Dealers and marina operators on the East and West coasts are cheering the work of law enforcement, as the San Francisco Chronicle reported the roundup of thieves in the Bay area, and authorities in Florida conducting “Operation Garmin” busted a major crime ring operating in at least 10 prime boating counties.
In San Francisco, according to ABC News, thieves used bolt cutters and other tools to break into unoccupied boats. Sailboats, small boats, tools and outboards were among the stolen items. Boat owners blame nearby homeless encampments for the problem, as well “anchor outs,” which are people who live on stolen boats and continually move their anchoring location to avoid police.
Former Oakland Marina harbormaster Brock DeLappe told NBC Bay Area: “Over the last couple of months, it’s become extremely severe. Boats are being stolen almost on a nightly basis. Residents in marinas are scared. They’re talking about forming groups. They’re arming themselves. Someone’s going to get hurt if this is not taken seriously by authorities.”
Other targeted items include gas cans, portable fuel tanks, housewares stored aboard larger cruisers and houseboats, food, clothing, and equipment or parts that can be resold.
Meanwhile in Florida
In an even bigger operation, 10 men have been arrested in a statewide, $4 million sophisticated GPS theft ring.
Dubbed “Operation Garmin,” the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office announced that the 10 were arrested following what’s described as a “lengthy investigation into a well-organized and sophisticated marine GPS theft ring that was operating throughout the Keys and South Florida.”
According to a news release, the investigation began in May, when officials in the Keys (Monroe County) and Miami-Dade County began observing suspect vehicles in Miami in connection with thefts in Monroe County.
“Those observations led to the collection of evidentiary cellphone data,” according to the statement. “That information subsequently led to 11 arrest warrants and the resolution of multiple marine/GPS theft-related cases in Islamorada.”
One suspect remains on the run.
“I’m happy to announce these thieves are behind bars,” said Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay. “Our message: If you commit these crimes in Monroe County, you will end up in jail.”
The cellphone data collected led to the discovery of potential burglary target areas in 17 other counties along Florida’s Atlantic and Gulf coasts, from the Palm Beaches to Tampa Bay. The investigation started when Monroe County deputies started seeing an uptick in boats that were being broken into at dealerships, marinas and boatyards.
“This is a total dismantle of an organized crime ring,” Ramsay says. “The group is accused of being a criminal enterprise, highly organized and sophisticated at stealing Garmin GPS touch screens from boats.”
“We applaud the success of the Monroe County Sheriff,” said John Good, executive director of the Marine Industry Association of Southwest Florida & Tampa Bay. “We have been working closely with the sheriffs of Lee and adjacent counties in Southwest Florida, which have also been targeted for thefts in dealerships. While no direct connection has been established yet, we have no doubt there is one, and we believe the success in Monroe County will positively impact our dealers and marinas here on the west coast.”
It’s alleged that the crime ring is responsible for many thefts in South Florida and throughout the state and will likely face more charges in other counties. They currently face a combined total of at least 122 charges in Monroe County alone.
