Theft On The Medway

[Suttle]

A well organised gang of thieves are operating on the Medway.

An engine has been stolen from one of Medway Yacht Clubs Boats.
It appears that the thieves stole a tender from Hoo Ness Yacht Club rowed to the MYC boat and cut her security chain, then beached her near the pill box, cut all the electrics and steering cable and then ground off the locking bolt.They then loaded it onto a truck or wheelbarrow.
In the mean time someone else approached the Willsonian Club from the road side and cut three padlocks on their gates so as to gain access to the beach,they then wheeled the engine away to the waiting vehicle.

 

[MoodySabre]

This was a problem on the Blackwater last year. Marking stuff and CCTV is about all that can be done. Sorry for those affected.

 

[Sixpence]

Doesn't David (Lensman) supply a gadget you can install on boats which will monitor things aboard, then send a text message if something's wrong ?. Worthwhile investment if theft is a problem in the area I would think

 

[Fire99]

Not new advice but replacing outboard top covers with Police soft covers (or other suitable) seem a good idea.

But if the 'gang' are that professional / determined, you'll struggle to stop 'em.

 

[jerrytug]

Not new advice but replacing outboard top covers with Police soft covers (or other suitable) seem a good idea.
But if the 'gang' are that professional / determined, you'll struggle to stop 'em.

What's a 'Police soft cover'? I sometimes have to leave my dingy on the buoy,Medway,anything to deter theives must be good. Last summer I hospitalized two of them who didn't know there were people on board,but it was Oostende. If UK,would be txting this from prison cell. Cheers Jerry.

 

[fergie_mac66]

What's a 'Police soft cover'? I sometimes have to leave my dingy on the buoy,Medway,anything to deter theives must be good. Last summer I hospitalized two of them who didn't know there were people on board,but it was Oostende. If UK,would be txting this from prison cell. Cheers Jerry.

police in wells next the sea were doing it ages ago

http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/loc...Undercover_ploy_to_beat_boat_thieves/?ref=rss

 

[jerrytug]

Thanks Fergie. I will be making enquiries...

 

[Fire99]

police in wells next the sea were doing it ages ago

http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/loc...Undercover_ploy_to_beat_boat_thieves/?ref=rss

That's the kiddies. Many of the marine units (Essex certainly are) are able to supply them for most engine sizes. Very popular around where I sail and I hear they're a good deterrent.

 

[Firefly]

Gravesend Sailing Club suffered last week - Someone cut through a fence, broke into 14 lockers with bolt croppers and some sort of cutter, stole 10 small outboards (at least members will be fitter for a while, as so many will have to row their tenders until replacements are bought) and vandalised a van in the carpark. So if you are offered a 2.5hp outboard by some one who is no sailor you will have and idea of the probable source. The police and SOCO were very good but offer no hope of recovery or charges.

 

[vjmehra]

Can the covers be ordered online at all?

 

[Charlotte Anne]

Do you think that Kent police will talk to their counter-parts in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex? Perhaps the clubs that are the most recent victims could encourage them to do so?

These crimes all seem too similar to me not to be connected. They have been going on for years and are well organised groups willing to use boats and go afloat to get outboards. If they caught them once the number of incidents would plummet...

 

[Cantata]

I believe the Kent and Essex marine units work together and share resources anyway.

 

[Champagne Murphy]

What's a 'Police soft cover'? I sometimes have to leave my dingy on the buoy,Medway,anything to deter theives must be good. Last summer I hospitalized two of them who didn't know there were people on board,but it was Oostende. If UK,would be txting this from prison cell. Cheers Jerry.

Excellent fellow
On a technical note, what did you use?

 

[macnorton]

and Cambridgeshire

Between 18th and 25th August - an engine was stolen from a boat moored at Alwalton - details of engine are Marina 15HP - Model number MAR7F15312ZK with serial number 0R370012 - other items were stolen from the boat - it states that other boats have been damaged in the past in this area but no recent reports to the police

Afternoon of 29th August - thieves stolen an engine from boat moored at Orton Mere Marina, Orton Mere Peterborough - to steal the engine they cut away the back of the boat which sunk. This was a marina engine with serial number 0P0460890

Between 1st and 9th September an engine was stolen from a boat moored at Wren Walk, Eynesbury St Neots - this was a Yamaha engine - no details received on model and serial number

Overnight 17th September - a brand new Honda engine stolen from boat moored at the Marina Upware Road, Upware in Ely - it is believed two other boats in the marina have also been targeted but no calls have been made to the police in regard to any thefts

Please be aware if you store marine equipment in external workshops and garages - theft reported from a workshop on Whittlesey Road in March - large number of boat equipment and engines has been stolen including:

Honda 15HP LS electric outboard engine
Mercury 3.3HP LS outboard engine
Honda 2HP LS outboard engine
Min-Kotta Riptide 40LB Thrust outboard engine
Min-Kotta Riptide 50LB Thrust outboard engine

Garden equipment - two Stihl strimmers and a Stihl hedge trimmer

Crime currently being investigated but believed entry and exit may have been via a river towpath and a boat used.

Please be aware that thieves are operating in areas where engines are stored - we have now had several reports of engines being stolen so please be vigilent and if you are storing equipment outside in storage facilities think about upgrading locks - install security lighting - something as simple as a shed alarm could be a deterrent for a thief.



http://www.cambs-police.co.uk/help/101/

Many thanks

Carol Aston
Crime Reduction Officer
Community Intervention Team, Peterborough District
Cambridgeshire Police

 

[sailorman]

Excellent fellow
On a technical note, what did you use?

and where to get one

 

[xyachtdave]

Gravesend Sailing Club suffered last week - Someone cut through a fence, broke into 14 lockers with bolt croppers and some sort of cutter, stole 10 small outboards (at least members will be fitter for a while, as so many will have to row their tenders until replacements are bought) and vandalised a van in the carpark. So if you are offered a 2.5hp outboard by some one who is no sailor you will have and idea of the probable source. The police and SOCO were very good but offer no hope of recovery or charges.

I'm sorry to hear that GSC has had similar issues.

There was a spate of break ins to yachts on moorings during the early part of last year too. Unfortunately mine was affected, luckily after the broke the lock off, they didn't realise you need to gently lift the sliding hatch rather than bash it about.

Very depressing news for local sailors.

 

[Marmalade]

We had a similar problem as Roger said, on the Blackwater a couple of years ago. Call me jumpy, but I don't want to go into detail here about our countermeasures but they've been ok so far. PM me if necessary or Toad of this parish who was /is responsible for many of them.

Suffice it to say that we don't allow members to keep their outboards at the club now. Inflatables too. Sad.

 

[sailorman]

We had a similar problem as Roger said, on the Blackwater a couple of years ago. Call me jumpy, but I don't want to go into detail here about our countermeasures but they've been ok so far. PM me if necessary or Toad of this parish who was /is responsible for many of them.

Suffice it to say that we don't allow members to keep their outboards at the club now. Inflatables too. Sad.

12 bore & trip wire

 

[xyachtdave]

12 bore & trip wire

It's the stealth approach at MYC.....

It's a perfectly legal (but not for shooting outboard thieves unfortunately) Tac-15i.