. A woman casually strolls in holding a leather-bound journal and patiently waits in line. Only the bank teller realizes what's going on, and by the time others catch on, she's gone. She always takes the hold-up note with her when she leaves. Investigators and bank officials couldn't be more frustrated. The robber was originally nicknamed "plain Jane" because she is difficult to describe - brown hair, average height, dark clothing and sunglasses. Some believe that she lives in the jungle, but there is no proof of a connection between Jane and the bandits.
Another rumor suggested that the bandits may be locals in disguise, but Cane pointed out, "Why would my friends attack me though?" A leering bandit also discounted this idea by stating, "Being a bandit is a full-time job. But we like it that way. I like to do what you all do. relax, see places, do things. but it's hard to do so... you have to be careful. If you're spotted, trouble starts up."
Detective Jess Whiterose shares an interesting first-hand bandit experience, "There are indeed banditos in the deep jungle and I have come across a band of them in another spot once. It was quite a surprise to me. The deep jungle is usually where you find them. The third place I happened upon them is the most interesting one. There's this shack in the jungle at the top of the cliff, not in as deep, and one day I was searching for stalkers along the cliff and found the key to the shack - rusty key. I like to search for the stalkers, it kinda messes their strategy. I wandered down to the driftwood by the shack and checked the notices. Sure enough, there was a poster on a named criminal woman that was last seen around the shack. Not a violent one mind you, so I twirled the key and went ah ha I got you lady. I opened up the shack and went in ready to get her and there was a pack of bandits in there guarding her. I thought I was dead, I didn't expect that one. I spent a good half hour in there alone getting them one at a time, and I got beat on a bit, but no bleeders, so I did get my perp in the end."
In November of last year, the bandit hideout was discovered in the North-central area of the jungle behind the First Aid Hut. When asked how he felt about this finding, a leering bandit replied, "I don't like it one bit." The bandits chose the deep jungle as their hideout because, in the leering bandit's own words, "We like seclusion." Mackenzie Taylor said about the area, "Seems the best place to hide." Similarly, Whiterose summed it up when he said, "I think they like the remoteness of the area. It is like a hideout for them and not all tourists are strong enough to make the journey." Nunzio Santori clarified, "Because that's where they can do what they need to do without people being nosy. but they was wrong. Peoples around here notice everything. Especially nosey reporter types. I think peoples shouldn't mess with them bandits. Theys just want to be left alone."
While discussing the attacks, the leering bandit explained his point of view, "Maybe because you're in they're turf? Outsiders come to our place and tear up everything. I've walked past dozens of the same people that raid our hideout all the time. Well, we get defensive about this whole invasion thing. You see someone walk in your area, a stranger, with a weapon drawn. You get worried... That section of the jungle is our home. I wouldn't walk in your personal home, uninvited. Think about that. We have more than enough money to buy your home, and many more. We opted to live in the jungle. It's our own little community. And, we don't need the whole jungle. That corner was enough... but city folk wanted more."
Bandits do seem to be wealthier than other criminals. The police rewards seem to be larger too. Cane said, "I get over 1K easily for each bandit." Ferd Berfel believes that the bandits were drawn to the island by the "Cheap booze and trinkets. Bandits go for the trinkets, and the lax law enforcement here on the island." Cronin is convinced that the bandits are a part of an elaborate counterfeiting ring, but the evidence is inconclusive. Cane attributes the arrival of bandits to the growing population saying," More tourists, more money to steal. Actually bandits are kinda like marauders so I guess (they get their money) from robbing people." Even the leering bandit acknowledged that there is more money in being a bandit than a thug.
Some of the tourists have speculated that there is a bandit family. When asked if any of the bandits were related, the leering bandit replied, "Some are. We have a few leaders who are related. The Torreto brothers. Rough customers. Pick of the litter, so to speak. I'm glad they're on my side." Cronin believes that there are two distinct clans of bandits in separate camps. Whiterose also said, "There are two areas actually in the deep jungle and one is even harder to get to than the other." Berfel said, "I think its one group that has separated from the other... one group is definitely more hard core than the other, at least in my experience. Sort of a... whats that book about the pig head?? Lord of the flies type operation."
Nina Perrson was not surprised to find bandits in the jungle. She said, "Stranger things have happened." Berfel said, "I figured there was something kinda suspicious going on out there... Lots of movement and the animals were acting kind of strange." Silvertongue did not seem surprised either when he eloquently said, "I gotta feeling that Jungle is full of secrets. That's one of the reasons I like it there so much."
There are various ideas as to where the bandits originated from. Jon Garfield said, "Probably. They went there after escaping from prison to hide out." This seems to be a reasonable explanation since Prison Island is in such close proximity to Morada. Belle Sunner believes that the bandits came from Milwaukee because, in her own words, "(I) hear they have a bandit problem there." Brian Indiana is under the impression that, "They migrated there from French. I figure after they beat up on the people in French, they went on to bigger challenges deep in the jungle.the best hunters used to hunt french, then they went to the jungle." The French Old Water Front (OWF) is widely known to be a dangerous part of the island. When asked about the duration of his career, the leering bandit answered, "Little over three years now. I used to be a thug, long time ago." Whiterose said, "I have no idea where they come from, they appear to be hardened criminals."
The leering bandit defends his career choice saying, "Well, it's all about community and survival. We've grown accustomed to our way of life and it's not easy to go back. Look at people in prison for long time periods. They have a hard time adjusting to the outside, if paroled." In other words, banditry becomes so much a lifestyle that it is a part of their culture.
Some locals actually seek out the bandits to hunt. Perrson said, "Well, yeah, we just got back from killing a few. My thoughts? There aren't enough of them." Katt Blade added, "And they're much more fun in a group." Cane said, "Sometimes (I hunt) alone, a few times with Karrisma and once, tonight, with Elysia and Brian." Indiana said, "I saw them last night for the first time actually. Candi drug us in there after dark. I would like a shot at them during the day. The bandits were not very scary, but I could not hit them." Karrisma Rachhe said hunting bandits is like a competitive sport, "Well, they give the best money and Candi and I do it for fun."
Other locals are more cautious about the idea of hunting bandits. Julie McCoy said, "Bandits are vicious. They are relentless. I wouldn't fight them alone." Sunner said, "Never seen one...I've heard they're tough to fight, but easier than stalkers... I wouldn't want one hanging around me..." Cane explains, "Not many people like hunting in the Jungle. It's far from the ER and people don't like passing out, plus the bugs are terrible!" Cronin expounds, "It's a treacherous journey involving serious rock climbing and swimming through streams that sometimes have a strong rip current. I've skinned my knee many times trying to get there."
The bandits tend to sucker punch so often that this move became almost a trademark. Darien Knight said, "I hate the sucker punches they throw, it's annoying." Whiterose said, "Bandits have a heck of a sucker punch. If they happen to hit you with it, it is hard to recover before their buddies show up and beat on you. Sometimes they gang up but often you can just find one." Silvertongue said, "They aren't as stealthy as stalkers, but they do pack more of a punch. I just made sure I had plenty of ammo. They usually travel alone, and the First Aid Hut is close."
Berfel takes a different approach to keep the bandits off guard, "I've been on a few receiving sucker punch hits, it's not fun at all, but sometimes you can get by them... they use them a lot. Sometimes I high five them when they miss... keeps them off balance. They are really nasty, but a group of people with the right tools can defeat them, and they generally carry large sums of money with them."
Any information linking bandits to local crimes can be reported to the Morada Police Department at 43 Jacaranda Way, or by calling 891-2359.
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