Courtesy of the Miami Herald
Boat-theft spike blamed on migrant smugglers BY ALFONSO CHARDY The thieves struck in the middle of the night. They cut the steel cables holding the brand new Plan B, a 36-foot fishing boat, on its elevated mooring behind a Key Largo home..... The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission estimated that boat thefts in Miami-Dade alone were up more than 20 percent from last year
Read the rest of the article in the News gallery section
In the Early hours of October 18th a boat was stolen from a residence in Key Largo. This vessel had a Tracer unit installed by Boat Track and notified the owner as it was being moved. The owner immediately contacted the Authorities however they had little success in attempting to recover the boat. The vessel was successfully tracked from Key largo to the West side of Cuba and then to Isla Mujeres. The owner, the insurance company, and the Mexican authorities recovered the boat as it arrived in Mexico.
Tracking System Finds Stolen Boats In Cancun, Cuba POSTED: 10:37 pm EDT October 18, 2007 UPDATED: 12:07 pm EDT October 19, 2007 KEY LARGO, Fla. -- Thieves have been stealing boats from homes in South Florida, sailing them into international waters and crossing Communist borders. Related Content: Video One victim, who did not want to be identified because the boat bandits remain at large, said he is just one of many victims. "They're showing up to people's homes and taking people's properties to go over to Cuba and pick up people and make money off it," the victim said. "I don't agree with it and I think it's completely wrong, but I have a surprise for them." His boat is equipped with top-notch technology -- a low-jack (actually a tracer unit sold by boat track inc.), which reportedly allowed the U.S. Coast Guard and other authorities to track the stolen boats. Boats were found in Cuba and Cancun. "We are on our way to Cancun, Mexico, to pick up a stolen boat that was stolen from Key Largo on Tuesday night," the victim said. "Apparently it's a very bad problem that is going on over there." The Monroe County Sheriff's Office issued a warning after seven vessels vanished in the upper Keys over the last two months. The victim told NBC6 and authorities confirmed that the stolen boats are being used for migrant smuggling. "But the fact that they are stealing boats and using them for this is a very big problem," the victim said.
Courtesy of Channel 6 news
See the tracked path:
http://www.guardianmobility.com/MarineApplication.php
Below are links to the news story:
http://www.nbc6.net/news/14374070/detail.html
Video
http://video.nbc6.net/player/?id=169533
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Posted on Wed, Sep. 26, 2007
Boat-theft spike blamed on migrant smugglers BY ALFONSO CHARDY The thieves struck in the middle of the night. They cut the steel cables holding the brand new Plan B, a 36-foot fishing boat, on its elevated mooring behind a Key Largo home, dropped it into the water and roared off. They didn't go far. The $200,000 boat ran aground in the nearby John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, where a fisherman found it the next morning. Add Plan B to a spike in boat thefts, perhaps linked to Cuban migrant smuggling. A voyage of 30 migrants on a boat like Plan B could net smugglers $300,000. The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission estimated that boat thefts in Miami-Dade alone were up more than 20 percent from last year. Not even Rodney Barreto, the chairman of the conservation commission, has been immune to the boat-snatching trend. He owns Plan B. ''Authorities told me they were seeing these thefts with increasing frequency, that the spike was driven by human smuggling,'' Barreto said. Evidence found on the stranded boat included two drums with fuel, a tarp and a duffel bag with water and potato chips. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office recently alerted boat owners to rising thefts. ''Detectives are warning upper Keys residents about boat thefts,'' said a Monroe County Sheriff's Office statement issued Sept. 13, the day Plan B was stolen. ``Seven boats have been stolen from behind upper Keys residences over the past two months . . . detectives believe the boats are being used for migrant smuggling.'' A report prepared in July by a conservation commission investigator said boat thieves are using sophisticated methods, including the deployment of spotters along Interstate 95 to watch for vessels under tow ``that may be targeted for theft.'' Smugglers seem to prefer go-fast boats or fishing vessels in the 25- to 40-foot range. 235 VESSELS GONE The report said that more than 235 vessels had been stolen in Miami-Dade alone between Jan. 1 and June 28, or more than a 20 percent increase over the same period in 2006. It added that at least 784 marine-related thefts, including 492 boats, were reported in Florida between April and June -- 22 percent more than during the same period last year. The Miami-Dade Police Department said it did not have boat theft figures immediately available. Broward Sheriff's Office spokesman Jim Leljedal said that in his county boat thefts had shown ``no significant uptick.'' Boat thefts reflect an increase in migrant smuggling, partly blamed for a spike in undocumented Cuban migrants. By Sept. 19, the Coast Guard had stopped in the Florida Straits at least 2,587 Cuban migrants, only 365 fewer than the 2,952 intercepted in 2005 -- the largest number of interdictions in one year since the 1994 rafter exodus when 37,191 Cubans were picked up. While many have been stopped at sea, many more have made it ashore. As of early September, Border Patrol figures showed that at least 3,625 Cuban migrants had arrived in South Florida -- or 549 more than in all of fiscal year 2006. Many more Cuban migrants are streaming through the Mexican border after being ferried across the Yucatán Channel to Cancún and Isla Mujeres. Customs and Border Protection figures showed that from Oct. 1 to Wednesday, at least 11,319 Cubans had shown up along the Mexican border -- or 2,680 more than during the 2006 fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. GROWING NEEDS Although many Cubans have arrived in makeshift vessels, many more have been transported on boats like Plan B. More boats are needed to satisfy not only more migrants but also more smuggling routes or to provide support including en-route refueling or to act as decoys. Andrew Corsini, assistant special agent in charge for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Miami, told The Miami Herald recently that South Florida-based migrant smuggling rings use several boats for every mission. ''This is not a mom-and-pop operation,'' said Corsini. ``These are sophisticated groups trying to bring people into this country and they're paid well.'' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- © 2007 Miami Herald Media Company. All Rights Reserved. http://www.miamiherald.com
BOLO STOLEN 25' Whitewater with twin 225 Opti's S Dade 11/15 5:30AM 6:55 AM 11/15/2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just got word and I will post more details as I get them. The hull is all white and the Opti's are less then 1 year old. One distinguishable item is the T-Top is a little taller then most. The owner is tall and had it custom made. It may be heading up your way so if you see a boat of this description please let me know.
