StriperChaser Fishing News and Views: It's important to take precautions against thieves

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It's important to take precautions against thieves

Posted by StriperChaser on December 31, 2004, 8:43 am
Message modified by board administrator December 31, 2004, 8:48 am

Dec. 29, 2004, 11:51PM
Valuable advice to keep in mind
It's important to take precautions against thieves
By SHANNON TOMPKINS
Purloined gear runs the gamut from relatively small items such as dog crates or ice chests left in the back of pickups at boat ramps to major-league losses of boats, trailers, outboard motors, ATVs and other high-dollar items stolen from garages, yards, hunting leases and out of vehicles parked at motels, restaurants or retail businesses.
Money is the attraction, of course. Firearms, boat motors, ATVs, personal watercraft, trailers and other common outdoors gear are relatively small and can command good money on the black market. A stolen ATV can easily fetch $4,000 or more, as can a PWC. A relatively new, 25-horsepower outboard easily can put $1,000 in a thief's pocket.
No one is exempt from being targeted.
The best thing boaters and owners of other popular outdoors gear can do is keep their
possessions out of sight and locked, Simmons said.
"If you have something you don't want stolen, keep it hidden and keep a good lock on it at all times," Simmons said.
And if the worst happens, as it occasionally will despite all efforts to the contrary, Chuck Uzzle has some advice. "Mark everything you own with some kind of ID number, keep a record and photos of it, get to know your insurance agent and have them explain exactly what your policies cover,"he said. "And do it now, before it's too late."