| CRAFT THEFT - Essential prevention tips | |
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Times are hard and personal watercraft theft is up, meaning you need to be extra vigilant with your security. Jasmine Basha explains the best ways to stop PW theft.
The website www.stolenboats.org.uk has a free database of all stolen boats and marine equipment in the UK. All reported robberies are verified with the National Police computer database. Statistics from claims filed with the Police as well as the Marine Insurance Industry show theft from 2006 to 2007 was reduced 20 per cent. However, Jonathan Langford from Noble Marine Insurance, one of the largest marine insurers in the UK said: “The number of PW thefts reported to StolenBoats.org.uk during 2008 has fallen slightly against the number of thefts reported during 2007, however, we have seen a large increase in thefts in the final quarter of 2008, perhaps as a result of the general economic downturn.” Watercraft stolen in 2007 were during a time of economic stability and are not reflective of the current turbulent financial crisis the world is facing today, now pushing theft claims to unprecedented numbers. Jonathan Langford continues to explain: “Despite these annual figures suggesting a downward trend, the number of thefts reported in the last quarter of 2008 shows a big increase over the same period for 2007. We have had 18 PW thefts reported during the last quarter 2008 versus only 10 during the same quarter of 2007.” That is an astounding 80 per cent increase for just one quarter!
With the current recession and severe global economic crisis there is a recent increase in theft, with the watercraft industry experiencing an added rise in insurance claims and police reports. The ‘Crime in England and Wales 2007 to 2008’ survey lists 62 per cent of all police reported robberies were in the Metropolitan, Greater Manchester and West Midland area. Nicole Marcus, from the Marcus Insurance Group said: “Because of the bad economic crisis and the holidays approaching, people are stealing everything they can get their hands on.” She continues, “a watercraft is much easier to steal than a boat because of weight and size. When a thief steals a watercraft they usually sell it on the black market to friends and pawn shops. It is easier to sell than most realise since the serial number can be easily removed. A watercraft is a target for most thieves looking for quick cash.” Theft seems to be on the mind of many people these days, both for an owner trying to protect what he owns, and the thief who is trying to steal it from him. Take the time to protect your watercraft investment by following these preventive measures. INSURANCE So what can be done to prevent watercraft theft? The first is to have theft insurance included in your policy. The Crime Reduction Home Office in the UK offers some suggestions. For further reading go to www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/vehiclecrime/vehiclecrime32.htm
The Home Office recommends one of the best measures to secure your PW is to store and lock it in a locked garage. Block it with something large such as a car, which makes it difficult to remove. Place the nose of the PW or the trailer away from any exit. OUTDOORS If you have no choice but to leave it outside then securely lock it within a fenced garden. Place the watercraft as far back in the garden to make it more difficult for anyone to see it. Again, block it with something large to obstruct easy removal. CUSTOMISE Customise the PW to easily identify it during any insurance recovery. Many times companies such as maritime investigators and/or law enforcement agencies will recover stolen units only to find that they cannot identify the owners of the craft since in most cases the serial numbers were removed. ENGRAVING Law enforcers suggest engraving your initials or other identifying marks on the PW to easily identify it even in the case of missing serial numbers. Place the engraving in an obscure location on the watercraft where the thief cannot easily see it. Do not just place a sticker or something which is easily removable. Most police stations offer the free use of a medal or fibreglass engraver. LANYARD Purchase a lanyard or OEM security system. Remember to always keep the lanyard away from the craft when storing. The latest lanyards are programmed to operate only with the specific craft. It is the same concept as a car key. Do not leave it unsecured or easy for an intruder to locate. As an added security measure include an OEM security system. There are a variety on the market; from security cables to switches and alarms. LOCKS There are a variety of heavy vinyl-coated cables and shielded locks on the market to fasten the watercraft to a support post or stationary dock. It is also recommended to use traditional padlocks and U locks when locking the PW to a trailer. The more locked up the watercraft is, the more of a deterrent it is for thieves. RECORDS The Home Office also recommends keeping all records of ownership and services separately from the PW. This includes any hull identification, trailer identification, registration and the engine serial number. PHOTOS / VIDEO Formed in 2006, the National Policing Board UK was established to promote a safer and more secure community while also promoting anti crime and security enforcement. A standard police recommendation is for a boat owner to keep current photos of the engine, hull number, PW and trailer from all angles. This is to verify the craft and its condition for recovery. It is even suggested to take a video for proper identification. BATTERY Some watercraft dealerships advise buying a waterproof disconnect switch for the battery which operates well during winter storage. TRAILER WHEELS Another law enforcement tip is to remove a tire of two from the trailer wheel if the watercraft if it is stored at length. TRACKING SYSTEM A popular anti-theft system is tracking systems such as the wireless KENJI KJ 8800 by Wavecom, or the T8 Marine System. These systems have a 24/7 tracking capability that will trace a vessel in case of theft. The Wavecom product is specifically designed for watercrafts and can track on both land and water via their moisture-proof wireless GPS system.
