Boats were burglarized Lower and Middle Keys over the weekend.
•A man on Coates Lane, Cudjoe Key reported to Deputy Linda Kohout someone entered his boat, which was parked in a canal behind his home, and took his Raymarine multifunction GPS display from the center console of his vessel. He said he thinks the theft took place between Saturday night and Sunday morning.
•A second victim on Coates Lane told Deputy Kohout his vessel was burglarized as well. The boat was on a lift behind his home and someone entered it and took two GPS multi-function displays from the center console.
•Deputy Kohout also responded to a home on Picard Lane, Cudjoe Key Sunday morning to another GPS theft. The victim said sometime between Saturday night and Sunday morning someone took his Garmin multifunction GPS unit from his boat, which was parked on his property on a trailer.
•Deputy Todd Jones responded to Sugarloaf Drive Sunday morning where a boat owner told him sometime between Saturday night and Sunday morning someone entered his boat and took his GPS and Sonar units from the center console. The boat was parked in his yard on a trailer at the time of the incident.
•Deputy Jones also responded to a vacant lot on Long Beach Road, Big Pine Key. The owner of a boat docked at that location said someone entered his boat and took his GPS unit, steering wheel and hub from the boat. Speakers were also taken. He said the items were taken sometime between January 2nd and the fourth.
•Sgt. Glenn Test took a report of a vessel burglary from a boat on a lift on 2nd Avenue West, Cudjoe Key. The owner said sometime between December 17th and January 5th someone removed two GPS units, a radar unit, an antenna and a port extender from his vessel.
•Deputy Caridad Calloway took a report on Windy Pointe Circle on Stirrup Key in Marathon of a boat that was burglarized. The owner said it happened between the night of January 4th and the 5th. Someone entered the boat which was docked at the end of his pier, and took his GPS / Sonar unit, his radar, compass and two spear guns.
•In another marine related theft, Deputy Kohout took a report on Hollerich Drive, Big Pine Key from a man who said 12 fishing rods and reels were taken from outside his home. All of them were propped up outside the home, unsecured.
Detectives are investigating all of these cases, but this should serve as a reminder that any expensive electronics or other equipment left on board a boat is vulnerable to theft. Such equipment is very difficult to secure when left on board and thieves travel by land and by water looking for opportunities to take such items. If you can, have electronics installed so they can be easily removed when you leave your vessel. If you can’t do that, then install good lighting and surveillance equipment which will either deter thieves or at least capture them on video if they do burglarize your vessel. There are some types of marine alarm systems that are available as well.
•A man on Coates Lane, Cudjoe Key reported to Deputy Linda Kohout someone entered his boat, which was parked in a canal behind his home, and took his Raymarine multifunction GPS display from the center console of his vessel. He said he thinks the theft took place between Saturday night and Sunday morning.
•A second victim on Coates Lane told Deputy Kohout his vessel was burglarized as well. The boat was on a lift behind his home and someone entered it and took two GPS multi-function displays from the center console.
•Deputy Kohout also responded to a home on Picard Lane, Cudjoe Key Sunday morning to another GPS theft. The victim said sometime between Saturday night and Sunday morning someone took his Garmin multifunction GPS unit from his boat, which was parked on his property on a trailer.
•Deputy Todd Jones responded to Sugarloaf Drive Sunday morning where a boat owner told him sometime between Saturday night and Sunday morning someone entered his boat and took his GPS and Sonar units from the center console. The boat was parked in his yard on a trailer at the time of the incident.
•Deputy Jones also responded to a vacant lot on Long Beach Road, Big Pine Key. The owner of a boat docked at that location said someone entered his boat and took his GPS unit, steering wheel and hub from the boat. Speakers were also taken. He said the items were taken sometime between January 2nd and the fourth.
•Sgt. Glenn Test took a report of a vessel burglary from a boat on a lift on 2nd Avenue West, Cudjoe Key. The owner said sometime between December 17th and January 5th someone removed two GPS units, a radar unit, an antenna and a port extender from his vessel.
•Deputy Caridad Calloway took a report on Windy Pointe Circle on Stirrup Key in Marathon of a boat that was burglarized. The owner said it happened between the night of January 4th and the 5th. Someone entered the boat which was docked at the end of his pier, and took his GPS / Sonar unit, his radar, compass and two spear guns.
•In another marine related theft, Deputy Kohout took a report on Hollerich Drive, Big Pine Key from a man who said 12 fishing rods and reels were taken from outside his home. All of them were propped up outside the home, unsecured.
Detectives are investigating all of these cases, but this should serve as a reminder that any expensive electronics or other equipment left on board a boat is vulnerable to theft. Such equipment is very difficult to secure when left on board and thieves travel by land and by water looking for opportunities to take such items. If you can, have electronics installed so they can be easily removed when you leave your vessel. If you can’t do that, then install good lighting and surveillance equipment which will either deter thieves or at least capture them on video if they do burglarize your vessel. There are some types of marine alarm systems that are available as well.