5 Steps to Crime Prevention at your Marina

Spending the day or weekend on your boat is one of the pleasures most boaters look forward to all the time. Unfortunately, the marinas where vessels are stored at are just as susceptible to crime as our homes and places of work, if not more so. Criminals prey on two facts. (1) Many boats are left alone for days and weeks at a time and (2) when a boater heads out onto the water, criminals know that they have more than enough time to burglarize their parked car.

With that being said, it becomes important for boat owners to learn some common-sense practices for keeping the property on their boats and in their vehicles as safe as possible. Listed below are five steps that boaters can take to help protect their property from crime.

1. Mark It This is a proven deterrent and you will have a better chance of having your property returned if it is stolen. Etch or engrave an identification number, such as you vessel ID number, onto all of your valuable items. This will enable authorities to trace lost or stolen items back to your vessel. Also, enroll in a crime prevention program, like Boat Watch USA. It is free, and you receive a Vessel ID decal which includes a warning for all would be perpetrators to avoid your vessel. Place this decal where it can be easily seen from the most common spot your vessel is boarded from. Boat Watch USA also offers smaller Boat Watch USA warning decals to affix prominently to your major equipment.

2. Record It Secondly, record in detail all of your valuable equipment. Compile a written inventory of your boat, trailer, and all onboard equipment. Boat Watch USA includes with it's free service a form to list unique details and other special identifying features of your vessel. If you have a trailer, you can include particulars about it too. List all electronics, outboard engines, and other gear by brand name, model and serial number. Be as descriptive as possible for both the police and insurance companies. Again, Boat Watch USA offers an online vessel equipment log where owners can record equipment information and keep it readily available for the law enforcement and insurance companies should they need it.

3. Photograph It Photograph or video tape the interior and exterior of your vessel, showing all the installed equipment and additional gear stowed aboard. These photographs should show any identifying marks or scratches that can be useful in the recovery efforts of law enforcement. Include photographs of open drawers and lockers with all contents revealed. Date and sign the photographs and add clarifying or identifying messages as necessary. Store these photographs or video tapes in a safe location outside of your boat, such as your home.

4. Secure It Most thieves are opportunists and seek out the easiest vessels to strike. Purchase and use quality locking devices for your boat to make entry and accessibility as difficult as possible for would be thieves. Also, remove as many items as feasible when you are going to leave your boat unattended. The best way to keep thieves from stealing property from your boat is to not leave it aboard. Remove high risk items like TV's, radios, and CB's. If you are not going to remove items, store them out of sight in a securely locked cabinet or locker. Lastly, you may consider having an alarm system installed on your vessel. Care should be taken to select security equipment that is resistant to environmental elements typically found near waterways.

5. Marina Security Many thieves are successful because they look as if they belong in the area. Become acquainted with your fellow neighbors at the marina. A tactful offer to help assist a stranger to find a person or a boat will signal to thieves that you are looking out for each other and that nobody goes unnoticed. Urge your fellow neighbors to also be observant of strangers in the area and to question their presence as well.

Be sure to always lock your vehicle when parked at a launch site, marina or dock. Remember to keep all windows secured and to remove any valuables from sight. If you are not taking your purse, cell phone, or other property with you, lock it in the trunk while you are gone. Also, to lessen the opportunity a would-be-thief has to break into your vehicle, park it in an open, visible area.

Be mindful and alert of any suspicious vehicles or persons who are lingering in the area. Record license plate numbers and remember physical descriptions of these vehicles and persons you observe loitering in the area.

Remember, a marina with good security equipment and good security practices is a good start. Having marina members who actively carry out these five steps can make the difference between crime prevention and criminal activity.

Marc Eskew is a managing partner with Boat Watch USA and widely recognized for his knowledge of marina crime prevention. To find more information on marina and boat crime prevention, visit http://www.BoatWatchUSA.com

---

Internet Cruises - Shopping Online

"If you build it, they will come."That advice, which prompted an Iowa farmer in the 1989 movie "Field of Dreams" to plow over his corn field and... Read More

Alaska Cruise Ship Vacations

Alaska is one of the world's great cruise destinations, particularly for those with an interest in world class fishing. Alaska is arguably the most beautiful of the... Read More

Panama Cruise Expert Guide

Situated in the country of Panama in Central America is the Panama Canal - a manmade waterway connecting the great oceans of the Pacific and the Atlantic... Read More

Hawaii Cruise Expert Guide

Experiencing a Hawaii cruise is a dream come true for many people around the world. Very few travel adventures can live up to the thrill of sailing... Read More

The History of Water Sports

Swimming is noted in many of the classics as relating to heroism and religion. Nicolas Wynman's Dialogue Concerning the Art of Swimming (1538) is the first recorded... Read More

Celebrity Alaska Cruises!

