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Violated

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dbehling
1st Mate

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USA
68 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/05/2004 : 00:33:17

Hello all.
Last weekend we brought our boat back from Brickyard, San Francisco Bay, to Owl Harbor, Delta. We planned on leaving it there till the first of the year.
Today, we went to check on her, last weekend the winds we're horrible. So we wanted to make sure the covers were on right, etc.
As soon as we got to the boat, Wade noticed something wrong. Our outboard was off to the side. Yep, somebody had been on our boat. Cut the locks off the motor, and the back lockers. STole everything in our back locker including our Honda gas tank. Stole our mainsheet line, but cut it off, because they didn't want to untie it. They tried to steel the motor, but, luckily due to the PO it's screwed into the wooden motor mount. But it didn't stop them from breaking the handles to unscrew the motor.

We talked to the locals to find out that last Saturday, during the bad storm, some Tweekers (as locals call them, druggies) came in the middle of the night and hit alot of boats. Including our neighbors, who did loose motors and dignhy's. The sheriff said this tends to happen alot during December thru January, the tweekers think people don't use their boats and won't notice.

The only good thing that came from it. When talking to one of our neighbors who was telling us what had happened. He said one of the liveaboards had his dinghy stolen too. But, the tweekers had abandoned it and it drifted into another marina. Guess what, it had our gas tank. So, we at least got that back. So, we took out anything valuable and plan on pulling tomorrow if the weather allows.

We can only hope that the people who did this has the same thing happen to them one day. Eye for eye, what goes around comes around.

1979 SR/SK L-Dinette "Windy Britches" Sail #1205

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1775 Posts

Response Posted - 12/05/2004 : 01:16:04

Hi Debbie,

I am really sorry to hear about your ordeal ... it just makes my blood boil, too. I hope the authorities take this seriously enough to dust for fingerprints, interview people, etc. etc. and to conduct a thorough investigation ... maybe they can catch these guys and they'll have to pay for their crime ... I'll keep my fingers crossed that they do.

I'm glad you didn't lose a lot of stuff, or sustain a lot of damage. Nevertheless, I understand how you would feel violated ... that's the best way to put it, no matter what the outcome. If something like this happened to my boat, I would have a hard time restraining myself ... 'makes you want to become a vigilante

I hope y'all can pull your boat soon and put this behind you. Please keep us posted on any progress toward justice ... it would be great to hear back that they caught these guys.

Best of luck ... let us know if there is anything we Forum members can do to help out.

Edited by - on

dbehling
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
68 Posts

Response Posted - 12/05/2004 : 02:35:37

Thanks Buzz,
Sometimes its just knowing you have a place to vent with other sailers. Normally to pull your boat, especially for the winter requires a little prep time. We dont have that luxury. Especially with Christmas fast approaching. I never even thought about fingerprints. I think it may be too late now, especially if it rains tonight. The sheriff seemed to really care, but maybe it's a detective that does the printing. If it doesnt rain, we may call the sheriff and recommend that. We have the gas tank, so that has prints on it too. Good idea, thanks!

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2984 Posts

Response Posted - 12/05/2004 : 10:30:12

Debbie, your narration does give us an insight about something talked about here several times... the theft of outboards. I and others have advised that outboards be bolted to the mounts. preferrable with some method that makes unbolding difficult, perhaps a specialty square socket bolt for example. Your narration proved that argument.

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 12/05/2004 : 11:01:45

I use the Fulton motor lock on the screw bolts on my Honda. They would have to work hard to steal it.

Those tweakers are lucky they didn't get cought and convicted under Islamic law. Then they would be called Lefty.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 12/05/2004 : 11:13:46

And if they legalized non addictive drugs they would not steal, they could afford their entertainment on minimum wage. Then all you would need to worry about is the drunk hunters. Still our property is safer than in the rest of the world, want to try and keep a boat in Mexico?

Edited by - on

Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 12/05/2004 : 11:20:49

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> I hope the authorities take this seriously enough to dust for fingerprints, interview people, etc. etc. and to conduct a thorough investigation ... maybe they can catch these guys and they'll have to pay for their crime .<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Call me a cynic, but I think you're dreaming. And, if you want to experience insult upon injury watch what the court would do with them if they caught them: not a lot. Which, ironically, might be better, as it would cost the taxpayer (you and me) 30-40K a year to incarcerate them, so we get to pay twice, once for the loss, then for their punishment.....

I'm with Frank.....give them something cheap that will knock them out enough so they don't have the energy to come bother us......

I know, I know, I'm getting dangerously close to "the line" here.....I'll zip it.

Oscar
C42 # 76 "Lady Kay" (Ex. C250 WB #618)
Georgetown MD/Fort Lauderdale FL

"Hindsight is 20/20, if I knew then what I know now, I would now be living on a small wooden sailboat, making a few bucks here and there playing a guitar and singing songs in bars."

