Crime at Marinas

It’s difficult at best to speculate on the origin of unwanted guests but maybe best not to leave valuables on an unattended boat, or leave the keys onboard? While there are plenty of surveillance systems available to consumers with a smartphone, including several marine specific applications, I wonder the viability of booby trapping a boat with an eye irritant? At the very least, a sign alerting intruders they are on video might be a deterrent.

Pirates?
Nah, that would be brothers looking for easy drug money, Oakland is famous for just that.

Not recent, Oakland has been a hellhole for years.

https://sfist.com/2023/08/04/crime-in-oakland-soaring-across-the-board-according-to-new-statistics/

You're right Ralph, I don't know enough about the area to truly understand the circumstances. Sadly, we live in a time that requires more diligence and greater awareness, but that in itself doesn't prevent crime.

This is a good thread topic. Let's hope wisdom follows...

I am afraid this is the normal we get when we allow crime, elect criminal justice folks who are more concerned with so called equity, allow a movement to disrespect law enforcement, vote for folks who are confused about what is law and order.

I moved marinas in Portland OR for this reason. One yacht club has razor wire around their parking lot chain link fencing. Rose City Yacht Club.

I pray those that vote for all of this will have a change of heart. I know the defund the police politician who was recently bloodied to within an inch of her life in front of her children in her own driveway may have a change of heart.

Time will tell, in the mean time move away from Oakland.

will never forget seeing a decaled sign hanging from a large Broward CMY boarding ladder at Ocean Reef Club....

"Insured by Smith & Wesson along with Glock" with large handwritten black bold letters...<FOR REAL>

later that season we crossed paths in Nassau with the same yacht and when conversing on VHF and asked about the sign the response we got...."Fight Crime ~ Shoot First"

i will add this was years ago following the 65' Hatteras SF "Rapscallion" being boatjacked by gun-toting pirates on their transit to the Bahamas

In Baltimore the criminals have been known to come into a marina by boat and steal anything from booze to small boats.

My friend came down to his boat to find someone had stopped in, drank his beer, watched some MTV and left.
Thankfully they did not trash his boat.
( not Baltimore )

This leads to a question:
To lock up or not.

My boat is older. It is hard to find parts for.
I used to think leaving it open would keep the perps from ruining my door or hatches, etc.
Nothing to really steal there but now I am rethinking that.

In my case it does help that the owner has a no no-nsense attitude towards thieves

I believe a fortune could be made selling this sign:

“Trespasser’s will be shot, Survivors will be prosecuted”

But more likely all the huge profits will be spent on lawyers defending lawsuits from the criminals or their families, or their advocates

In some areas, the shooter will be prosecuted as a criminal.
Shooting someone, even in obvious self defense, can ruin your life.
As much as I hate thieves ( who area actually stealing your time and effort to get where you are ) I would need to be afraid for my life to shoot.
( if I had a gun, which I don't )

Understand that completely.
Then there is this one:

Sign on a remote mountain cabin:

Breaking and Entering is illegal, and so are set guns. I’ve made my choice now you make yours.

Nope. I’m a stand your ground kind of guy. These are signs of the times.

Thieves should be given a free 5 mile boat ride - and also the opportunity to swim back........