Thefts from Portsmouth

I have only ever bought new from a jumble, up here the second hand gear really is second hand gear, I am always shocked by the crap laid out on plastic sheets behind some dodgy looking old viva. I prefer to buy bulk items like ropes and shackles etc. from the chandleries that frequent the jumbles. It makes a yearly shop far easier with 5 or 6 large outlets selling off the gear. Jimmy Green is always there as is the rope guy, I wont buy elastic anywhere else.

I would never buy something I thought was stolen, it is like the car stereos and alloys in the 80s and 90s, anyone buying a digital radio KNEW it was stolen or they were stupid. The same people would winge like hell because it would ultimately be stolen, they would then buy another dodgy one.

Rant over.

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=blue> Julian </font color=blue>

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>Homepage</A>
 
Never leave electronics on board, or small valuable items. I get all mine into one holdall, it is a pain, but less painful I am sure than the consequences.

It seems that pontoons cause a serious security risk all of their own, I hope all of you will ask people you don't recognise to identify themselves, you do not need to tackle them, but by showing that you are now taking notice of their actions they will most likely be scared off. Security is not just the man at the gate.

a fortnight ago we arrived at Pwllheli around midnight, the gates to the yard where we have been leaving the car were locked so we drove up and down looking for somewhere close to park so we did not have to trundle all our gear to the yard where our dinghy is.

We must have looked very suspicious, there is a camera in the compound with infra red, it followed me everywhere. I was getting frustrated as I was having a terrible night, dropping stuff, struggling to turn dinghy over, I could just imagine the security guard giggling away while he sat in the warm drinking coffee watching me. In the end I waved in an arsey manner.

Later I realised this was well out of order for me; and am actually glad they watched this suspicious behaviour. I want more camera's around the area now!


<hr width=100% size=1><font color=blue> Julian </font color=blue>

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>Homepage</A>
 
There are several systems available which ring you on you mobile, but most of them are very expensive. The one that I have seen demonstrated is the 'mobilarm' http://www.mobilarm.co.uk/ it is fairly simple and uses a nokia 5110 phone with prepay sim card. It sends you a text message if one of the sensors is triggered and then follows this up with a voice call, so that you can hear what's going on - if the burglars are being noisy enough.

Heather

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
I agree - We only contacted the Police to get a crime number, we weren't expecting them to be able to do anything and were a little surprised when they wanted to see the boat.

Heather

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
The cabinlock is a simple idea and is easy to use once you've got the hang of it. It took us a couple of hours to fit, and would have taken less if the bolts supplied with the kit had fitted our washboards and hatch. They were both too thin and so we had to cut the bolts down. The build quality is fine, for what is basically an aluminium pipe and stainless steel tube with a lock on top. The top screws into a plate and then locks and once locked it is difficult to get any purchase on it to force it off.

http://www.klarschiff.com/img/bilder/cabinlockg.jpg

Heather



<hr width=100% size=1>
 
That was my worry with the mobilarm, because texts to my phone can take a while to arrive. However it also rings you, so I suppose that this problem is eliminated. I haven't worked out what happens if your phone is engaged/out of range/switched off etc - I suppose you get an odd message on your answerphone, if you've got one (I don't).

Heather

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
Shocking idea coming up ....

We keep hearing about these 'Taser' things the US Police use to zap several hundred volts through some unruly individuals .............................. Hmmmmmmmm!.

<hr width=100% size=1>I believe we should all pay our mooring fees with a smile. I tried — but they wanted cash.
 
I'm in the same boat - until now I thought that Spider Lake was relatively safe as it is somewhat remote, but it looks as though I'll have to reconsider that attitude.

I think there is no chance of an alarm being heard from the shore - or acted upon even if it were heard - so once the ferry has stopped in the evening there would be little for the thieves to fear from them.

I wonder whether strong locks are really a good idea - if someone wants to break into your boat they will do so, so fitting stronger locks may just lead to them doing more damage.

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
I think that there are 3 police launches covering the Solent and surrounding areas, so unless they happen to be in the area when the alarm goes off or when you rang them to say your boat was being burgled, I'm not sure that they could do anything - however their card does say ring 999 if the crime is in progress or you spot suspicious activity! The main phone number for the marine unit is 0845 045 45 45 ext. 1222 and the Portsmouth area number is 023 9289 1769.

My mooring is by the channel on the way up to Port Solent and so I'd hope that if there were other boats about and the alarm went off the burglar might be put off and scarper. We think that the burglars were in a small rigid tender with a white plastic/rubber rubbing strake, because there are white scratches half way up the topsides, so they'd just look like any yachtie going to their boat and we're also fairly sure that they broke in during the day and they keep coming back.

Heather

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
This may be a silly question - but what do these thieves tend to steal?

Is it just the "loose" electronics (GPS, VHF &c) or do they go for things like liferafts, navigation instruments and other equally expensive, but less portable, equipment?

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
From the boats up by ours it seems to be small portable stuff - toolkits, binoculars, torches, handheld compasses and GPS's, flares, fog horn, winch handles, a search light... and our box of useful screws/bolts/washers etc., a roll of duct tape and some cans of undrinkable lager. I think that nav instruments have been left untouched and about the least portable thing nicked appears to be a boat's battery. On their first attempt they unscrewed our new VHF radio and fixed GPS from their cradles and left them hanging by the leads. We think that that's what they came back for a few days later, but we'd taken them off the boat by then.

The burglars seem to be going for the easy targets (just a padlock/hasp to break) further away from the shore. There's so much choice that they don't need to make life difficult for themselves. The boat next to ours wasn't broken into, although someone had been aboard. Apparently it has a more unusual hatch/washboard arrangement and a yale type lock.

Heather


<hr width=100% size=1>
 
Keep an eye out for battered old dinghys within about 3/4 of a mile, generally these thefts are done by the younger elements, and the boats are rowed (v quiet), if you see what looks to be a derelict boat pulled up in the reeds, if you can mosey along and see if theres a well beaten path leading to it, if there is its a fifty fifty you may have found your culprit, it may be worth notifying the police to see if they know whose boat it is, after that its up to you or the police what happens next.........keith

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

B
Halberg Rassey 31
2 3 4
Replies
71
Views
2K
ashtead
ashtead

Share this page

Top