I'm really sorry to see what happened to the boat At the same time I'm really incredulous not that something like this can happen at all, but the frequency that it happens down there in Fla. Even if the scum that pulled this off (only so far I hope) could get into the yard and back out cleanly, how do you tow a beautiful humongous piece of machinery into even a secluded area and back out totally stripped without no one thinking that something is not even a little amiss?
If I were a cop, especially down there where boat-related theft seems to be a HUGE problem, just the sight of a stripped obviously intact hull would be enough to make me investigate. Not to mention the fact that it is seriously doubtful that everyone and their mother is running around stealing and stripping boats down there. I'm guessing that it's a relatively small group of dirtballs that are responsible for a vast majority of the thefts. If so, I'm sure that they may have a precious few areas that they can do their nasty work with either a) complete secrecy, or b) where they can relax that no one's going to say/report anything.
Do the cops down there have any sense? I read through the thread on the other forum that you posted on and I saw reference to an apparent boat dumping ground called Chrome Ave. Um, don't the fuzz patrol around down there? Maybe they should start nabbing people when they're observed towing stripped hulks around the neighborhood or something? I know, I know, wishful thinking. Just like everywhere else in the country.
What I find hysterical about vehicle theft (car, boat, M/C, etc.) is that it's always taken so lightly by law enforcement. For example, I'm sure that (extremely) conservatively at least 300 boats a year are stolen or have expensive parts like outboards stolen from them. Even if each occurrence involved as little as $1000 in property that would equate to $300,000, right? Which I'm sure is an infinitesimal fraction of the actual losses that occur.
Conversely, what do you think would happen if ten banks were robbed of $10,000 in the same time span? That's right, you wouldn't be able to walk ten feet without running into a Fed or local LEO running around the area trying to bust the thieves involved.
I also noticed reference to the "bait car" programs that law enforcement agencies supposedly use to "effectively combat auto theft", but I personally suspect are used more for media ops to give the perception that they're doing anything effective to prosecute the many many thefts that directly impact tax-payers every day as opposed to actually effectively fighting the problem. It gave me an idea that I'd be willing to bet would be a far greater deterrent to the boat thieves. Maybe you guys in the S. Fla. area need to form some vigilante groups.
You know, one guy volunteers to allow his boat to be used as a bait boat while the other six to ten guys wait in hiding with bats and other various and sundry armaments. If you pick the right locale to do it in, I'm sure you wouldn't have to wait long to dole out some very justified and
truly effective punishment. I'm not a very violent guy, and generally I hate to see what people are capable of doing to others. But there are circumstances where extreme measures are absolutely needed and extremely justified, this kind of crime is one of them.
On a brighter note, good luck with the rebuild!
Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy!
Linear Mode