Stolen Contender - Recovered 12:55 PM 10/9/2006 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boat was recovered today south of Key West, adrift with no one aboard, by the USCG. Trailer is still missing....2007 Float-on triple axle with mag wheels On Sunday night 10/8/06 someone stole a new 2007 Contender 33T w/triple Yamaha F250's, Float-On trailer and fully rigged with Furuno electronics, ready to be delivered to it's new owner, from Salty Marine in Titusville, FL. The boat was being used in a display for the open house for Bethel Marine Electronics in Rockledge this past weekend when it was found missing this morning. The boat has a blue bottom, white sides and white powder coated t-top and outriggers, with twin Furuno 10" NAVNET screens on the console. If you have seen one matching this description, as the powder coated t-top will stand out on this boat, please call the Brevard County Sheriiff's Office, your local law enforcement or Donny at Salty Marine (321-268-3323) Jim S. Bethel Marine Electronics Wound Tight Fishing Team
BOLO Stolen boat 33' Avanti 5:05 AM 10/4/2006 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stolen from Homestead area twin 300 Yami's on Monday night pics to follow. turns out the motors are 300 Mercs
BOLO Stolen 27' Contender twin 200 HPDIs 1:22 PM 2/3/2006 2001---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27' Contender Twin 200 HPDI outboards Continental trailer - dual axle with a spare tire Hull is white with a black boot stripe and with a black T-top. FL # 5742 LN Trailer Tag I45 ANL issued by Monroe County Stolen yesterday 2/02/06 between 11:00AM and 2:30PM from a residence in the vicinity of S.W. 107 Ave and S.W. 128 Street, Miami, FL. It was behind a wooden gate on the side yard of the home with padlocks on the gate and a tongue lock. The owner had a thick chain for the rims but had removed it that morning in anticipation of going out fishing today on his day off. The owner is a Miami-Dade Firefighter. If you see the boat call 911. If it is being towed call 911 and follow it if you can do so safely. IM me if you have any information on this theft. Modified by Raising Cane at 4:23 PM 2/3/2006
BOLO SEAHUNTER STOLEN 11:32 AM 1/12/2006 --------------------------------------------keep your eyes out for the family tradition it was stolen from my house in palmetto bay yesterday --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 1:26 pm Post subject: boat theft --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tourist's $150,000 Boat Stolen Similar to the incident last weekend in Abaco, another boat was stolen in Bimini. Cops are looking for the thieves who stole a tourist's boat. Alberto Guillermo Ribas, 44, of Miami, had his ice-blue 32-ft Contender boat locked at the Big Game Resort in Bimini. Ribas aid the boat, which is outfitted with twin 250HP Yamaha outboard engines, went missing between 10:30pm Sunday, New Year's Day, and 6:30am Monday. The go-fast boat is worth $150,000. Anyone who can help cops find the boat are asked to call police in Bimini at 347-3144; in Freeport on 352-1919; and in Nassau at 328-8477. Source: The Punch
BOLO: Stolen 31' Formula SR302, Teal named: "Saugen Mir", Dania Beach 2:24 PM 5/27/2006------------------------------------------------------------------
Posting this for a friend: This boat was stolen last night 5/26 right off the dock in the canals by Griffin Rd. & 30th. Best guess is it was towed to the ramps at Griffin and 30th and trailered out. Any info please call (954)812-0844. I have no pics but when I get a hold of them they will be added to the post.
(This boat was later recovered in perfect shape because the theives got a flat tire and left the boat on the side of the road)
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