Theft on the Upper End

[vernon]

11 hours ago, Hammer time said:

I feel your pain and agree that rods reels and baits are the tuffest to replace.

 I had my boat hocked up to truck in drive way, walked out of the house to head to lake and noticed front graph laying on deck and console graph missing. Called local police, them came and tried to get prints with no success.

The theives took everything out of front deck compartments! All my rod and reels every bait box, all my high dollar rain gear even my containers of snacks! Front deck compartments emptied! They were locked but easily broke into, no lock bar.

My home insurance handled claim since boat was on my property, but 1000.00 dollar deductible and losses of loomis rods shimano reels and countless baits, I took a huge loss, graphs where my least important loss. Checked all pawn shops in Republic and Springfield with no luck ever finding anything.

Since that happened I've never left my boat outside!

It's been over two years since my primary tackle bag was stolen out of the boat at the Kimberling Inn and I still haven't even come close to replacing everything.  I've asked for and received tons oft advice on the forum, made lists, shopped, ordered on line, you name it but it still never fails that when I'm out on the water I discover something else that I don't have.  I'd either forgotten or didn't realize I didn't have it anymore until I needed it again.

Before, I knew where every, single, little thing was, how many I had of them, when I needed to restock, etc. but now it takes me twenty minutes to figure out where I put half of the new stuff.  Not to mention all of those things that I'd had for over twenty or thirty years that can never be replaced.  It's like trying to reinvent the wheel but you no longer have the plans or the parts list!

In my experience, I've found that replacing rods and reels and electronics is relatively easy but terminal tackle and accessories not so much.

Again, good luck putting Humpty Dumpty back together again.  I don't envy you.

[motoman]

12 hours ago, Sore Thumbs said:

I know that there is a gate allowing access from land. Unfortunately, water access will always be there. My lesson learned will be to never leave electronics on my boat when I'm on the road ever again. As for locker bars. I would tell someone not to use them. If a thief wants in your boat that bar won't stop them. Even worse. When they pry that locker bar up it damages the fiberglass on the gunnel. Then you have stolen stuff and a damaged boat. 

Sorry to hear about the headache rps:-(

-

But, I'll have to disagree here a bit on 'not' using the loc-r-bar or any other deterrent. Thieves are lazy; and anything to make their job tougher will make a difference.

-

An interesting article came across my apple news feed on my iPhone a few weeks ago. (Can't seem to find it now though) It was talking about some Universtity study that interviewed burglars in relation to home security. And an overwhelming majority of the criminals said that if they met any sort of deterrent to get what they wanted; they knew they could just move onto the next house or car and find one unlocked and get what they want much easier.

-

I think this especially holds true on a community dock. The time a thief would spend prying away on a loc-r-bar to destroy a gunnel; to get to the unknown, they could twist open hatches on several more boats and NOT make a sound.

-

I know there has been the Internet rumor floating around for years about the loc-r-bar being thwarted by a trailer winch strap.(if a boats on a trailer) Loc-r-bar has had a reward out for anyone able to prove that rumor; but it's never been paid.

-

I have no vested interest in the loc-r-bar; I had one on a previous boat and it was a just an impressive product. (I sold it as I rarely used it) I'm just a fan of simple deterrents.

-

Best of luck finding your gear rps; and the dirt bags involved!

[Hammer time]

Vernon, it has been 9 years since the theives got everything and I still don't have the quality of equipment I lost, and all the hard baits and spinner baits hurts the most! Soft baits, hooks, sinkers those are easily replaced. It's the loomis IMX's GLX's. Oh well, I've just tried my best to replace what I could and start over again collecting tackle as I go.

Still miss my old stuff that has long since been discontinued or changed.

[Bill Babler]

Thieves are not so lazy anymore.  They will rip a Locker Bar out in about 20 seconds and break open every locked box lid in the same amount of time.  They will take time to take off a SS prop or for that matter even drop lower units.  Randy, I am so sorry.  We have talked about this in blog after blog after blog here.  You don't want it if you leave it on Table Rock or the Lake of the Ozarks in an unattended boat.  I think Lake O. has been better the last few years, but the Rock is still a thieves paradise, with unattended boats and equipment due to us being a corps lake with no houses at waters edge, and very little use even at the public facilities in the Winter months.

Take those boats home with you and if that is not possible take your gear and leave your boxes unlocked.  This is pretty much like Bull riding.  Its not when your crash is going to happen it how bad.

Again, this is very regretful.

[Sore Thumbs]

19 hours ago, Jerry Rapp said:

2 hours ago, Bill Babler said:

Thieves are not so lazy anymore.  They will rip a Locker Bar out in about 20 seconds and break open every locked box lid in the same amount of time.  They will take time to take off a SS prop or for that matter even drop lower units.  Randy, I am so sorry.  We have talked about this in blog after blog after blog here.  You don't want it if you leave it on Table Rock or the Lake of the Ozarks in an unattended boat.  I think Lake O. has been better the last few years, but the Rock is still a thieves paradise, with unattended boats and equipment due to us being a corps lake with no houses at waters edge, and very little use even at the public facilities in the Winter months.

Take those boats home with you and if that is not possible take your gear and leave your boxes unlocked.  This is pretty much like Bull riding.  Its not when your crash is going to happen it how bad.

Again, this is very regretful.

Agree on the locker bars Bill. I be heard more than one story about how easy they can be taken out. On top of that. These guys have as much time as they need. There is no one watching these docks this time of year. 

[Ken Drish]

I got really lucky. They must have gotten spooked. All of my rods were on the boat deck along with the bow-mounted graph. Fortunately they didn't cut any cables and "nicely" removed the graph. Again, they left everything... must've ran out of time. I thank Butch for tecting me about the situation. I'm usually out every weekend, but stayed home this year for New Years. Took a ride out there that evening just for peace of mind. That's when I alerted RPS... they clearly knew what they were after. I'm going to petition the marina to install cameras. 

 

[dan hufferd]

Sorry to hear that, friend. I wish that I could help. 

[96 CHAMP]

Sorry to hear that RPS, I reckon as you say to try and look  at the bright side of what they didn't take,  is that a new boat you have & if so be glad they didn't do cosmetic &a or structural damage to it. My regards to your situation & keep your chin up. Thanks for your contribution to this site.

[JestersHK]

Sucks to hear about your losses.  Even if the marina cannot afford cameras I would ask them to get some of the big signs made up that say "smile you are on camera" or "this property under constant surveillance"  or something similar.  May be enough to scare them off to a different location...  

My buddy did this to ward off some poachers from his land, and hasn't had a problem since. I hate thieves as well, hopefully you can get some of your gear recovered.

[Fish24/7]

On 1/2/2017 at 10:50 AM, Bill Babler said:

You don't want it if you leave it on Table Rock or the Lake of the Ozarks in an unattended boat

+1

or Bull Shoals

2016 was the worst year I can remember on Bull for theft and vandalism