The Sailboat Burglar of the Oakland Estuary

[Cormorant]

Suspected sailboat burglar nabbed in Oakland Estuary - ContraCostaTimes.com

Suspected sailboat burglar nabbed in Oakland Estuary

By Harry Harris Oakland Tribune
Posted: 03/04/2015 01:41:14 PM PST
Updated: 03/04/2015 03:52:40 PM PST

Oakland Police board a small sailboat in the Oakland-Alameda Estuary near Union Point Basin to detain two individuals and search the boat in Oakland, Calif. on Wednesday, March 4, 2015. (Laura A. Oda)



OAKLAND -- A suspected sailboat burglar who police say cruised up and down the Oakland Estuary breaking into boats and businesses was arrested Wednesday morning after a sharp-eyed victim spotted him using two stolen motors to power his vessels.
Thomas Waterman, 42 of Alameda, was arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen property and possession of drugs, police said. He also faces investigation by the U.S. Coast Guard for navigational safety hazards, officials said.
Police said Waterman, who occasionally lives on his 25-foot sailboat, is suspected by police and victims in a long string of burglaries of docked boats and shoreline businesses. He has been arrested before for possession of drugs on his boat, authorities said.
Oakland Police board a small sailboat in the Oakland-Alameda Estuary near Union Point Basin to detain two individuals and search the boat in Oakland, Calif. on Wednesday, March 4, 2015. (Laura A. Oda)




Officer Kris Botelho said Waterman would anchor his boat offshore and use a skiff to get to and from his targets.
A few weeks ago police suspect Waterman stole two outboard motors from Outboard Motor Shop, 333 Kennedy St., one a 9½ horsepower and the other 4 horsepower, and was using them to run the sailboat and skiff.
About 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Barney Howard, owner of the motor shop, was driving by Union Point Park in the 2300 block of Embarcadero, not far from his business, when he saw the boat and skiff anchored about 100 feet offshore. When he saw what he thought were his stolen motors powering the two vessels, he flagged down Botelho, beat officer of the area.
Botelho teamed up with police marine patrol officers to use a police boat to pull alongside and board the sailboat a short time later to detain Waterman and prevent an escape to the high seas. Howard was able to identify the stolen motors, and Waterman was arrested about 10:30 a.m.
Waterman claimed he had bought the motors from someone else, but he had no documents to prove that, police said.
Police found other motors and items on the boat and skiff they believe are stolen but have not been able to confirm that yet.
A woman staying on the boat with Waterman was given a ride back to shore by the Coast Guard, which sent a boat and crew to assist police. The sailboat and skiff were left anchored in the Estuary awaiting Waterman if he gets out of jail.

[fstbttms]

I often see this douchebag unloading all kinds of stuff from that POS Catalina (frequently scrap metal) at the Grand Street boat ramp. Glad he got busted. Now that I know he's involved in thieving (which I've long suspected), I'll be sure to let him know he's being watched, 'cause you know he'll be back.

[Celestialsailor]

Ya...good thing he didn't escape to the "High Seas". Good grief some cheesy reporting.

[Ex-Calif]

"Waterman was able to raise his anchor and led police on a 2 hour low speed chase sometimes exceeding 3 knots before he was overtaken prior to getting to The Golden Gate bridge. Had he reached the bridge he could have called out, "Safe" and police would have had to let him go."

[ravinracin]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

"Waterman was able to raise his anchor and led police on a 2 hour low speed chase sometimes exceeding 3 knots before he was overtaken prior to getting to The Golden Gate bridge. Had he reached the bridge he could have called out, "Safe" and police would have had to let him go."

But you can bet the Coast Guard would have boarded him.

[Bill Seal]

Originally Posted by ravinracin

But you can bet the Coast Guard would have boarded him.

Brings back not-so-fond memories of USCG boot camp and 5am rowing practice in that estuary a million years ago.

[David M]

Good for Barney. He is a partner in the Outboard Motor Shop. Works at the counter. Extremely knowledgeable. Nice guy too!

[Steadman Uhlich]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

"Waterman was able to raise his anchor and led police on a 2 hour low speed chase sometimes exceeding 3 knots before he was overtaken prior to getting to The Golden Gate bridge. Had he reached the bridge he could have called out, "Safe" and police would have had to let him go."

Good humor makes a dull day better!

[David M]

The land police can chase suspects outside of their jurisdiction, just not outside of the country.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by David M

The land police can chase suspects outside of their jurisdiction, just not outside of the country.

David's right.

What some folks may not know is that where the Outboard Shop is and where they caught this dude is 10.2 nm from the Golden Gate Bridge! At the speed that boat could go, it's a two & a half to three hour motor (and/or sail) to the Bridge. It passed Coast Guard Island, which is the home to (gasp!) the CG cutters which patrol up & down the entire western coast from Alaska to Mexico! Also includes their twin Honda red patrol boats with the 50 caliber machine guns. It also passes the CG facility on Yerba Buena Island. It also passes the CG at Horseshoe Cove at the north end of the GGB, with three 44 surf boats and two more red outboards.

To say nothing of the Oakland and Alameda and San Francisco police boats.

Somehow, I don't think running to sea woulda worked!

But crooks aren't always the brightest: he ended up noodling around in a basin that is within eyesight of the Outboard Shop.

Brilliant.

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by Steady Hand

Good humor makes a dull day better!

And then there are some that miss the humor completely -