Gas Theft On Table Rock

[skeeter]

Warning !!!! If you keep your boat on a lift or tied to a dock on Table Rock overnight, gasoline thieves are targeting boats with filler openings on the stern of the boat that are easily accessed from the water after dark. I personally lost 35 gallons in the past two weeks.

Our area has been hit hard and we have formed a neighborhood watch that will take turns standing armed guard on the dock at night and there are enough people pissed-off to spell each other frequently. We figure this is the only solution as no one makes locking gas caps that fit our fillers. Water Patrol and Sherriff are helpless so it's up to the property/boat owners and we are resolved. If I were a night fisherman I would keep a far distance from public Marinas which are posted anyway with no fishing signs so suggest you not try sneaking in on the trolling motor.

If any of the guilty parties are reading this ( which I seriously doubt ) I hope to heaven it's my turn when you come back as I shoot to kill and have had plenty of practice at it in the past thanks to Uncle Sam. I want to watch you bleed and hope you enjoy the six foot hole they will put you in if the turtles leave anything to bury. It will be worth the price of admission to jail and a bail bondsman and attorney to snuff your miserable life.

Think this is an idle threat ? Please try it again and see.....

[Bill Babler]

Whoa-There-Skeeter, I feel your pain, and due take note of the sincerety in your pained thread, but to shoot someone over $200.00 bucks is just not going to work.

Lets get to the reality of the situation. You have never been and will never be able to leave a boat on a lift on Table Rock lake and sleep at night knowing it will not be touched. Ain't going to happen.

Table Rock and Lake of the Ozarks have been having this problem since I was a child and had our marina at the 61 mile mark on lake O. I had to every evening take the gas tanks, oars and seatcusions and lifejackets out of every rental boat every night. This was in the 1960's. Our marina gas was 27 cents a gallon and they would steal the 6 gallon tanks from the rentals even then.

If this was a new thing, I would be as outraged as you. It is NOT and WE as honest people should know better than to dangle a dimond in front of a thief.

I know its not right and we should be able to do what we want with our own private property, but I am going to say this cause I been around long enough to know.

Anyone that leaves a boat on a lift reguardless of make or model and anyone that leaves their boat in a resort dock or public marina dock. Should not whine or cry, about theift. You know its going to happen, its only a matter of time.

As related this is not a new deal. It has been going on here for 50 years.

Take you boat home with you. You will never see a guide use a lift or park overnight at a dock. It just cracks me up to see people spending $30,000.00 for a dock slip, so they can have anything they put there stolen or vandelized. I would never have one, nor would anyone that knows anything about this lake.

Again, Skeeter, I'm very sorry for your loss. But.

[redbud]

some scumbag emptied my truck at the launch about a week ago.was fishing all night came back and noticed my truck was on e. ????atleast they didnt drill a hole in my tank ,I have heard of this happening in other cities. 40 grand for a new truck and no locking gas cap?. what the bleep. i think the culprit watched me launch and knew i wouldnt be back .called the cops. No help no gas to patrol with.

[skeeter]

Bill, Wanna' put any bets on " I won't shoot over $gas theft " ? We have a little law enhancement in Missouri commonly referred to as the "Castle" law where you don't have to drag their body inside any more after plugging them. My attorney advised last night the law could be extended to cover boat or car theft if you get the right prosecutor or judge.

The entire neighborhood is fed up and it's time for some down home law enforcement. I catch 'em and it's "DEAD BANG ! " Enough is enough........ The entire boat is locked thoroughly and even locked to the dock with security cables. If I could devise some locking method for the gas fillers I would have them. Yes, I'm experienced and old enough to know about marine theft on docks and have taken all reasonable precautions including the significant hassle of removing all tackle and rods every night. Four years ago the water patrol told me Table Rock had the highest incidence of marine theft in the state so there are a bunch of crumb bums that think it's easy pickins and it's time to teach them a fatal lesson. OO buck = no survivors on full choke.

[Fishin' Freak]

It sounds like I may need to wear bright orange when I fish this weekend!!!

[Roaring River Veteran]

Skeeter,

I feel your pain, and if I end up on the jury they will have a hard time convicting you but please mak sure it is really a theif and not just a fisherman enjoying an evening of fishing at a time when he doesn't have to worry about the seadoos and skiers.....

