Outboard thefts

[thejonesey]

A heads up.
It would appear that someone is systematically working up and down the Thames stealing outboards. We had a number taken from the college boat house last month, Oxford Brookes rowing club have been raided and most recently Borlase school at Marlow had a number taken... About twenty in total. Private craft are not immune as our local liveabord had his pinched too. The current thinking is that a gang is filling a container for shipping.

If you are not tucked up in a Marina I would suggest that you remove the outboards as they made short work of our locks and chains, cut steering and throttle cables and made off with four 15hp outboards without anyone seeing a thing...CCTV now installed!

 

[oldgit]

Boat on our club moorings lost a well secured outboard a week or two ago !

 

[macnorton]

There was a gang round this way stealing engines in the summer,
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=328532

and from posts on here it looks like they visited Wisbech, the east coast and the Ouse afterwards, so now you have them on the Thames?

There was mention of four e/europeans in a white Microplus type boat at the time, not sure if it is connected but they have not been seen since the thefts stopped.

Looking at the number of engines stolen I think the container idea is correct.

 

[the_wanderer]

Also Norfolk Broads.

There have also been quite a number of thefts of outboards and boat gear on the Norfolk Broads. Unfortunately boats are an easy target.

The Broadsbeat Police will for a reasonable price issue a robust cover for an outboard motor to replace the cowling when the boat is left moored and you take the cowling home with you therefore devaluing the engine and raising awkward questions if a new cowling is purchased. The engine number is also registered with the police. The Thames Valley Police could adopt this scheme too.

Of course, it does not stop the scumbag thieves dismantling an engine and selling the spares on Ebay.


Take care, and seasons greetings to all forumites.

 

[macnorton]

Some boat owners round here have painted the outboards in vivid colours and removed the covers, as these people still have engines it seems to work?

 

[the_wanderer]

Good idea Mac. Provided you want to keep the engine and not sell it on.

 

[sarabande]

is there a case to be made for putting a GPS tracker in an old outboard and allowing someone to steal it ?


Or wiring one so that it shorts out the fuel tank when the cover is lifted ?

 

[thejonesey]

Or wiring one so that it shorts out the fuel tank when the cover is lifted ?

I was thinking of wiring it to the mains! We are painting the replacements in club colours as this does seem an effective deterrent. Sorry to spread bad news at Christmas but I hope it helps someone to avoid a big replacement bill.

 

[macnorton]

Could paint them in the union flag, or could it be called union jack as its on the stern?

 

[mikemanor]

Also in Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire

This is almost certainly an organised gang - several marinas/boat yards in Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire have been hit.

Bedford Boat Club was hit - and the "alleged" offender can be seen in the vid below. If you see this chap around please contact Bedfordshire Police on 01234 841212

http://s1282.beta.photobucket.com/user/lucygreenwood1/media/HUNT0134.mp4.html

Other vids are available

 

[BOO..]

Hi,
I was at Ardingly resevoir recently, checking out a wayfarer purchase ( I got it )
Talking to the manager revealed they too had motors taken.
Seems a van was backed up to a cut perimeter fence where. a small boat ( inflatable ? ) was used to bring in the rescue boats, they bolt choppered the motors off and cast the r.b's adrift, to be found at the dam wall in the morning.
Again 'eastern european gang' was mentioned. The thinking is they are taking them back to wherever via ferry and selling on for bits or ?

Gotta say, the bloke in the vid above, looks like ME !
Really similar profile...