[Media] Thieves target boats in west Cork (Irish Times)

From the Irish Times

GARDAÍ IN west Cork have appealed for information after thieves stole €60,000 worth of marine equipment in the area over the last month.

Gardaí have recorded dozens of incidents of theft of marine equipment over the last five weeks. Detectives believe the equipment is being stolen for the overseas market. Areas hit include Goleen, Crookhaven, Kinsale, Skibbereen and Ballinspittle.

The most expensive engine stolen was worth in the region of €10,000 and was taken from Rosscarbery. The thefts have included engines, marine equipment and small boats.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ire ... 32606.html

Just for any dual anglers who do a bit of Game fishing several engines were stolen from boats moored in Oughterard Co. Galway during the week also...

ther was also 3 small boats stolen off a small river in castletown wexford last week

Suggestion to mods.

There are quite a few people on this website that could keep an eye out for lost/stolen items. Perhaps adding a lost & found section to the site would be an idea?

Last summer these thieves wreaked havoc here around the entire Lough Derg using cutting equipment and chainsaws to cut high powered engines, preferably 4-strokes, from moored boats. The entire damages caused exceeded €200.000 at the time.
Customs and Excise officers identified parts of the haul later on in a freight container in Dun Laoghaire with destination Estonia. The criminals are still at large, looks like they target the West Cork area now. Seems they are only after fairly new four stroke engines, 2-strokes are banned in Latvia, Estonia and on Scandinavian lakes. A friend of mine has "personalized" his engine with spray paint and an angle grinder, it's still there, all other engines from the same mooring were stolen.

Suggestion to mods.

There are quite a few people on this website that could keep an eye out for lost/stolen items. Perhaps adding a lost & found section to the site would be an idea?

Good idea.

Alas, we mere mortal Mods don't have the power for such witchcraft and wizardry as adding new sections. You need to direct your pleas to the almighty Admins, via the Website Feedback forum.

It would appear that all evidence points to gangs of eastern Europeans doing the vast majority of the stealing (The Gardai I have spoken to confirm this). While there is no doubt we have our own crop of native scumbags it really gets on my wick to see what these thieves are doing.

Not only are they stealing hard earned equipment, upsetting people, and as a consequence driving premiums higher for those who have insurance (There are more boaters without insurance than those that have) but as importantly they are destroying the fabric of our society.

In seaside villages across the country there has always been a code that has been adhered to by generations: a man’s boat and his equipment are sacred. Luckily in many places this code is still in effect. You could forget a lifejacket on the slipway in most parts and come back to find it placed out of harm’s way and in view. You can park your boat on the hard for the night and not worry out the gear stored within. Wheel clamps and hitch locks are an alien sight in most areas.

Now there is a siege mentality beginning to creep in areas targeted by thieves. People are having to change habits and become more security conscious – not a bad thing some might say – but I feel angry and saddened to have this change of attitude forced upon us by people that would abuse our hospitality and our good nature.

All anglers must be vigilant and report suspicious activity!

Just for any dual anglers who do a bit of Game fishing several engines were stolen from boats moored in Oughterard Co. Galway during the week also...

engines have been stolen around Oughterard for the last few years,but i still see engines being left on the boats,i know its hassle taking them off but you could save a lot of hassle to yourself if you do,
don't think if the boat is long the shore in a quite spot that it wont happen,5 engines taken 2 years ago from a spot that not too many would know about,where ever they are moored the thieves will find them