Unknown perpetrators stole a total of seven outboard motors from a jetty on the Kleine Müritz in Vipperow (Mecklenburg-Seenplatte district) during the night of 2 to 3 September 2025. The stolen engines are Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki and Mercury models with outputs between 5 and 50 hp. The engines were attached to sports and fishing boats at the time of the theft. According to the police, the total damage amounts to several thousand euros.
Investigations by the waterway police
The Waren Water Police Inspectorate ("Wspi") filed a criminal complaint and immediately issued a search warrant for the stolen engines. The criminal investigation department secured extensive evidence at the scene of the crime, which is now being analysed. The criminal investigation department has taken over the further investigation. So far there are no clues as to the perpetrators or the whereabouts of the stolen outboard motors.
The waterway police are asking the public for help in solving the case. Anyone who made suspicious observations in the area of the jetty on the Kleine Müritz in Vipperow on the night of the crime or who can provide information on the whereabouts of the stolen engines is asked to get in touch. The Waren water police inspectorate will accept any useful information by calling 03991/7473-0 or sending an e-mail to wspi.waren@polmv.de. Alternatively, witnesses can also contact any other police station in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania or submit their information via the Internet watch at www.polizei.mvnet.de.
Thefts increase in autumn
According to unanimous statements from various police authorities, most thefts take place in the early and late season. This is when the harbours are not yet completely full again and few crews stay on board overnight. Dry dockers are particularly at risk. But robberies also take place from the water. The thieves usually use a rubber dinghy to reach the sterns of the boats, release the often poorly secured outboards and simply lift them into the boat. In this way, several smaller engines can be stolen per raid.
But even larger engines, which are much more valuable and usually better secured, fall victim to the thieves, as a water police officer reports. "A floating tyre is pushed under the stern and then the entire transom is sawn out. The engine then falls into the floating tyre and is brought ashore somewhere." The thieves would also take the risk of the boat sinking.
Autumn in particular poses a greater risk of theft, as confirmed by an engine service operator operating on the Lower Elbe. In his experience, it is mainly harvest workers who load up their vans with stolen goods after the harvest before travelling home, usually to Eastern Europe.
Prevention against boat theft
To make it as difficult as possible for thieves, the outboard motor should first be secured as well as possible. It is not enough to put a padlock through the toggle. This can easily be cut with a bolt cutter. The same applies to bicycle locks or chains.
It is better to use devices that require noise to remove, for example by using an angle grinder. There is a higher chance that the activities will be noticed by others.
In this special article we have analysed different Outboard fuses tested.
However, even a super lock is of little use if it has only been passed through the handle of a smaller outboard motor, for example. The motor housing is usually made of die-cast, so a strong blow with a hammer is enough to break off the handle and steal the motor. This is then still a sought-after source of spare parts. For comparison: A 5hp Merury outboard costs between €1,400 and €1,500, and the powerhead alone costs around €1,000 if it needs to be replaced.
Engraving for recovery
Theft protection also includes engraving boats, engines and equipment with a forgery-proof individual number. This is a so-called EIN code (owner identification number).
Functionality
The EIN code is compiled from the owner's individual data according to the modular principle and contains the data in encrypted form:
- The place of residence
- The address
- The initials of the owner
This labelling has the following advantages:
- It is "self-explanatory" and requires no centralised registration or data management.
- The owner can be identified immediately.
- The labelling can be easily reconstructed according to the place of residence.
- It makes valuables less attractive to thieves and fences and increases the risk of detection.
Application for outboard motors
For outboard motors, the system is used as effective theft protection in the form of engraving, unlike bicycles, for example, where stickers are used which can be removed. The water police and insurance companies such as Pantaenius regularly organise engraving campaigns in which outboard motors and other boat accessories are coded and registered with individual numbers. (More about this in this special article.)
You can also do the engraving yourself. The ADAC offers a Code generator an. An unmistakable and clearly assignable code is generated from the city, street, house number, surname and first name. The code is labelled by engraving or machine-engraving, which ensures that the marking is permanent and difficult to remove. This increases the risk for thieves and makes the resale of stolen items considerably more difficult. The code should then be submitted to the nearest police station together with documentary photos of the labelling.
However, such a code is also no guarantee of recovery. First of all, the thief's transport must be stopped. If codes are then found, the officer must be willing and able to trace the code if the seizure took place abroad. In addition, the code must still be legible and not have been removed by sanding.
Tips to protect against outboard motor theft
Mechanical fuses
- Cap lock/wing nut lock: High-strength stainless steel that encloses the wing nuts and prevents dismantling
- Rail lock: Goes over both tommy screws and makes disassembly more difficult
- High-quality padlock: Connects the mounting brackets of the motor to each other
- Steel cable with lock: Crimped and padlocked stainless steel braided cable
- Anti-theft bar: Is positioned on the mounting brackets and makes them inaccessible
- Safety nuts: For outboards from 25 hp, replace the standard nuts on the transom
Labelling and registration
- Engraving and registration: Label the motor with a unique number and have it registered
- Warning stickers: Attach appropriate stickers as a deterrent after coding
Electronic fuse
- GPS tracker: Concealed in the engine, enables localisation in the event of theft
- Alarm system: Triggers a loud alarm in the event of unauthorised movement
Storage and preservation
- Dismantle the motor: Remove the engine from the boat if it will not be used for a longer period of time
- Safe storage: Store the outboard motor out of sight in lockable rooms
- Secure dry berths: Take special care with boats on dry berths in the low season
- Guarded moorings: If possible, keep boats in guarded harbours or marinas
General precautions
- Documentation: Photograph the engine, document the serial number and other features
- Inform your insurance company: Clarify with your insurance company which safety measures are required
- Combine several systems: Thieves typically give up after about 20 minutes - the more obstacles, the better
- Vigilant neighbour: Organise mutual monitoring of the boats with other boat owners
In case of theft
- Immediate message: Report the theft to the police and insurance company immediately
- Tracing data: Provide all documentation and licence plates for the engine
- Monitor online platforms: Monitor popular sales platforms for suspicious offers
Preventive tip
- Hidden marker: In addition to the official labelling, attach your own, invisible markings to the engine to make identification easier if they are found
The more of these measures you combine, the better protected your outboard motor will be!
