Are boat thefts common in the med?

[sunsailor]

Hello,
Do many boats get stolen from Mediterranean marinas? Having equipment stolen from your boat would be bad enough but if I was to leave a boat unattended for several months I would be concerned that it was still there when I returned. Anyone heard of any horror stories? What security measures can you take?
Thanks
Simon

 

[PlanB]

I've not heard of any. I suppose marinas with good security are a better bet than those without.

 

[d4raffy]

My yacht sentinel - useful bit of kit ��

 

[colind3782]

When I've got to know the neighbours we watch out for each others' boats and swap contact details in case of emergency or other problem.

 

[petehitch]

I certainly have not heard of any in Sardinia.

 

[sunsailor]

That's all reassuring news, thanks!

 

[westernman]

I had a life ring nicked off the boat one winter (completely unsecured marina with no surveillance and no cameras) in the South of France.

 

[vyv_cox]

'The Med' is a very big area. In Leros nothing is locked or otherwise protected but I have yet to hear of anything going missing. We leave our Brompton bikes unlocked wherever we take them, as do many others, without concerns. I would certainly not do the same in many other places we have visited, where I would not leave a Brompton locked or unlocked.

 

[Tony Cross]

In a proper marina with 24-hour marineros your boat will be safe. The people you should be the most wary of are, sadly, other yachties. It seems from what I read and hear that a large percentage of thefts from boats are by other sailors rather than by locals.

 

[RupertW]

We feel pretty safe in the marinas we've left the boat in, for six months unattended in the Winter - both in Croatia and Greece. Only thefts have been low value items presumably "borrowed" from the unlocked cockpit lockers, one hose, one mains lead, one dinghy pump. Mains lead reappeared in locker 3 months later.

 

[Max K]

My phone disappeared from a shower block in Gouvia Marina, a couple of days ago.

Max.

 

[Mrnotming]

Nothing nicked or damaged in Martigues,Bouche du Rhone last 10 years!A lot of boaters around usually in this area.
One Dutch boat had a Hydraulic Backstay tensioner nicked some years ago,a mighty piece of kit,
suggest stolen to order.Amazingly the mast stayed up although on a Waquiez, masthead,shabby stealers did not even brace the mast!
Hope boat is still there next visit!