Perth,
Western Australia
May 10, 2008
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Launch abandoned after thief bungles getaway
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morning. Water Police towed the boat out and tied it to a mooring so it would not get damaged banging against the limestone retaining wall or on the bottom. Senior Constable Craig Lawson said it was suspected the $200,000 boat had been set adrift from its mooring 100m offshore and later abandoned when the thief could not start the engine. He said most boats had security that was only strong enough to resist good people. The boat D0008 has the name Escape on the stern. About 200m south, another boat was tied up inshore and chafing against the limestone wall. This boat, 20ft steel Bouvard Lady A0533, had been hastily hitched to a chain fastening dinghies on the foreshore. Senior Constable Lawson said: "Many people unwisely leave keys hidden on their boats. Owners must make sure to take their keys with them. "We've had quite a few boats targetted lately. A few weeks ago we were called to a 10m boat churning in circles on its mooring at about 6 knots. "The thief had started it, but left one mooring attached. "I don't know how he got off without being chopped up by the boat he was trying to steal. I had to time it and jump on board to put the engine in neutral, but the keys had been taken, so I then had to go below and smother the air intake to stop it." The Water Police team included Constable Gabriel Mencarelli, on his first day in the service after being recruited following 10 years with the police in Florence, Italy.
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