Thieves Nab Equipment Trailer

“I regret to report that early [Friday] morning a thief drove into the Richmond Yacht Club storage yard and stole the equipment trailer for our J/125 Velvet Hammer,” reports Will Paxton. “This is likely the same person who stole one of our chase boats a few weeks ago. There is an infuriating 15-minute video of them trying to get into the small-boat yard.” RYC’s small-boat yard lies behind a locked gate. During the shelter-in-place order, even renters with key fobs can’t unlock that gate after 5 p.m. The time on the video is 2 a.m.

However, there are trailers parked inside RYC’s locked main gate but outside the gate to the small-boat dry storage yard.

The thieves “unhurriedly” checked out all the trailers before cutting the locks off Velvet Hammer’s and driving off. Unfortunately, the camera didn’t catch the thieves’ license plates. The video shows a silver Toyota FJ Cruiser (a compact SUV) towing the white 18-ft twin-axle trailer.

“I think that based on their casual appearance and ease of movement, this person is familiar with our club and has likely been there before,” commented Paxton. “Does anyone recognize that car?

“As the boat is undergoing a refit, the trailer was loaded with many sails, our standing rigging, emergency equipment, tools, lines, and so much more. We are gutted. Much of this custom gear is likely to be dumped in a ditch or on the side of the road somewhere. Please keep your eyes peeled, as we desperately hope that we can recover some of it! The trailer plate number is 4GV4322, for what it’s worth.”

Besides the FJ Cruiser and the trailer, be on the lookout for large gray and blue bags containing sails, coils of rope with metal shackles and a large coil of stainless steel rod rigging.

Paxton has posted a $1,000 reward. Text him at (510) 680-3281 if you have any information.