Rampant Outboard Motor Thefts

Some Alameda boat owners had an unwelcome holiday surprise: Thieves were back in action, stealing at least eight outboards and two boats from marinas and private property.

Hardest hit was Alameda Marina, where at least five outboards and one Boston Whaler went missing between September and mid-January. The thefts haven’t been limited to Alameda Marina, though. Alameda Police also recorded recent thefts from Viking Street at Alameda Point, Grand Marina and the Encinal YC at Pacific Marina. Because the value of the outboards and boats was over $900, the thefts are classified as felonies. Lt. Jill Ottaviano says the Alameda Police Department is investigating the cases aggressively and has strong leads that they hope will result in an arrest — or arrests.  “It seems to be cyclical,” says Ottaviano. “We’ll have some [thefts] and then we won’t have any for awhile.” Ottaviano says police monitor Alameda’s popular antique and flea markets for stolen property such as the engines, but she suspects they are being sold further afield. 

While police look for the thieves, marinas and boat owners are also dedicating energy and money to thwarting future thefts. Alameda Marina harbormaster Brock de Lappe said there are nine gates on the 43-acre property. Thoses that  had been open during the day will now be closed and accessible only by dock key. That won’t, of course, deter getaways by water, which have been known to occur and are particularly problematic to patrol since Alameda County greatly reduced its Marine Patrol Division from a full-time unit to ancillary, part-time patrols.

For boat owner Ken Johnson, the recent theft represented the second time in two and a half years that a Tohatsu 6 had been taken from his Corsair 750 stored in front of Doyle Sails loft at Alameda Marina. “This time the thieves used bolt cutters to cut the padlock inside the vinyl-clad steel tube that covered the mounting screws,” Johnson said. “I also had my fuel tank and hose stolen there six months ago.” In May 2011, the thief used the leverage of the shaft to rotate the engine, leaving only deep scratches behind.

When Johnson puts on his latest engine, he will take a variety of precautions including protecting the transom clamps with a $100 stainless steel high-security outboard bar lock. He’s planning to add two bolts adjacent to the transom brackets to prevent rotation. That way he can remove the engine after unlocking the lock bar. He’s also planning a lower-tech fix: painting the engine. “I cruised for 13 years in the Caribbean and South Pacific with my Johnson 15 painted bright yellow and a custom fabricated SS lock bar. My motor was not touched. I remember another cruiser painted his outboard navy gray with 4-inch high "ACME" stenciled on its sides. I kicked myself for not painting my outboard to make it harder to fence. Remember to paint below the cowling too.” 

Here are other anti-theft/pro-recovery tips to consider: 

• Owners should always have the make, model and serial # for their motor available for police.
• Outboards should always be locked with a case hardened lock with a sturdy chain and/or stainless steel cable.
• Outboards should have the owner’s driver’s license engraved, preferable in several place, to facilitate identification and return if recovered. (Alameda Marina is going to be offering the use of a battery-operated engraver to its tenants.) 
• New GPS-based tech options, some with motion-sensitive sirens, are coming on the market. Many are already popular with cyclists.