More fishing equipment stolen

Sheriff’s detectives continue to investigate the theft of fishing equipment in various areas of the county.

On Tuesday, detectives in Marathon asked for assistance investigating two thefts at a marina on Gulfview Avenue. Two boat owners reported rods and reels stolen from their vessels in the early morning hours. Surveillance cameras caught two men leaving the marina. They appeared to be carrying the stolen fishing equipment.

Two more fishing equipment thefts were also reported Tuesday. A charter boat captain at Hurricane Hole Marina on Stock Island said he prepared his boat for a charter on Monday night. When he arrived at the boat Tuesday morning, he found four rod and reel sets valued at approximately $3,000 missing from his boat.

Another vessel, docked at the Courtyard Marriott Marina in Key Largo was burglarized Tuesday. The boat’s owner called Tuesday at 10 a.m. to report two rod and reel sets stolen, valued at approximately $650.

Anyone with information about these crimes should contact the Sheriff’s Office. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers of the Florida Keys. If a Crimestoppers tip leads to an arrest, the caller would be eligible for a cash reward. The Crimestoppers hot line number is 1-800-346-TIPS. Tips may be made anonymously on line at www.tipsubmit.com or via a text message to 274637 using the keyword TIP136.

The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind everyone to remove fishing and diving equipment from vessels when they are docked or parked overnight. Leaving such equipment on board makes it easily accessible to thieves, who are often out overnight looking for items to steal. Electronics are also very vulnerable to theft and should be removed when the boat is not being used. Also, do not leave equipment out underneath your house or on your dock to dry. It only takes a moment for someone to take this type of equipment.

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