Boat thieves strike again in Retzow - Kripo asks for clues!

Boat thieves strike again in Retzow - Kripo asks for clues!

In the night of July 13th, the Lychen region, more precisely in the Retzow district, came to a brazen boot theft. Criminal officers from the Uckermark police inspection are already employed with the investigation to take the unknown perpetrators. These loaded a boat on a trailer and transported it with a VW. The damage incurred amounts to several hundred euros. The police call up the population to give clues to the incident in order to put an end to these criminal activities. In addition, this incident shows that boot thefts are still a serious problem in Germany.

As reported by the Portal Yacht.de, a total of 593 outboard engines and 140 sports boats were stolen in Germany in 2022. The total damage adds up to around 5.1 million euros. Compared to 2021, these numbers are declining in some areas, but the danger remains. Especially in Brandenburg, Berlin and North Rhine-Westphalia, the thefts are piling up. The focus has moved from the traditionally popular theft areas on Lake Constance to the Rhine, with a special focus on the regions of Offenburg and Karlsruhe.

Current statistics show mixed developments

Despite a slight increase in sports boat thefts, 160 cases in 2023, this remains a relatively low value, which has been rarely exceeded since the beginning of the evaluations. The Boat Crime Competence Center recently published that the theft of outboard engines has even dropped by 10 % and has thus reached a historical low. The total damage of sports boats and outboard engines recently was around 5.05 million euros.

A total of around 4.6 million euros in things such as sports boats and outboard engines were secured by the police in 2023. The number of consolidations reflects the successes of international searches that have led to the consolidations in Eastern Europe and other regions. A remarkable number of 28 sports boats and 67 outboard engines could be ensured, which shows that the international cooperations have an effect.

What to do about the increase in boating thefts?

The police warn of an increase in targeted spies by perpetrators and appeals to boat owners to show increased vigilance in ports and in watercraft. With offers for outboard engines on the Internet, buyers should be careful, since fake sales offers are still in circulation. Before buying, it is advisable to have the object checked by experts.

The citizens are required to contribute to combating this crime. It remains to be hoped that the thieves can put the craft through increased vigilance and the close cooperation between the authorities. A call to caution could help prevent further cases such as the current in Retzow. The commitment of the population is crucial to take action against this type of crime and keep the waterways safe.