GADSDEN, Ala. - A former bodyguard and stalker-profiler from Livingston, Texas, thought she had said goodbye to her previous life of thwarting criminals. But, at the first event of the Women's Bassmaster Tour, Robin Babb's instinct reigned supreme as she became essential in the recovery of a fellow WBT angler's stolen equipment.
Japanese angler Tami Kashiwabara had 15 Megabass rods and a laptop computer, valued together at $13,000, stolen from her hotel room during the practice period for the opening event of the WBT inaugural season in Gadsden, Ala., on Neely Henry Lake.
"I felt so bad for Tami because she was so upset," Babb said. "She just didn't understand because this never happened to her in Japan. I was so glad I could help her out."
Using her former training in the threat assessment and management sector, Babb spread the word to locals about the missing equipment and soon enough, one of those locals reported that they had been offered to buy what they thought was stolen equipment. The individuals trying to sell the rods were floating in a bass boat that had no gas, which made the Good Samaritans suspect something was awry. Then, in the lot for sale - at a very low price - were the Japanese Megabass fishing rods that Kashiwabara was missing - rods available in America, but much more well-known and used in Japan.
The Gadsden Police Department was notified and investigators were able to track down a suspect, according to Cpt. Jeff Wright. Wright said the locals were so engaged, they actually snapped a photo of the suspect on their cell-phone camera.
"It's a little weird, but criminals see this as convenient and easy," Wright said. "They see the fishing boats and know there will be rods and reels here."
With Babb's help and the police department's quick reaction, nearly all of Kashiwabara's equipment was recovered and returned to her last week during the tournament. Wright said at least one arrest was made in the case, but the investigation is still open and more arrests may follow.
"I was happy, surprised and relieved," said Kashiwabara, through a translator. "It was like losing a friend when the rods were stolen and when I got them back, it was like my friends were coming back to me."
Kashiwabara had another helpful hand in her experience from WBT tournament director Deb Wilkinson, who translated for the angler when she was communicating with police. "I used to be fluent in the language, but I just don't speak it that often," Wilkinson said. "It all comes back to me when I need to use it though."
Even without the majority of her rods, Kashiwabara fished the first women's event and tied for 42nd place. She said she will look to improve on that performance when she's got all of her equipment - at the next WBT event on May 18-20 on Lewisville Lake just outside of Dallas, Texas.