UPDATED: Police Report More Stolen Motors in the Lower Keys
Three more motors reported stolen brings total to 51

Posted Friday, July 24, 2009

 
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Three more motors reported missing before the weekend.

July 24: Monroe County - Deputies took reports of three more lower units from boat motors taken - two on Cudjoe Key and one in Key Largo.

The two on Cudjoe were taken sometime between June 23rd and July 23rd. The owner who is out of town had a friend check his boat, which was stored on Second Avenue West. The friend said both lower units had been taken.

The lower unit taken in Key Largo was on a boat parked on U.S. One for sale, near Woodward Way. He had it for sale on Craig's List and received a call from someone who'd seen the boat and wanted to know where the
lower unit was. He then went to check on the boat and called the Sheriff's Office when he realized the lower unit was taken.

This brings the total number of motors and lower units stolen in the lower Keys since January to 51. A county wide number is not available at this time.

July 23: Ramrod Key Deputy David Brummer responded to a home on Indies Drive Wednesday and met with the man who said he takes care of the property next door. He said the engine from his neighbor's boat is missing. According to the deputy, engine wires appeared to have been cut and there was gas and oil on the ground. The motor was a 2001 115 hp Yamaha. This brings the total number of motors and lower units taken in the lower Keys to 49 since January.

July 22: Big Pine Key - Four more lower units from boat motors were reported stolen Tuesday, bringing the total since January to 48 motors and lower units stolen between Big Pine Key and Stock Island. Two lower units were stolen from a boat on Driftwood Street and two more from Poinciana Street. In both cases, residents were not home and a neighbor noticed the lower units missing and called to report it.

July 21: Lower Keys - Four more lower units from boat motors and a complete motor have been reported missing in the past ten days in the Lower Keys. This brings the total reported stolen in the Lower Keys to 44 since January. Detectives say they are continuing to investigate and still need the public's assistance.

All the motors have been reported stolen between Big Pine Key and Stock Island. While it is difficult to tell for sure, detectives believe the thefts may be connected. In most cases, the motors are large ones - 200 HP or more. Many have been taken from unoccupied homes. Recently, two lower units from large Mercury engines were taken from a business on Cudjoe Key; two lower units were taken from a home on Little Torch Key and one complete engine has been reported stolen from a home on Ramrod Key.

Detectives say they need two things from the public:

1. They need people to make sure they store their boats in secure, well lighted areas. If you are going out of town, let a trusted friend or neighbor know and ask them to keep an eye on your boat. Most of these thefts have been from homes that are unoccupied at the time of the theft.

2. They need people to report suspicious activity in their neighborhoods. In the past, arrests have been made in cases like this, but the arrests are almost always made because an alert neighbor saw suspicious activity and reported it immediately. If you see anything out of the ordinary in your neighborhood - someone you don't know who on your neighbor's property, or who is looking too closely at your neighbor's boat for instance, or a car, truck or van that you don't recognize that may be casing the area - call 911 right away. Don't wait. Look closely at the vehicle or person and get a description if possible.

If you have any information about these boat motor thefts, contact the Sheriff's Office or call Crime Stoppers of the Florida Keys. Callers to Crime Stoppers may remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward if their tip leads to an arrest. The Crime Stoppers hot line number is 1-800-346-TIPS.