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Outboard Thief Caught in Sting

Despite steps taken to secure them, outboards in dry storage yards have been relatively easy pickin’s for thieves.

Christopher Harvey
©2015Latitude 38 Media, LLC

More than anywhere else in the Bay Area, the Oakland-Alameda Estuary has been plagued by outboard motor thefts for years. And perhaps no one has been more frustrated by this ongoing problem than Gary Helms of Helms Yacht Sales, who keeps many boats for sale at Alameda Marina. In recent years, he or his clients have had 12 to 16 outboards stolen, mostly off of the Corsair trimarans that are Helms’ specialty.

While Alameda police say they have taken steps to recover the stolen property, few if any motors have been recovered — until now. After the outboard was stolen recently off Helms’ client Bret Nelson’s trimaran, Nelson took creative steps to recover it. He perused Craigslist in search of an engine for sale that met the specs of his, and when he found one — listed in Monterey — he and his son hatched a plot of their own. Claiming to be curious if the engine was truly a Tohatsu, rather than a Chinese knockoff, Nelson’s son convinced the seller to reveal the engine’s serial number. Once he’d confirmed that it belonged to their family, the Nelsons took their info to Alameda police, but they were reportedly less than enthusiastic to pursue the lead.

A friend in another police agency stepped up and convinced authorities in San Jose to take action, and we’re told that a thief was apprehended who had Nelson’s engine plus several others. 

If you have had your outboard stolen and want to see if it has been recovered, call Gordie Bowen of the San Jose police at 408-421-6771.

Despite the success of this investigation, it is a safe bet that future outboard thefts will occur in the Estuary and elsewhere. Here are other anti-theft/pro-recovery tips to consider: 

  • Paint your outboard in distinctive colors, so it is less of a target and easier to identify.
  • 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, preferablly in several places, to facilitate identification and return if recovered. 
  • New GPS-based tech options, some with motion-sensitive sirens, are coming onto the market. Many are already popular with cyclists.

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