Warning - Thieves

WheresMyBobber · 03-26-2001, 06:31 AM

Just got back from the private moorage just down from Freds, only to find that my friends 15 hp trolling motor had been stolen. This happened between Saturday afternoon and this morning. Upon getting the police report started, we learned that a similar report was filed from Freds marina yesterday morning. Obviously the thieves are working that area, so be careful. No rods or fishing gear was taken, just the motor.

If anybody becomes aware of a 15hp Honda for sale with the electric start wires cut, I know somebody who would just love to talk to the sellers. [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]

[ 03-26-2001: Message edited by: WheresMyBobber ]

Jennie@ifish · 03-26-2001, 06:40 AM

That is disgusting.
Let's do a watch for this kind of thing on ifish.
We should even have a special board to watch for this kind of thing.
List stolen items... too bad but I think that we would have quite a few posts. We can all look for them at pawn shops, ads in newspapers, etc.
Think that would be good?
I will keep an eye out too.
Let me know if these problems warrant this kind of forum.
Jen

WheresMyBobber · 03-26-2001, 07:06 AM

Thanks Jen, I agree we should all watch for and help each other out with this problem. I don't know how much added trouble it would be for you to add a special board for this kind of thing, but it may be worth a trial run. At least it would give people a place to post what they've had stolen, along with the approximate date and location. With boat motors, people will need to know or post the serial #'s of the motor for positive identification. ( I don't have my buddy's serial #, but I can get it if any leads come up)

I'm going to contact some repair shops in my area to see if they do any kind of checks on the motors that come in for repair, or if they keep a list of serial #'s of stolen motors that are reported to them. Many times a motor that has been stolen will have some kind of damage that needs to be fixed either by the thief, or the person who buys the motor from the thief.

Thanks again, lets see if there's enough interest in a special board for this kind of thing.

Crab King · 03-31-2001, 02:01 PM

One of the ways we can help each other and ourselves is not buy stolen property. Remember, "If it's too good to be true, it probably isn't". I've had some guy come up and offer me some "Hot" deal out of the trunk of his car. The optimum word here is hot. Don't help these thieves out, get their license number and call the police. I once had a guy ask me if I duck hunted and then try and sell me a riot gun with "Property of the California Highway Patrol" stamped on the barrel. Nobody said they were smart.

hawgcatcher · 03-31-2001, 04:14 PM

[img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] I am getting so disgusted with the amount of theft of fishing tackle, motors boats, car parts that happen when People try to enjoy fishing. You don't dare leave anything anywhere while you fish or camp. Then to make matters worse, our illustrious Gov. Cuts funding to the State Police so they drop another 150 officer positions when we are short already 400 positions. We need these officers out there so they can patrol these areas and even more be able to try and locate the property instead of taking a report. If we take matters into our own hands, we can look for more jail time then the crimminal will get. I don't feel safe in leaving my truck anywhere while I fish.

Something has to change.

03-31-2001, 07:32 PM

That's why mine sits in my driveway at
all times with a motion sensor and
MAJOR DB alarm and siren. Wish all
the bad luck that can become the
thieves. [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]

ssteelheadsteve · 03-31-2001, 07:55 PM

We solved this problem at Buoy 10 a few years ago.Myself and another guide organized a few rec boaters.We established a reward and then took a collection to hire an older gentlemen to watch our crab pots.Paid off in three days.One in the motor and one in the Hull below the deck from an M1 at about 400 yards did the trick.Even better when the crooks pulled in to Ilwaco with their sinking boat being towed by a buddy the Washington State Patrol put the cuffs on and let the boat sink after they got the evidence.Turns out we got a very organized ring that was selling pots in Ilwaco and Seattle.Seems they also had several OB Motors for sale and were also sending stolen boats and motors to Idaho. Cops also found some KGB in the basement of the Ringleader.Organize a reward.Crooks ARE snitches. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

HORNBLOWER · 03-31-2001, 11:58 PM

I've followed IFISH Discussion Board for some time, but don't get out on the rivers often enough to be a functional respondent. Did note "Warning Thieves" thread, but had to get registered before I could reply. On the subject of being a victim of stolen motors, I believe I qualify. Had TWO 15 HP Yamaha Electrics (new) stolen off my trailer...one after the other in a 3-month period. The first was merely bolted to the transom & cut the wires. After replacement, I had an electronic alarm installed, coordinated with my house-alarm. Also a security chain, but with large MASTER LOCKS. These guys were pro's. After being scared-off once by the alarm, they came back...found a way to disarm the alarm, and cut the locks with heavy bolt-cutters. The following was my solution, following the second theft:
The third motor, mounted & bolted to the transom, uses the same SECURITY CHAINS. They are excellent----Very Hard Steel, 3/8" thick and are NOT ROUND, BUT SQUARE, SO THAT BOLT-CUTTERS CANNOT GET A GRIP; 2 3/8" x 1 3/8" links. I replaced the locks, however with the SECURITY LOCKS MATCHED TO THE CHAIN [Manufacture's name stamped on lock: WEISSENFELS](expensive, but worth it)---They are massive, solid steel, with openings that accept and hold the ends of links inside the body of the lock. NO BOLT CUTTER CAN REACH THEM. I have two chains & locks: one fits snugly around the motor shaft (protected by an old bike inner-tube, and locked. The second chain is looped through the first chain and then through a hole in a S.S. 1/2" plate welded to the frame of my boat trailer, and locked. I do remove them when trailering the boat, but have had no problem since, when boat is parked on the trailer.
The SECURITY CHAINS & LOCKS are available from a logging-supply store in Portland....
Rigging Products, Inc., 2242 NE Columbia Bv., Ph. 503-281-2411 or 1-800-288-2411. These security chains & locks may be available from other sources, but this was the only place I could find them. (Incidentally, my neighbor, after having his auto-trailer [which he tows behind his motor home] stolen, bought the same chains & locks. He woke up one morning to find his trailer moved 2-feet, as the thieves came back, but gave up after they couldn't move the trailer and couldn't cut the chains or lock.)
Hope this information is helpful to some people. I do know my insurance company is much happier now.