Good luck

[bigredbirdfan]

Here a couple of ideas.

1) mount a video camera so you can record the boat number of the theft, these are expensive though and require electricity

2) at least get you a motion activated game camera from bass pro outlet store for $100 normally used for deer, but I bet it would work here as well

3) add a little electricity around that filler cap

I bet if a few of em get shot the number of incidents goes down

As for not being able to leave a boat on the lake anymore that just plain sucks and I don't think we should have to live like that. Constantly in fear of and bowing down to criminals. Load up boys.

[Champ188]

Skeeter,

Like others said, I feel your pain. But I'd strongly recommend seeking other legal counsel before I commenced riddling someone with bullets for stealing $200 worth of gas. Did your attorney also think it wise to post death threats on a public internet forum? Sounds like premeditation from here. I seriously doubt that any prosecutor, judge or jury is going to embrace the idea of killing someone over a tank of gas regardless of whatever obscure law your "attorney" wants to quote.

Bill's right. Thieves have been around since the dawn of time. You aren't going to single-handedly stamp out thievery by killing anyone. All you'll do is land yourself in jail, perhaps for taking a shot at an innocent fisherman. Stop holding your common sense hostage and take your boat home.

[techo]

The Castle Law and the new court decision which states you can use deadly force during a car jacking is a bit different than the way your attorney is explaining it to you. Basically, the Supreme court has found that car jacking is so dangerous and generally ends in serious physical injury or death to the victim. so deadly force can be used if you are able to articulate the force was used to protect you or another person from that threat of serious physical injury or possible death. The original Castle had to do with protecting your and your family's life inside of your house, where you should be able to feel safe and secure.

In other words, you can't use deadly force to save gas. A great many construction workers are losing 200 gallons or more each weekend from their parked equipment. I hope some of those guys catch theives in the act. THey won't use deadly force, but I doubt the thieves will ever return.

It is a frustrating situation all the way around. The lack of respect and decency has made life a challenge for honest respectable folks forever. Don't even get me started on the boat ramp hogs. I had to sit for almost a half hour at Aunt's Creek on Sunday while two big boats sat on the ramp.

[Whack'emGood]

Geez... I totally agree with the frustration. Theives are the worst kind of people. They ought to be at leased caned or something... But... I night fish alot. I hope you don't shoot me while I'm just trying to catch a few bass and happen to get close to your dock. You have to be careful... Please make sure the guy you shoot at (shooting at people who steal gas is highly questionable and regrettable at best, by the way) is actually stealing and not fishing.

Last summer I was fishing at night near the mouth of Roaring River and, as we slipped around a dock and started flinging our jigs toward the bank, some half-drunk guy starts yelling at us and accusing us of being there to try to steal something. We told him we were just fishing and would never steal anything. He said "yeah right, you're lying... you are probably the guys who have been stealing our stuff the last couple of weeks or so." He also was profanely threatening to TRY to give us a whoopin'. Let me tell you something... being accused of stealing almost made me as mad as having my stuff stolen. Also, I don't like being told someone is gonna whoop' me for something I didn't do. At first I wanted to troll over there and give him a little whoopin' of my own to shut him up... But then I thought of the reason why he was so defensive and paranoid. I felt bad for him-- getting his stuff stolen. I told him that I was sorry that somebody stole his stuff, but it wasn't us so please leave us alone so we can fish in peace. He continued his half-drunken rant... meanwhile his wife (I gathered) spoke up and told him to settle down and that he was drunk. I told her thank you and reassured her that it wasn't us who stole their stuff... I told her we were just fisherman trying to relax and catch a few bass. I told her I don't blame them for being defensive after having their stuff stolen, but please don't accuse us. Anyway the drunk man settled down and she made him apologize. I told him thank you for the apology, but it wasn't necessary, because I understand his frustration. He asked where we were from... one thing led to another, and it turned out that him and my dad had mutual friends. Seemed like a pretty nice guy, he was just frustrated with his situation and the beer didn't help things. Anyway, we told him we hoped he catches the theives and we fished on our way. The moral is... make sure the guy that you are accusing (and shooting at) is really the bad guy. He may not be the bad guy at all... he may be a friend.

Whack'em