Category: Crime

A 17′ Shetland Fishing Boat had been reported stolen from Queenborough Yacht Club. This has been located in a driveway and one male has been arrested. However it appears that he innocently brought it from a man at the roadside in Rainham. Vessel has been returned to owner.

A yellow 7′ red single cockpit kayak has been stolen in the middle of the month from premises in Hythe.

We have been made aware of three large outboards taken from the secure compound in Brightlingsea, Essex at the end of last week. These had been cut free from boat transoms causing large amount of damage and include 60, 100, and 135 hp engines.

PC David Lavender
Kent Police Marine Unit

A couple of issues to report from the last couple of weeks.

A small vessel was seen adrift from Gillingham Marina by Coastguards
which had been stolen from Gillingham Pier. The vessel was returned to
owner but with some property missing.

On 12/04 six boats reported batteries stolen at Bow Bridge Marina. A
total of 11 batteries were taken to the value of £1,355. Though we
cannot be sure of the exact date of the break ins, as owners have
reported different dates that their boats were last checked, it is
likely to be on the same night.

17/04 a report of a Yamaha GT1300 PWC and trailer taken from a Caravan
Site at Leysdown. Again it was sometime after the owner last knew it was
there.

15/04 to 16/04 Medway Yacht Club boat Marganita was broken into,. a
fish finder and 8ft Avon inflatable was taken. Please be aware, those
that are now doing the nightly security patrols.

Good News

The Marine Unit recently located a stolen boat from over a year ago and
was able to return it to the owner. With it was an outboard motor
relating to a separate crime and will shortly be returned to it’s owner.
Further enquiries are being carried out.
The boat had been identified as the owner had marked it with a post
code and the owner of the OB had recorded the serial number.
A reminder to mark property and record serial numbers.

PC David Lavender

Crime update for this week:

• 6-13 March: A Mariner 2 hp outboard and a Johnson 4 hp along with some marine items were stolen from a barn in Lenham, Maidstone
• 16-19 March: A generator taken from a yacht on moorings in Faversham Creek
• 16 March: Property described as metal body parts (boat, not human body parts!) taken from a boat at Hoo. Male has been arrested and positively dealt with.

PC David Lavender
Kent Police Marine Unit

A little quiet at moment on the crime front but a couple of reports of note:

• 26-27 Feb: A 28 ft boat trailer with metal mud guards and a 1 x 1.3 metre 1000 litre fuel tank taken from Sandwich Marina
• 28 Feb: 8 ‘pig iron’ blocks weighing approx. 1.5 tons used as ballast taken from a boat at Medway Bridge Marina.
• At end of February five boats were broken into at Medway Wharf Marina, Wateringbury in one night 26/02 to 27/02. Batteries were removed from under cabin soles. A total of 13 batteries were taken from the five boats, each worth in the region of £100.

PC David Lavender
Kent Police Marine Unit

Theft of fuel has been an issue of late around the county. Please make sure that tanks and portable cans are secure.

Three boats at Bow Bridge Marina were subject to criminal damage, windows were broken on the side adjacent to tow path.

The one theft of note is the theft of a speed boat from a pontoon at Port Medway Marina Cuxton.  It is a limited addition Cloud 9, four seater, described as white with blue side panels. It has recently been restored. We have requested a photograph.

PC David Lavender
Kent Police Marine Unit

Happy New Year and I hope while the snow is on the ground that everyone has their charts  and pilot books out, planning and scheming for the summer. Here is the latest crime update from the beginning of 2013:

• 1-5 Jan Three thefts of fuel in containers from Swale Marina total cost about  £400
• 7-8 Jan Theft of 250 litres of diesel from a boat on a mooring in Faversham Creek. No details of method transport, i.e. boat.
• 9-10 Jan Theft of an 8′ GRP Dinghy from Strood Pier area.
• 11-12 Jan Theft of Zodiac inflatable, Honda 15hp  and Johnson 3.3hp outboards

PC David Lavender
Kent Police Marine Unit

At the beginning of the month a number of canoes and kayaks have been stolen from the east of the county. Two beach huts were broken into at Tankerton and kayaks taken. One kayak and road trailer were taken from a front garden in Westgate-on-Sea between 11th & 13th. One person has been arrested in connection with these kayaks after investigation by our Marine Specials, enquiries on going.

Four outboards were taken from Bow Bridge Marina, Yalding between 8th & 10th.

Gravesend Yacht club was hit overnight of 18th & 19th with seven outboards taken. Ranging from a £50 Seagull to a £1000 Honda 2hp. All engines were small, but overall ten outboards have been reported stolen this month.

The Unit will be at this Autumn’s Boat Jumble at Detling on 7th October 2012..

David LAVENDER PC 9829

Kent Police Marine Unit