First Thief Experience

[sailorboy1]

I'm currently is a slip in Jacksonville, Fl that has locked gates to the docks etc. But that doesn't mean your stuff is safe:

We were awakened at 4am by weird noises and boat movements. Turns out there was someone trying to steal our dinghy right off of our boat's davits. He had managed to untie the davit lines and the dinghy was half down to the water when my wife, who had gotten up to investigate the noise etc. Guy appeared to have come by kayak and he paddled off after my wife went up and discovered him. I lost sight of where he went and by the time I put on some clothes and got a light I couldn't see where he went..

There isn't even really a close place near be to get into a kayak and there aren't any anchored boats etc. around with at least 2 miles. Someone paddling around at 4am in the rain you would think had a plan from the start and he had come targeting our dinghy.

[Chotu]

Was it an orange kayak? If so, it's my old kayak he stole in Jacksonville along with a RIB and my anchor right off the bow.

Jacksonville is the worst place on the East coast of this country. Crime is out of control both on the water and off.

Give it a miss.

[Woodland Hills]

Where was this? Ortega Landing or Lamb’s? We spent from June to November at Lamb’s with no issues, but anything is possible given the motivation of some of these thieves. From what you described it sounds like it could be another cruiser, if so, that’s very disappointing.

[Woodland Hills]

Originally Posted by Chotu

Was it an orange kayak? If so, it's my old kayak he stole in Jacksonville along with a RIB and my anchor right off the bow.

Jacksonville is the worst place on the East coast of this country. Crime is out of control both on the water and off.

Give it a miss.

Downtown and the Jacksonville Landing area is a real mess, full of sketchy people and homeless. Thank Goodness the little neighborhood districts like Avondale and Riverside are so very different.

[MV Wanderlust]

Wow, SB. Nothing is safe anymore. At least he left empty-handed, there was no damage, and no one is hurt.

[sailorboy1]

It was a Berkman Plaza Marina (right across from the Sheriff office and jail), which is a little down river from The Landing. They had a dark/black dinghy and I walked the docks today and there was no dark/black dinghy on any boat here.

[goat]

Good thing your wife scared him away, that would really skew your monthly cost data. Also surprised this hasn't morphed into a gun thread. Yet.

Seriously though, I'm glad no one was hurt.

goat

[BugzyCan]

I wonder if there is a connection between free boats and thieves? Someone without money for rent, moves onto a free boat, then searches for items they can hawk easily. Guess they still need to pay moorage fees.

[Tayana42]

SB1, you are a brave guy to be living with a wife like that who can scare away a pirate. She must be the best type of security system I’ve heard of.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by Woodland Hills

Where was this? Ortega Landing or Lamb’s? We spent from June to November at Lamb’s with no issues, but anything is possible given the motivation of some of these thieves. From what you described it sounds like it could be another cruiser, if so, that’s very disappointing.

We left Ortega in Oct after staying a large part of the Summer.
I got the impression that it, and the area around it were very safe.
I bought bikes and we rode around there a lot.
Moreso than say Brunswick, just cause the neighborhood near the Marina in Brunswick leaves something to be desired

[Mike OReilly]

That sucks. Glad it worked out OK. Any lasting effects on you or your wife? Are you changing anything to guard against further attempts?

Interesting you think you might have been specifically targeted. Seems like this could be, given your description. Do you know why? Does your dingy or boat stand out from the crowd there?

[kmacdonald]

Originally Posted by Tayana42

SB1, you are a brave guy to be living with a wife like that who can scare away a pirate. She must be the best type of security system I’ve heard of.

Yep, most people have a dog to do that kind of work. Good for her!!!!!!!!!!

[john61ct]

Originally Posted by BugzyCan

I wonder if there is a connection between free boats and thieves? Someone without money for rent, moves onto a free boat, then searches for items they can hawk easily. Guess they still need to pay moorage fees.

Please explain what you mean by this?

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Tayana42

SB1, you are a brave guy to be living with a wife like that who can scare away a pirate. She must be the best type of security system I’ve heard of.

She liked this post This is her second "invasion". Once when I was out of town she woke to someone standing in the bedroom doorway. She barked them away also.

[Cheechako]

The homeless druggies are rampant everywhere now. It's amazing, reminds me of some of those walking zombie movies.
https://www.kiro7.com/news/south-sou...eway/912886301