Alaska cruises can be the experience of a lifetime. Enhance that magnificent experience with Celebrity Alaska cruises.Celebrity takes cruising to the next level and their Alaska cruises... Read More

Yacht Competition Racing for the Disabled Takes Off!

Yacht racing, though it may seem like "a breeze" to spectators (to turn a phrase), is really a lot more complicated than it looks. Anyone who's ever... Read More

Carribean Cruise

Caribbean Cruises are among the most demanded cruise vacations in the world; with almost two million plus travelers sailing on different liners every year. Warm tropical climates... Read More

Short Cruises - The Perfect Match For First Time Cruisers

Would you like to try a cruise, but aren't sure if you'd really like it? Some people are intimidated about making a seven-day commitment to a cruise... Read More

A Lifetime Cruise ? Hawaiian Cruise - An Exotic Hawaiian Cruise Trip

Hawaiian Cruises are everyone's dream cruise to the Hawaiian Islands on an exquisite ocean liner. Being pampered from dawn to dusk with exemplary cuisine, entertainment and fun... Read More

Orient Beach Shore Excursions - Beauty on the Beach!

When cruising to St. Martin (or Sint Maarten), some of the most beautiful land trips you could take would be the Orient Beach Shore Excursions. This fabulous... Read More

Cleaning Sails

Washing SailsOften you will see a beautiful sail boat with a dirty sail, you say "yuk" and are glad that is not you out there. Sometimes you... Read More

Taking a Deaf Cruise

Deaf and hearing impaired individuals are no different from anyone else except they cannot hear or hear well. Because the deaf culture consists of mainly deaf people... Read More

Disney Cruise Expert Guide

Experiencing the magic of Disney at Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort Paris is something that is rarely forgotten as a child or as an... Read More

Back to Nature: Observing Marine Life When Boating

"Whether you boat on fresh water or on the ocean, there is a lot of marine life to observe and appreciate. We boat in the Pacific Northwest... Read More

Mexico: Going Native

If you want to expatriate to Mexico to find an affordable cost of living then there is one thing you must do--Go Native!Now, this is not as... Read More

Artic Tours

Take an Arctic Tour by flying north of Fairbanks to Dead Horse, on the northern edge of Alaska's North Slope. This unreserved wilderness area, stretching to an... Read More

Bingo At Sea?

Under the "G" for Great Holiday. Bingo players can take their passion for the game to new heights by enjoying play aboard most of the world's finest... Read More

Philippines Surfing if You Want to Miss the Crowds

Philippines surfing is not quite a destination that would conjure up images of brilliant surfing breaks. Truth be told surfing in the Philippines can be fickle, but... Read More

Diving Philippines is Impressive, Varied, and Spectacular

Scuba diving Philippines does not get any diverse, anywhere in the world! No matter what level of diver you are, diving Philippines has something to offer you.... Read More

Learning How to Sail

When it comes to sailing, there are all kinds of things to learn how to do. How you go about learning will depend on your particular style.... Read More

Radisson Cruises- A Six Star Luxury Experience / Radisson Cruises- Best Cruise Value

Radisson cruises come under the flagship of six star luxury cruises offering an opportunity to explore and discover three hundred ports on 6 continents, including Antarctica. All... Read More

Dining Out At Sea

If eating fine food is your pleasure, a cruise vacation is for you. If you get up early enough, go to bed late enough and catch the... Read More

Boat Detailing - Final Process in the Reconditioning ? Applying the Protective Sealant on Gel Coat

It is often recommended that you do not use any natural or pure Carnauba automotive waxes as they will tend to yellow the gel coat over time... Read More

Italy Cruise Expert Guide

History, wine, serene beauty, dramatic people and stunning views - an Italy cruise has it all! You can visit the main sites of Italy on a European... Read More

The Nile Cruise

Egypt is where history first emerged. It is here that we have the first pictographic record of events and persons. Hieroglyphics, the system of writing used by... Read More