Crew from the Wellington Police Maritime Unit took one boat out to sea yesterday and returned with two after finding a $350,000 yacht stolen from the Marlborough Sounds.
A 34-year-old Porirua man has been arrested and appeared in the Wellington District Court today charged with theft of the vessel. It disappeared from Waikawa Bay some time between 7 October and 16 October. The man was remanded to reappear again tomorrow.
Senior Constable Dave Houston and Constable Rob Masters, Police Maritime Unit, were patrolling in their rigid hull inflatable boat off the Owhiro Bay, South Coast, yesterday when their suspicions were aroused.
"It was a nice day for sailing yet this yacht had bare masts and was under motor power," Senior Constable Houston says. "We couldn't see anyone in the cockpit, so used our siren and then went alongside."
They found one man on board and discovered the vessel had been stolen from the Sounds. Shadowed by Constable Masters in the RHIB, Senior Constable Houston stayed on board the yacht with the alleged offender and took it to Seatoun where it was met by other police staff.
Officers are now trying to find the owners of two dinghies, a life raft, an outboard motor and fuel tanks which were also found on the yacht and which are believed to have come from boat sheds in the Marlborough Sounds.
Police are also charging the man with the theft of a $260,000 yacht which was stolen from Mana Marina between 8 and 11 October. This yacht was recovered anchored off Titahi Bay on 11 October.
Senior Constable Houston encourages boaties to record details of marine equipment kept on board their craft.
"Good crime prevention advice is to lock and secure your vessel and record serial numbers of expensive marine equipment," he says.
"Serial numbers and markings make it a lot easier for expensive gear to be traced if it is stolen."
Ends