Boatyard owner Jim Robinson inspects the badly damaged outboard after thieves targeted his premises at the weekend. Picture by Jennifer Burton
AN ISLAND boatyard owner said the theft of £45,000 worth of engines from his premises over the weekend will have a damaging effect on his business.
Police are investigating the break-in at Bembridge Outboards, which happened overnight between Saturday and Sunday.
The thieves broke into the boatyard, on Embankment Road, Bembridge Harbour, by cutting down a security fence — which had only been installed last September — and rewired it before they made off.
They stole two F250hp Yamaha and a single Suzuki F175hp outboard engines.
All the cables connecting the engines were cut. The Suzuki had a substantial lock bolt, which the thieves could not remove.
They also attempted to take a 30hp Yamaha outboard but had trouble removing it and left it behind, badly damaged.
Jim Robinson, who has owned the company for 35 years, believes it was the work of several people because of the weight of the engines and lifting gear was not accessible.
"The outboards weigh more than 300 kilos each, so it would have taken more one person and some time to carry out the theft. We think two large vehicles were used due to the tyre tracks left," he said.
"We have had thefts but this is the first time we have had large outboards stolen, which is worrying. Once the insurance has been sorted out, I expect to make a loss of more than £15,000, which is damaging for the company."
PC Mark Vincent, of the Sandown Bay Safer Neigh-bourhoods Team, said: "People who noticed suspicious activity or vehicles in Bembridge or have suspicions about boat engines for sale can contact the police."
Reporter: jonm@iwcpmail.co.uk