Probe into theft of marine equipment worth up to €60,000

A MAJOR investigation is under way into the theft of up to €60,000 worth of marine equipment from the west Cork coast.

Detectives have set up an incident room in Bandon Garda Station to investigate what they believe may be a co-ordinated operation involving the same gang targeting unsecured harbours and coves. They urged boat owners to be vigilant and appealed to the public for help.

The first reports of thefts emerged in late June when top-of-the-range outboard engines were stolen from boats moored in west Cork harbours.

The thefts continued with more engines, marine equipment and in some cases, rigid inflatable boats (RIBS) and small boats stolen.

A total of 18 outboard engines were reported stolen from harbours along the coastline over last weekend alone. Kinsale, Courtmacsherry, Glandore, Baltimore, Goleen and Crookhaven were targeted.

Detective Inspector Joe Moore said the theft of marine equipment is a major problem worldwide, particularly in Britain.

The thefts occur both during the day and night. In some cases, the gang uses its own boat to steal equipment from boats moored on the water. In other cases, the boats are pulled to shore and left until high tide before equipment is taken.

Det Insp Moore urged boat owners to take extra security measures.

He encouraged people who leave boats in the water, unattended, for lengthy periods, to remove the auxiliary engines, and the main engines.

“I would also encourage boat owners to ensure they have all the particulars relating to their engines – the serial number, and to mark it specifically, so that they can recognise if it is stolen.

“And for people who have expensive outboard engines, I would encourage them to fit them with tracking devices.”

He appealed to anyone living in coastal areas who notices suspicious activity to contact gardaí in Bandon on tel: [phone].

His warning came as Allianz Insurance said yesterday that it has had a 450% increase in claims relating to the theft of outboard engines in the last year.

It identified west Cork, Galway, Lough Derg and the Shannon estuary as theft blackspots and claimed the engines are being stolen for transport and sale in Eastern Europe.