Well, I just got back from the marina where I found my 340 had been broken into. The thief was wearing latex gloves (which he left behind) and apparently cut the lock off the companionway. Radar and GPS were gone from the nav station along with the stereo, cd changer, inflatable PFDs, and basically anything of value. I hate to name names but this occured at Marina Cortez in San Diego. If any of you West Coast sailors run across a very good deal on a used SL-72 radar (minus the radome) or a Garmin 215 (minus the antena) it's probably mine... Must have happened on Sunday night or Monday. I guess there's really not much that could have be done to have prevented it, does anyone have any kind of alarm system on their boat? Maybe a huge, slavering Rottweiller locked down below???
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response to theft warning
too little, too late, but common sense (and, yes, even the insurance companies) suggest that we remove any and all valuable equipment from the boat when it goes up onto the hard. Don't want to come off as a smarty-pants, but if it is valuable, SOMEONE will take it if it can be had relatively easily. sorry for your loss.
too little, too late, but common sense (and, yes, even the insurance companies) suggest that we remove any and all valuable equipment from the boat when it goes up onto the hard. Don't want to come off as a smarty-pants, but if it is valuable, SOMEONE will take it if it can be had relatively easily. sorry for your loss.
Buglar Alarms
Miles - I'm sorry to hear that happened to you. Is your insurance company being helpful? I know a couple of people with buglar alarms on their boats. Some are basically just really loud, in the theory that the theif won't want to be aboard if the alarm is going off. The better kind are designed for use in cars and have a cellular phone module built into them that call either a monitoring company or any other number you tell it to. The problem is, neither type would have stopped the guy who hit your boat. He was obviously prepared because of the gloves, and if he's used to doing houses he would likely have been carrying earplugs, too. (For the record, I'm a medic here in Falmouth, and have had cop friends tell me about picking up house theives; I haven't actually broken into all that many houses myself.) If he was that competent, he would also have known that he had enough time to raid the boat before any kind of response from the cellular units. If they want it, they're going to get it. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Miles - I'm sorry to hear that happened to you. Is your insurance company being helpful? I know a couple of people with buglar alarms on their boats. Some are basically just really loud, in the theory that the theif won't want to be aboard if the alarm is going off. The better kind are designed for use in cars and have a cellular phone module built into them that call either a monitoring company or any other number you tell it to. The problem is, neither type would have stopped the guy who hit your boat. He was obviously prepared because of the gloves, and if he's used to doing houses he would likely have been carrying earplugs, too. (For the record, I'm a medic here in Falmouth, and have had cop friends tell me about picking up house theives; I haven't actually broken into all that many houses myself.) If he was that competent, he would also have known that he had enough time to raid the boat before any kind of response from the cellular units. If they want it, they're going to get it. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Theft
Sorry to hear of your loss. Unfortunately most thieves know that they have plenty of time to get away with pretty much what they want. Marinas are very difficult to secure since they can approach by land or water and there are so many strange people coming and going that it is easy to blend in. Funny how everybody looks the same in their sailing clothes. I don't even lock my companion way any more since they can just do more damage getting into the boat than the worth of the deductable. The insurance company probably would squawk about that but the lock is visible and there is no hasp. Locks only keep the honest people out anyway. I do have an alarm sticker that is visible which probably works as well as anything. Unfortunately this is an unpleasant fact of life that most likly we will all experience eventually. Again, sorry to hear of your loss.
Sorry to hear of your loss. Unfortunately most thieves know that they have plenty of time to get away with pretty much what they want. Marinas are very difficult to secure since they can approach by land or water and there are so many strange people coming and going that it is easy to blend in. Funny how everybody looks the same in their sailing clothes. I don't even lock my companion way any more since they can just do more damage getting into the boat than the worth of the deductable. The insurance company probably would squawk about that but the lock is visible and there is no hasp. Locks only keep the honest people out anyway. I do have an alarm sticker that is visible which probably works as well as anything. Unfortunately this is an unpleasant fact of life that most likly we will all experience eventually. Again, sorry to hear of your loss.
