Recent thefts

[Jizm]

Is it just me or has anyone elso noticed the amount of RIBs and engines being nicked over the last month to six weeks around the solent?

http://www.stolenboats.org.uk/search...b&catagory=rib

http://www.stolenboats.org.uk/search...agory=outboard

[biffer]

Originally Posted by Jizm

Is it just me or has anyone elso noticed the amount of RIBs and engines being nicked over the last month to six weeks around the solent?

http://www.stolenboats.org.uk/search...b&catagory=rib

http://www.stolenboats.org.uk/search...agory=outboard

it's pikey season Ben, the hamble is full of them, trouble is the police are spineless, the farmer up hamble lane has a lagoon over the back of his field where they are and it's now full of shit as they've been using it as a bog dump, it's going to cost him thousands to pump out and clean up when they leave, on a brighter note, they haven't nicked that little boat of your's, still here

[boristhebold]

And yet another one nicked today, will post details later. I reckon someone should contact the local TV station, south today or whatever and have them run an article on it, they are always looking for good news stories. I don't want to blame the police but these boats are not exactly small items to hide or transport so why arn't the police stopping people with boats going on ferries or in continers and asking about ownership ? They shoudl do some spot checks.

[boristhebold]

If you look at the trends, they seem to be pinched in two's and threes every month or so, also the majority are under 7m mostly around 5 or 6M length and always on trailers. The security in many of the marina's involved seem to be non existant as many marina's hit multiple times over the years. People also need to start asking some hard questions about security in the marina's. Many marina's state they have great security with CCTV cameras and patrols etc but still get hit.

[Jizm]

Originally Posted by biffer

it's pikey season Ben, the hamble is full of them, trouble is the police are spineless, the farmer up hamble lane has a lagoon over the back of his field where they are and it's now full of shit as they've been using it as a bog dump, it's going to cost him thousands to pump out and clean up when they leave, on a brighter note, they haven't nicked that little boat of your's, still here

Indeed, got some of them round my way aswell. Andy B said there was issues over Fawley with the folk recently...

Haven't forgotten about the boat mate, will come and get it been busy sorting out some issues. Still got that motor aswell if you still want it?

[Jizm]

Originally Posted by boristhebold

I don't want to blame the police but these boats are not exactly small items to hide or transport so why arn't the police stopping people with boats going on ferries or in continers and asking about ownership ? They shoudl do some spot checks.

With you on that, didn't they find a few on a farm in Emsworth a couple of years ago?

[Jizm]

Looks like the motor on the ballistic was in bits when nicked....

http://www.stolenboats.org.uk/view.php3?q=4363

[Polwart]

Originally Posted by boristhebold

I don't want to blame the police but these boats are not exactly small items to hide or transport so why arn't the police stopping people with boats going on ferries or in continers and asking about ownership ? They shoudl do some spot checks.

How would that work? How would you go about proving that you are the legitiamite owner of your boat if the police stopped you? Perhaps a bill of sale - but how would a roadside copper spot a real one? Perhaps an SSR number for boats going on ferries - but they'll not be hard to fake and if these are planned thefts your SSR no is on public display for all to see. In any case there is no legal requirement to have or carry either of these so it would be difficult to detain someone for not having them. Is the average copper going to start hunting for engine serial numbers to check a database at 2 am? Once its inside a container it will be even harder to check - how do you pick which containers?

There's no central registry of boats which makes it very easy to pass off a stolen boat.

As you say security at many boat yards/marina's is very lax. Obviously there is a cost to improving this. From what I can see insurers base premiums on general postcodes rather than specific yards/marinas - perhaps if they had discounts for "approved" yards operating secure systems it would encourage change (but it would only make sense to insurers if they make more £ that way).

[Dry Run]

Surely any system can be made to work if there is enough will to do it? Insurance companies have the hull identification numbers. when you insure a boat and it would no be difficult to set up a central database of this information (like with cars). Anyone stopped with a boat could be cross referenced with the insurance for that boat. So it would simply be a matter of having to prove who you are. Most of us are carrying so form of ID even if it's a credit card.

But like I say, there needs to be a will to create such a system and I guess the insurance companies don't think it's financially worth it! Then of course there is the matter of policing the system!!!!!

However, it may deter thieves if they think there is a chance that they might be challenged if caught towing a Rib.

[Leapy]

Originally Posted by Polwart

As you say security at many boat yards/marina's is very lax. Obviously there is a cost to improving this. From what I can see insurers base premiums on general postcodes rather than specific yards/marinas - perhaps if they had discounts for "approved" yards operating secure systems it would encourage change (but it would only make sense to insurers if they make more £ that way).

From this thread it sounds like boat storage safety might, in general, lag significantly behind the current principles of caravan storage and insurance. I'm sure this is driven by market forces - more caravans to steal, more do get stolen.

Insurance quotes for caravans kept in third party storage are a function of the safety of the storage facility. The "Caravan Storage Site Owners Association" (CaSSOA) operates a scheme of graded security...the higher the security - up to Gold standard - the higher your insurance premium discount.

The 'Gold' standard storage we use has multiple laser beam intrusion sensing, amongst other things.

Maybe there's a business opportunity for CaSSOA to expand into boats?