Marine-related Thefts on the Rise in Marathon
Boats on trailers are the most vulnerable.

Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2014

 

Boats on trailers are the easiest targets for thieves.

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Sheriff’s deputies took reports of more lower unit thefts in the Marathon area over the weekend.

All the boats were on trailers, most of which were parked in residential neighborhoods. Detectives are investigating the following cases:

• Aviation Boulevard - lower unit taken from a 140 HP Suzuki engine sometime between Saturday evening and Sunday at noon. The boat was also vandalized.
• Avenue G, Fat Deer Key – lower unit from a 200 HP Mercury engine taken. Reported on Saturday, but last seen by the owner on November 16th.
• Avenue E, Fat Deer Key – while canvassing the area, deputies found lower units taken from two 225HP Yamaha engines.
• Bruce Court – lower unit from a 250 HP Yamaha engine taken, along with a propeller, GPS and fishing gear. Taken sometime between Friday at 8:30 p.m. and Saturday at 8:20 a.m.
• Bruce Court – while canvassing the area on 12/6, deputies found a lower unit missing from a 200 HP Yamaha engine. Boat was also missing a depth finder. Owner last saw his property two weeks ago.
• Brian Road – while canvassing the area on 12/6, deputies found lower units missing from two 225 HP Yamaha engines. Owner last saw his property on 12/5 at 5 p.m.
• Mockingbird Lane – deputies canvassing the area found a lower unit taken from a 225 HP Suzuki engine.
• Avenue G, Fat Deer Key – the lower unit from a 250 HP Yamaha engine reported missing 12/6 at 12:20 p.m. Also missing was a GPS, a radio and a steering wheel.

Boat owners should take steps to secure their property using locking devices or by backing up their boat as close as possible to a wall or other solid object and lowing the engine so thieves cannot access the lower units. Residents of Marathon should check their own boats and any boats on neighboring properties whose owners are not home to see if lower units or other marine property has been stolen. If a crime is discovered, call the Sheriff’s Office immediately to report it.

Detectives have processed all the crime scenes for possible evidence and are checking all the locations for possible surveillance video of suspects and/or vehicles. Anyone who has information which might be pertinent to any of these cases should contact the Sheriff’s Office immediately at 305-289-2430. Callers may also contact Crime Stoppers of the Florida Keys. Tipsters can remain anonymous and, if a tip leads to an arrest in the case, the caller would be eligible for a cash reward. The Crime Stoppers hot line number is 1-800-346-TIPS. Tips may also be submitted on line at www.tipsubmit.com or via a text message to 274637 using the keyword TIP136.