Stolen boats turning up in Cuba, Mexico

Stolen boats turning up in Cuba, Mexico
By: Kimberly Kuizon, FOX 13 News
UPDATED:OCT 30 2015 05:02PM EDT

LONGBOAT KEY (FOX 13) - Something big was missing from the backyard of
Nancy Guernsey's in-laws: Their 30-foot boat was gone.What do you think?

"I came over to check to see if the boat was here and it wasn't," she
said. "He said, 'The boat is missing! Call the police!'"What do you think?

"Nothing else seemed to be bothered. Just the boat," she continued.What
do you think?

As Longboat Key police began investigating, another attempted boat theft
was reported. They also soon discovered that two more boats were stolen
in Sarasota and two more in Hillsborough County.What do you think?

"The number of boats that we have out here put us on high alert," said
Longboat Key Police Chief Pete Cumming.What do you think?

Officers began to suspect a crime ring from Miami that has a knack for
stealing boats. The craft often turn up in Cuba or Mexico.1

That is where this missing boat was spotted.What do you think?

"We learned that there is a group, an organization who's fairly
organized, that are stealing boats from Sarasota down to Naples and then
across to Miami and up to Ft. Lauderdale," said Chief Cumming.What do
you think?

Investigators said the group is responsible for thefts around Florida.
Fourteen boats were reported stolen from Levy County up north all the
way to Monroe County in the Keys.What do you think?

"This could happen anywhere, especially where we have the number of
boats we do along the canals and elsewhere," continued Chief
Cumming.What do you think?

Officers say an easy way to make sure you won't become the victim of a
boat theft is to keep your boat locked up and make sure your keys aren't
anywhere visible.What do you think?

"If you can disable the electrical power to the lift system, it would be
great. If you could wire it into your house, that would be even
better," offered Officer Dan Bidwell.What do you think?

Police want everyone to keep their eyes open.What do you think?

"It is a target of opportunity and if you take away the opportunity, you
take away the potential of becoming a victim of a crime," Bidwell added.

Source: Stolen boats turning up in Cuba, Mexico - Story | FOX 13 Tampa
Bay - http://www.fox13news.com/news/local-news/41494111-story