FOLLOWING the introduction of a Boatwatch scheme and forensic marking initiative at a boat club near Salcombe in south Devon, there have been no reported thefts of marine property in four years.
Over 70 boats and various items of equipment including outboard motors, GPS equipment, oars, and VHS radio items have been marked with SelectaDNA belonging to members of the Kingsbridge Estuary Boat Club, where boats range in value from a few hundred pounds to £15,000.
Kingsbridge’s Vice President Richard Smith organises marking days at the beginning of each season where members can bring along their boats and equipment to be marked. Visible stickers stating that the boat has been forensically marked with SelectaDNA are used as an added deterrent.
If ever an item was stolen, it would be far more difficult for thieves to sell on because of the marking, which links it to the proper owner; and if an item was stolen and recovered, police could trace the real owner via the uniquely-coded marking and return it to them.
Mr Smith also runs the Boatwatch scheme, where club members patrol local marinas in Salcombe, Dartmouth and Kingsbridge in hi-viz jackets making sure boats are well secured and warding off potential boat thieves.
“There is no doubt about it, SelectaDNA is deterring thieves and encouraging them to move on to other areas,” said Mr Smith.
“There is a definite market for stolen marine goods, which are either stripped for parts or sold abroad. I have heard of incidents where outboard motors worth £20,000 have literally being cut out of boats by thieves, so it is important that we encourage our members to continue marking their property.”
Mr Smith added: “High visibility patrols and active support from Devon and Cornwall Police, plus the use of SelectaDNA has reduced marine crime to zero in our area for four years now and we are determined that will continue.”
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