2102 – Theft in Puerto Rico (US) – Vieques – Esperanza
Incident Date: 2017-01-27 at 20:00
Event Type: Theft
Stolen Items: Dinghy/outboard, dinghy minus outboard later recovered
Secured: Locked
Source Type: 1st Hand Report
Incident Details: At approximately 8 PM cruisers returned to the dinghy dock on the old pier in Esperanza, and discovered their dinghy/outboard had been stolen. The dinghy was chained to the dock with 3/8" stainless steel chain and locked with a case-hardened lock, the outboard engine was similarly chained and locked to the dinghy. ||The dinghy minus the outboard was found just off the beach to the east of the dock with both chains and one of the locks cut with a bolt cutter. A police report was made and victims were informed by the local police that this was the 4th motor theft this week. ||The owners indicate the police took little interest in assessing the situation – writing down little, looking at the dinghy or the area where it was left and they took no photos. The owners believe that well prepared theives with large bolt cutters are actively operating in the area and advise extra precautions.