GARDAÍ IN west Cork have appealed for information after thieves stole €60,000 worth of marine equipment in the area over the last month.
Gardaí have recorded dozens of incidents of theft of marine equipment over the last five weeks. Detectives believe the equipment is being stolen for the overseas market. Areas hit include Goleen, Crookhaven, Kinsale, Skibbereen and Ballinspittle.
The most expensive engine stolen was worth in the region of €10,000 and was taken from Rosscarbery. The thefts have included engines, marine equipment and small boats.
Gardaí in Bandon have set up a special incident room to investigate what is thought to be a co-ordinated operation involving a gang of thieves. The thefts are occurring during the day and at night, with the thieves using boats to steal equipment from moored vessels. Boat owners have been urged to take extra security measures, including having all the particulars relating to their engines.
Owners are asked to mark their boats so they can recognise them if they are stolen. They are also urged to make themselves aware of the serial number of their boats.
Anyone who witnesses suspicious activity is asked to contact gardaí in Bandon on 023- 8852200.
The thefts reflect a larger scale problem, according to a leading marine insurer, which said there has been a 450 per cent increase in reported outboard engine thefts over the past year.
The engines are being taken from coastal and inland waters by “organised gangs”, according to Allianz insurance company, which says it believes that they are being exported for resale on the black market in eastern Europe.
In the last month alone, there has been a significant increase in claims for damage to boats resulting from the theft, it says.