My Buddy Was Cleaned Out!

[Columbia Craw]

A long time friend had his boat in storage as his garage is too small.  The location was burglarized and the scumbags took everything. They stripped the Skeeter of all electronics, trolling motor, and even removed the batteries. They only left the power poles and outboard.  He had the boat loaded with rod/reels and a substantial amount of tackle. They didn’t leave so much as a rusty hook.

 

What is more frustrating is his boys are reigning High School state champions.  This guy’s wife suffers from Parkinson’s and he has worked his butt off his whole life.  The insurance company is being difficult and it’s going to be a pain to replace gear.  I told him my stuff is their stuff as long as it takes.  This P’s me off.

[GreenPig]

I hate a thieve. 

[islandbass]

That’s terrible. Sorry to hear that. Not much I say that I “hate” but one thing I do hate are thieves. ‍

[Derek1]

That’s terrible. You really hope people get what they deserve. 

[GRiver]

3 hours ago, GreenPig said:

I hate a thieve. 

X2- 

[Sam]

Seems he was targeted by an insideer at the storage facility or someone who followed him when he was returning the boat. 

 

Storage facilities ususally have cameras and if so, maybe the perks were captured on film.

 

As a word to our readers, if you are storing your boat in a public storage area, how about considering a very loud car alarm hidden on the boat that would activate if the alarm was touched or knocked over?

 

A thief has three enemies: light, sound, and time. A screaming alarm will get some attention and who knows, may someone will call the local law enforcement when they hear it go off.

[Bankbeater]

That really bites. 

[Peddiesake]

A real shame. When I salt water fish on the Delaware Bay they started to hit all the marinas. Are used to take my rods reels and electronics home after every outing. A little preventive maintenance goes along way. It’s a shame it Hass to be that way but that’s the world we live in. Hope you get everything shipshape soon.

[padlin]

Sorry to hear this. Similar happens to RV's parked in storage lots. Folks learn to empty them of anything valuable including the batteries, spare tires, and propane tanks. Crooks will steal anything they can carry.

[gim]

That is unfortunate.

 

I stored my boat at an indoor winter facility for years without issue. The facility is locked, secured, monitored, and has cameras. I never felt uneasy about doing it and I always removed my electronics and gear.

 

I began to hear horror stories of trailers being stolen while fishing so now I use a lock all the time too.

[ironbjorn]

Confession time: I had a troubled home life the likes of which you see on generic Lifetime movies and creepy documentaries that women love to watch these days. When I was a teenager I used to steal 2 things: food and fishing lures from stores. That's how I was able to not starve and how I was able to escape the house of horrors to go get lost doing something else. But it seemed like I always immediately lost what I had stolen, as if karma was making an appearance. In a weird way it taught me that no matter how bad things are, stealing isn't the answer. That stopped when I finally got out at 17 and got a job. Moral of the story, it doesn't matter who you are, karma will find you.

[BC VC basser]

I had an RV cleaned out while parked at a storage facility.

After that I removed the (new) valuable stuff and put one of those Cheep alarms on the door

Can only hope Karma comes along because law enforcement usually gets nowhere on this kind of stuff 

[Deleted account]

1 hour ago, Peddiesake said:

It’s a shame it Hass to be that way... 

Hate thieves and lima beans, love guacamole.

[TOXIC]

Nothing worse than a thief.  When I lived in Florida on the St Johns, there was a rash of prop thefts from bass boats on lifts.  Come to find out it was a local guide and tournament fisherman.  While he was guiding he would scope out boats then come back after dark and steal the props.  When I travel with my boat, staying at hotels is always a very high risk.   I take electronics out and have a Lok R Bar with an alarm padlock for the boat.  It covers all of the compartments with my baits and rods.  I’ve never heard it go off in all the years I’ve traveled.  I think that most thieves would look at it and move on.  Sorry to hear about your friend. 

[geo g]

Scumbags in action.  Would love to catch them and introduce them to my little friend. Look on line for people selling stuff that match.  Nothing lower than a thief!

[Trox]

Worst nightmare... Makes me wanna make a quick trip to my storage unit ?

[volzfan59]

I've had two friends have their rigs broken into, one twice. Thankfully their homeowners took care of everything. When I was racing stock cars, someone stole a full Craftsman tool box out of my trailer. I wasn't so lucky with my former insurance company.

 

For those who haven't, take pictures of everything! In addition, make an inventory sheet/ sheets. It's a pain in the tail, but it will be helpful if the worst happens. Not only theft, but fire, natural disasters, etc.

 

Sorry for the edit, I was called away. I have pictures of every rod, every reel, all of my hard baits, soft baits, boat , electronics.... everything. When I lose a bait, and don't replace it, I delete it from my inventory. I always buy in quantities of two or four if possible, but I try to replace lost baits quickly. As I'm getting older and trying to downsize my stuff, I'm making way more deletions than additions.

 

I hope that this might help someone.

[Deephaven]

10.years ago someone completely emptied my Ranger.  I almost quit fishing.  Devastating.

[slonezp]

Stored my boats in a "working" lot for 20 years. By "working" I mean trucks and work vehicles which were used daily were stored there. Cameras all over and the lot owner, office girl, and yard men were onsite 10 hours a day. I don't think I would trust an actual storage facility where there's no one around.

[Jmilburn76]

That sucks, can't stand a thief. Hopefully they get caught.

[Darth-Baiter]

I have a couple of Lews reels and bags of plastic I have zero confidence in the colors.  His if he needs them. 

[DitchPanda]

My buddies uncle was an army ranger...a take no deal kinda guy to say the least. One night somebody broke into his garage and stole his sons car stereo. He didn't call the cops, instead he went and bought a new stereo and set the box on the curb for the world to see. Then he parked himself in a lawn chair in his garage with a crowbar and waited. Wouldn't you know a few nights in a guy breaks in and ends up in a coma. He eventually came out of it...which is a shame.

[FishinBuck07]

After seeing this thread yesterday, I told my wife that she will not be getting her garage back anytime soon!  The boat will be staying in there for the foreseeable future.  I hate thieves, bunch of low life's!  

[Last_Cast]

Special place in hell for people like that

[Bluebasser86]

That sucks. I had all my fishing gear stolen when I was a kid as well as my 2 man that I scrapped up pennies to be able to pay for, it was a huge punch in the gut.