Edited by - Oscar on 12/05/2004 11:26:15

lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 12/05/2004 : 11:32:55

I had #5857 at Owl Harbor for six months last year, during the time that I did not yet have a trailer for her. I never had anything stolen, but I used to worry about it. I got the impression that Owl Harbor had very few liveaboards, and what few there might have been were on "A" thru "D" docks, which were for the larger boats. I was on "H" dock with mostly smaller boats. In the winter months I would sometimes spend a whole day working on the boat and not see a single other person or a car on the marina road. Anyone could come through 7-mile Slough in a dinghy or fishing boat, stealing outboards, with a high probability that no one would notice. Folsom Lake has had it's share of theft problems, too. A few years ago, thieves got into the dry storage lot and made off with almost 20 outboards - allm of them 4-stroke Hondas and Yamahas, like they knew which were the most valuable motors. The El Dorado County sheriff said it looked like a professional theft ring did it, using two vehicles and two crews of people. They were so fast - did the whole job in less than 15 mimnutes - that it is believed they somehow knew in advance which were motors were going to be the easiest to remove, which boats they were on, and where those boats were located in the lot. A few boats have been broken into, but most of the theft has been outboards and deck gear. I have my new outboard bolted to the motor mount, but I imagine it would not take long for a determined thief to get it anyway; they would probably just cut off the bracket arms with a big bolt cutter, cut the wires, and steal the whole thing, bracket and all, then cut off the bolts and free the motor from the stub of bracket at their leisure. The British Royal Navy used to hang pirates, a tradition that has a lot to be said for it, especially if you have been the victim of a theft

Edited by - on

dbehling
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
68 Posts

Response Posted - 12/05/2004 : 12:00:27

Yeah Larry,
WE had our boat there for quite a while too. The harbormaster said he hasn't had a problem this severe in 11 years that he's been there. Maybe small things, but this was like a big raid.

We turned the boat around in the slip and took out any valuables. ie,radio,gps,etc.

We actually have liveaboards all around us, just none on H dock. Docks on either side of us though. But what is bad is the tweekers walked right onto one of the liveaboards to take his dinghy. He didn't hear them due to the high winds.

This just pushes us to get the boat out and start on the bottom job.
Hopefully the bolts will deter anybody from taking the time to undue the motor. But, I guess if they want it bad enough.

Wade was so mad last night, as was the harbormaster and sheriff. They all wanted justice if you get my drift. Then wade had an idea, if we we're on the boat and caught them red handed, shoot a few good holes into their boat and opsie!!!!! Can you say SWIM!

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 12/05/2004 : 12:43:25

Only one form of life lower than a thief... that's the vandal.

The 24 X 7 security patrol at my marina alone is worth every penny of the slip fee (ca $100/mo). Fortunately, the guards are not your 'stereotype' doughnut-quaffing types... the marina mgt. (apparently) pays them fairly and treats them well. That, in turn attracts and retains quality people.

The patrolmen know each boat, it's assigned slip and (to my continued amazement) greet almost every tennant on a first name basis. I've never heard of anything being stolen from a boat. Very lucky to have such a nice place. IMHO, per dollar, it may be the best marina in California. (Woodley Island)

If your marina doesn't have a patrol:

1) Make the theft look like more work than the thief is willing to undertake
Gnarly looking cables, locks, bolts (left handed?). Your hope is that they move onto easier pickings. Obviously, if they have the time, tools and energy this won't stop 'em.

2) A simple alarm system. Run a circuit loop to your outboard and back to an alarm relay. When they cut the wires, (which they will probably do first, as it's the easiest thing to do) they get a 110 db horn for 15 minutes. It's a pretty foolproof setup and not subject to false alarms.

The companionway and cockpit hatches can be protected with magnetic proximity switches. A simple rotary key switch arms and disarms the system while an LED lets a would-be thief know it's there. (a dummy may work as well for deterrence). Obviously, in a remote location where they know they won't be disturbed... this may not slow 'em down at all.

3) Video survelliance systems - with plenty of signs advertising the fact. (a dummy camera may work as well as the real thing for deterrence purposes). A full-time recorder is pretty cheap these days... remote cameras are now radio-linked so they don't even need wiring. I'd think most any marina should be able to afford a simple setup. If not, a $12 dummy camera and a few $5 signs might be better than nothing.

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1775 Posts

Response Posted - 12/05/2004 : 13:21:51

Hi Bruce,

As usual, you have made some excellent suggestions ... thanks!

I was wondering ... could you expand on step #2? I've thought about installing similar alarm systems, but that sort of stuff is way out of my league.

Maybe we could incorporate this idea into our Tech Tips ... what do you think?

Thanks for the help!

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 12/05/2004 : 13:49:08

Sorry to hear of your theft/vandalism, Debbie.

Although I haven't experienced a theft yet (knock on wood), I always remove my outboard the day my boat gets hauled out and reinstall it on splash day in the spring because the boatyard where I winter store is not that secure (no guards, no gates). Additionally, I remove items like gas, oil, teak oil, cleaners, liquid head deodorizers, fire extinguishers, and anything else that a vandal might use to make a mess on board.

Edited by - on

cathluk
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
513 Posts

Response Posted - 12/05/2004 : 16:52:31

Sorry to hear about the break in Debbie. Glad they didn't get your outboard.

We do the same as Don & remove our outboard over the winter as there have been some outboard thefts from the boatyard. Never had any problem at our marina though.

Edited by - on

John Mason
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 12/06/2004 : 12:57:59

Also sorry to hear about your losses. Small or large it just makes one feel so angry, frustrated and insecure about leaving anything out of sight.

I'll get the interior storage mod photos to you tonight.

Edited by - on

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