Boat Theft and Marina Security
Miles, Sorry for your loss to low life thieves. Here's some ideas for your Marina people. Our Marina, Point Roberts Wa., has a very good security system. All docks are accessable only by magnetic key and each dock, we have about 20, with 1000 boats has its own unique magnetic key.Keys are only issued to owners of berthed boats. Point Roberts also has a security guard on duty 24 hours per day and He walks up and down all docks and has a jeep to drive around the grounds. We have a few (5 or 6 ) live aboards who also keep watch. All cars must have a Marina pass or they get the locking boot atttached to their wheels (Impounded). Everything is well lite and visiting boats are not allowed to enter the Marina proper, our visitor docks are at the mouth of the Marina. We're not perefect aas we too have been hit by thieves in the past, but past experiences have improved our security tremendously. Good luck in retrieving your property. Barrie
Miles, Sorry for your loss to low life thieves. Here's some ideas for your Marina people. Our Marina, Point Roberts Wa., has a very good security system. All docks are accessable only by magnetic key and each dock, we have about 20, with 1000 boats has its own unique magnetic key.Keys are only issued to owners of berthed boats. Point Roberts also has a security guard on duty 24 hours per day and He walks up and down all docks and has a jeep to drive around the grounds. We have a few (5 or 6 ) live aboards who also keep watch. All cars must have a Marina pass or they get the locking boot atttached to their wheels (Impounded). Everything is well lite and visiting boats are not allowed to enter the Marina proper, our visitor docks are at the mouth of the Marina. We're not perefect aas we too have been hit by thieves in the past, but past experiences have improved our security tremendously. Good luck in retrieving your property. Barrie
security
I installed a dead bolt lock on my companion way. Have had eveidence of "visitors" to my boat but no theft problems. Bryce S/V/ Spellbinder
I installed a dead bolt lock on my companion way. Have had eveidence of "visitors" to my boat but no theft problems. Bryce S/V/ Spellbinder
Finger Prints
I hope the police took the gloves and did a figerprint analysis of the inside of the gloves. I know this can be done as my neighbor is a Cop (retired) who was a fingerprint 'expert', and she has told me various stories over the years and one of them is nailing several crooks by lifting the finger prints off of the inside of the lates gloves. Hope they nail the SOB. Sorry for your loss.
I hope the police took the gloves and did a figerprint analysis of the inside of the gloves. I know this can be done as my neighbor is a Cop (retired) who was a fingerprint 'expert', and she has told me various stories over the years and one of them is nailing several crooks by lifting the finger prints off of the inside of the lates gloves. Hope they nail the SOB. Sorry for your loss.
break ins
My boat got hit 2 years ago while on the hard. Most thieves are looking for electronics or booze, so if you don't leave them on board they won't get them, but they'll still do damage breaking in. They broke my companionway latch and doors but didn't get anything because I had taken it all off the boat. They did get caught--it was teenaged boys (big surprise!)
My boat got hit 2 years ago while on the hard. Most thieves are looking for electronics or booze, so if you don't leave them on board they won't get them, but they'll still do damage breaking in. They broke my companionway latch and doors but didn't get anything because I had taken it all off the boat. They did get caught--it was teenaged boys (big surprise!)
Sounds Like A Pro..
..as Justin pointed out, there was probably little you could have done if, as it seems, this was other than a crime of opportunity. I was in your marina for three months and I believe the security is decent and to a customary standard. The thief may have been waterborne, I know several one-man crime waves in Marina del Rey were. Good luck: it was just your time. Rick D.
..as Justin pointed out, there was probably little you could have done if, as it seems, this was other than a crime of opportunity. I was in your marina for three months and I believe the security is decent and to a customary standard. The thief may have been waterborne, I know several one-man crime waves in Marina del Rey were. Good luck: it was just your time. Rick D.
I may have watch too many cop tv shows, but...
If he left the gloves behind, shouldn't his fingerprints be on the inside of 'em?
If he left the gloves behind, shouldn't his fingerprints be on the inside of 'em?
Only on TV?
I asked the cop who took the report and apparently they don't have a way to get fingerprints from the inside of the glove. They tend to smudge... I suppose if it was OJ Simpsons glove they'd find a way ;.) Meanwhile I've got gaping holes with wires hanging out of the nav station where the electronics used to be. The insurance people have been nice so far but there is the deductable to pay... Thanks to all who responded!
I asked the cop who took the report and apparently they don't have a way to get fingerprints from the inside of the glove. They tend to smudge... I suppose if it was OJ Simpsons glove they'd find a way ;.) Meanwhile I've got gaping holes with wires hanging out of the nav station where the electronics used to be. The insurance people have been nice so far but there is the deductable to pay... Thanks to all who responded!
Wow, that sucks
I remember when my car was broken into. I couldn't understand why someone would do it in the first place, and most importantly, WHY ME?! Luckily, there was nothing to steal and they couldn't get the car started with the screwdriver they used but my rear "wing" window was busted out, the door lock was a shambles, as was the ignition. Not bad, considering. Sorry you're having to go thru this. Good luck! LaDonna
I remember when my car was broken into. I couldn't understand why someone would do it in the first place, and most importantly, WHY ME?! Luckily, there was nothing to steal and they couldn't get the car started with the screwdriver they used but my rear "wing" window was busted out, the door lock was a shambles, as was the ignition. Not bad, considering. Sorry you're having to go thru this. Good luck! LaDonna
dead bolts and the like
Its a matter of personal preference, and maybe its because there are a lot of boats that look a lot more temping than mine, but I wouldn't deadbolt my companionway. I'd rather risk the possibility that some jerk will grab my stuff, than impede access to someone with a pump or a fire extinguisher. I guess I figure that the guy who wants in is going to get in anyway, but the fire could go from minor to total very quickly, while a good samaritan is looking for a crow bar. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Its a matter of personal preference, and maybe its because there are a lot of boats that look a lot more temping than mine, but I wouldn't deadbolt my companionway. I'd rather risk the possibility that some jerk will grab my stuff, than impede access to someone with a pump or a fire extinguisher. I guess I figure that the guy who wants in is going to get in anyway, but the fire could go from minor to total very quickly, while a good samaritan is looking for a crow bar. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
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