10.000 vessels are stolen every year in Europe

• Black Sea and Cape Verde are the main destinations for the stolen boats.

 

• The use of tracking systems is one of the top recommendations from Pantaenius.

 

 

Every year approximately 10.000 vessels are stolen in Europe, trend rising. To this you have to add the break-ins for equipment and the misappropriation. Though this is not the most common crime related to vessels, and less frequent in in the last decade, it has become more common, since the financial crisis, that entire boats are stolen. Electronics, tenders, safety equipment, outboard engines (approx. 50.000 per yr.) sum to the financial loss owners or insurers have to face.

 

Pantaenius only reports a cumulative loss of 160million euros over the last 5 years, and on a European level the economic loss is estimated to be in the region of a yearly 575 Million Euros. (Source: German Center of Competence for boat related crimes.) The final destination for most stolen articles and yachts is the second hand market or even unlawful activities like people or drug smuggling. In the case of the Balearic Islands, most stolen boats sail towards the Strait of Gibraltar and then the Canary Islands or Cape Verde to eventually end up in the Caribbean.

Here is where companies like Pantaenius look for these vessels. “As soon as we are informed that a yacht has been stolen and a police report has been filed, we activate a complex search operation. We proactively search for the stolen vessels and though it may seem difficult, are quite successful at recovering the stolen property” assures Jens Ploch, Sales Director for Pantaenius in Spain. “It is not unusual practice to offer a finders reward. We usually initiate a full investigation, interview possible eye witnesses, study the time frame, the weather conditions at the time of the event – allowing us to disregard certain areas, we inform Police and Marina staff, surveyors and industry partners. Further to this we also publish the stolen boats on international websites like:

http://www.stolenboats.info/”

 

Ploch insists on the importance of the owner keeping a record of, and to document all equipment he has on the boat with serial numbers and invoices and to not store these on the boat but on land. “In the event of a burglary, the owner will have to demonstrate that the equipment was on board and document his financial loss. Often a photograph of the serial number and the equipment installed onboard can help in this situation. The more details the owner has at hand, the easier it will be to file the report with the police and the faster the claim can be handled by the insurer or equipment may even be recovered”.

 

Small investments to avoid big losses

Though the security measures for boats are rather far from perfect, ports and marinas are implementing better security measures and systems year by year. Many have surveillance systems and cameras installed at the entrance and exit to their installations, pontoons are safeguarded by doors with access codes and many count with qualified security personnel on guard 24/7.

But owners can also take their own security measures. In cases where the entire boat was stolen, “small, cost efficient tracking devices have been very helpful in recovering many boats. It is good advice to owners to look into the different options available on the market. From as little as a couple of hundred Euros you can install one of these systems yourself and keep track of where your boat is at any time, even from your smartphone” highlights Jens Ploch.

 

 

 

EASY TIPS TO AVOID HAVING YOUR PROPERTY STOLEN

 

 

• Check on your boat periodically so it does not look “abandoned”. If you are abroad, ask somebody local to do this for you.
• Keep your marina informed on your boats movements. Alarm bells will sound earlier if the marina detects any unannounced movements.
• Don´t leave valuables in sight of the thieves.
• Keep copies of invoices, photos of serial numbers and other documentation in a safe place off the boat.
• Use strong locks on your cockpit lockers and outboard engine.
• Whilst at anchor, store tenders and outboards on board at night.
• Mark your equipment with your Post Code and contact details. Engraving is a good option.
• Don’t leave your boats keys on board.

 

Jens Ploch | Sales
PANTAENIUS SPAIN S.L. | Tel. +34 – 971 70 86 70