Datatag is widely used not only as a form of registration (only for PW) but to designate a unique identification number to identify each watercraft. The police, within seconds, can scan any suspicious PW by accessing the Datatag computer and immediately confirming the registered owners name and address. Even if you have the watercraft Datatagged, it is also important to register the craft with them. BOATMARK As an added security measure you can also Boatmark your craft. This form of unique identification is the official marine industry’s classification for the British Marine Federation by HPI. REWARD Many insurance agencies offer a free theft decal when you either purchase or register your watercraft. It provides for a cash reward for information resulting in the arrest and conviction of the person that stole the PW. UNATTENDED Last but not least, the obvious preventive tip is to never leave your PW unattended. CRIMESTOPPERS Report all theft information to Crimestoppers at - call 0800555111 BUYING A USED PW? WHAT TO DO FIRST How do you know when buying a used watercraft if it is legal and not stolen? The quickest and easiest way is to verify the legitimacy of the serial number. Every recreational marine vessel made or imported for sale after 1 August 1972 is required to have a Hull Identification Number (HIN). These 12-character identifiers contain a wealth of information for manufacturers, law enforcement agencies and anti-crime organizations. VERIFY HIN On the main website of stolen boats.org.uk there is a section to type in the HIN (Hull id number) to easily search the national database to determine if the watercraft has ever been reported stolen. Website - www.stolenboats.org.uk This free database was launched in 2005 along with the the British Marine Federation, the Marine Insurance Industry and Police Marine Units. It was developed to have immediate access to a list of stolen boats, engines, personal watercraft, trailers and marine equipment. There is a specific category to search for stolen PWs as well as to register for a free email ‘theft alert’; any newly reported watercraft stolen in the UK. HOW TO PROTECT AGAINST BUYING A USED STOLEN WATERCRAFT 1. Protect yourself from purchasing stolen watercraft by inspecting the hull identification number to verify if it has been tampered with or altered in any way. 2. You may also authenticate the hull number with the manufacturer or your local law enforcement agency. An authorised local dealership is also able to verify a factory original serial number via their computer before you buy the used watercraft. 3. If the watercraft has been repainted take the time to establish that the HIN number is factory original. One way to confirm this is to match the hull ID number to the original MSO (Manufactures Certificate of Origin). 4. A last measure is to match the decal expiration date to the date on the registration card. When buying a used watercraft it is advisable to deal with a reputable dealership. According to latest ‘Watersport and Leisure Participation Survey’ by the British Marine Federation, there are more than four million people who participate in watersports in the UK. Be one of the four million enthusiasts who isn’t a victim to theft. An informed rider is the smartest and safest rider. To verify used ski is not stolen: Type the hull number on the Stolen Boats Database to verify it is not stolen website www. StolenBoats.org.uk - Stolen Boats Database Verify Hull ID has not been tampered or altered Authenticate the hull number as original and not stolen with local police, manufacturer or authorized dealer Match Hull Id to the MCO (manufactures certificate of origin) Match the decal expiration date to the date on the registration card. PWCTheft Alert – sign up for instant notification when a theft of PW is reported - www.stolenboats.org.uk
LINK TO SECURITY PRODUCTS Landlocks and hitch locks - |
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