Pirates in the abingdon area!

[Little Dipper]

This evening I was moored up in my rather small boat just downstream of Abingdon.

I was just settling down and about to drop off to sleep and I heard a boat pull alongside. I opened my cabin door and somebody was unbuttoning my canopy.

I told them in fairly expletive language where they could go and they said that they thought I was stuck and had come to "help me out".

With my club hammer in my hand, which I use to bang in my mooring pins and "also other uses" I continued the tirade of expletives and they decided it may be best to depart.

Anyway, the description of their boat is possibly of aluminium construction, dark green or grey and about fourteen foot and open with no cabin.

The men, who appeared to be in their twenties or thereabouts on board spoke with an English accent and not a local Oxfordshire accent.

If anybody has any police connections please pass on this information. I am sure that other boats in the area have been interfered with and possibly goods have been plundered.

 

[Little Dipper]

Update:

I moved my boat up into Abingdon and moored on the Abingdon Town Moorings for the night as it felt safer there. The culprits were seen skulking up and down the river by other boaters after dark with no nav lights on.

Today I proceeded downstream and there was not a sign of their boat so I think they may have slid it out of the water and possibly may slip it back in for another foray tonight.

Anyway, take care in Abingdon and look after your gear!

 

[Actionmat]

We have had the same breed down here. They go up and down in their little boats looking for something to steal.
I once saw a group of men in an open boat, each holding a rod. The rods had no lines! They were pretending to fish while casing the area. I think this is one thread that justifies swearing on the forum.
Thank goodness you were onboard and able to shoo them away.

 

[mersey]

If anybody has any police connections please pass on this information. I am sure that other boats in the area have been interfered with and possibly goods have been plundered.

Why didn't you report it to the police at the time?

 

[Little Dipper]

Because they would just log my call and get on with other things.

Anyway, I was going to put a post on here regarding the fact that I spotted them in another part of the river yesterday but since I got so much p*** taken out of me by you lot regarding another post I made you lot can go and do the same thing into the wind!

I know where they are and they are miles from my boat. Are they near yours? Please let us all know when you gear gets stolen, I could do with a good laugh.

I will not be logging in again.

 

[Akers_like]

Mupett

 

[oldgit]

I will not be logging in again.

Sorry if you took offenc especially after going to the time and trouble to get onto the forum.
This forum covers quite small area with small number of posters, responses can be a tad brusque on here, purely due to most posters knowing each other all to well and is probably a bit daunting to newcomers not aware of the general rough and tumble which tends to prevail.

Please stick with us and give us another chance, your input is appreciated.
Unfortunately the fortunes of the river are uncertain and one more post having a pop, however justified, at the EA was bound to get response from one side or the other.

 

[Actionmat]

+1 Well said.

 

[mersey]

Because they would just log my call and get on with other things.

So you're not prepared to report it, but expect other boaters to report it, on your behalf, presumably telling the police the source is an anonymous poster on the internet.

Please let us all know when you gear gets stolen, I could do with a good laugh.

What a lovely individual you are.