Thieves steal engine from life saving boat (From Evesham Journal)
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Thieves steal engine from life saving boat
5:16pm Thursday 28th February 2013 in News By Sarah Taylor
Naming ceremony of the new boats last May at Sankey Marina.
THIEVES have stolen the engine of a rescue boat designed to save people that become stranded during floods countrywide.
The almost brand new rescue boat, worth between £30,000 and £40,000, was at Sankey Marina in Evesham when it was stripped of its specialist engine along with three other boat motors.
The rescue boat, which was purchased with a grant from Defra just last year, is used by the South Worcester Flood Rescue team and could now be out of the water for anything up to four months as it is repaired.
Roy Amphlett, South Worcester Lifeguard Club President, said: “The gauling thing for us is because it is specialist we might be left unable to deploy and train for three or four months but the most important thing is that if anyone anywhere in the UK is affected by flooding, one of the rescue assets will not be able to assist because of somebody's petty crime.
“They must have known what they were after.
“I feel sick to the pit of my stomach about the amount of time and effort the guys put into the work and training and they can’t carry on or use the boat now.”
Mr Amphlett estimated the worth of the 60hp jet drive engine at around £15,000.
He added: “We'd ask anyone in and around the boat industry to keep an eye out for such an engine coming onto the market, and to beware it may be freshly stolen.”
West Mercia Police confirmed four boat motors were reported stolen on Thursday, February 28.
The boats, three of Honda make and one Yamaha, were out of the water on the bank of the Marina when they were targeted by the thieves, who broke a fence to gain access.
The thefts are believed to have taken place on Tuesday, February 26, as the owner of the boat yard told police he had not noticed the broken fence earlier, although the crime may have happened earlier in the week.
Anyone with information about the theft should contact the police on 101 quoting 175S 280213.
