A total of 140 pleasure craft (2021: 144) and 593 outboard motors (2021: 540) were stolen in Germany last year. The total amount of damage is around 5.1 million euros (2021: 4.9 million euros).
Brandenburg tops the list for outboard motor thefts
The most boats were stolen in Brandenburg (27 boats), Berlin (20 boats) and North Rhine-Westphalia (14 boats). Nine pleasure craft were stolen in Baden-Württemberg (2021: 12). In terms of stolen outboard motors, Brandenburg has been in first place for many years, this year with a high figure of 213 motors (2021: 102), followed by Berlin with 73 (2021: 50) and Schleswig-Holstein with 58 motors (2021: 43). Baden-Württemberg is in the middle of the pack among the federal states with 32 stolen outboard motors (2021: 49). For the first time, the focus here was not on Lake Constance, but on the Rhine in the Offenburg and Karlsruhe areas with 20 thefts.
The fact that the number of thefts has not increased and that similar positive trends can be seen in other European countries is attributed by the investigators to increased control pressure from the KBK's network partners. Close cooperation at European level has resulted in the dismantling of several gang structures in neighbouring countries.
Despite the overall positive trend, the investigators see no reason to sound the all-clear. The demand for stolen outboard motors and boats, particularly in Eastern Europe, remains high. The fact that there has only been a slight increase in the number of thefts to date and that thefts on Lake Constance, for example, are currently at a record low is mainly due to arrests and imprisonment of criminals in the past two years. According to the Constance specialists, however, this is only likely to have a temporary effect. It can be assumed that the gangs are reorganising themselves.
Offenders usually scout out prey specifically
The police are therefore asking the public to be more vigilant in harbours, especially in the area of dry berths. Watercraft with outboard motors parked in public traffic areas and visibly on private property are also potential targets.
The groups of offenders do not work at random, but regularly scout out the location before committing the offence. If unauthorised persons are present in such areas and take photos, for example, the police must be informed immediately, the officers ask.
In cooperation with police forces in Germany and ten other European countries, nine recreational boats, three jet skis, 43 outboard motors and four boat trailers with a total value of around 1.3 million euros were seized in 2022. More than half of the outboard motors had been taken to Romania by the thieves.
Romania main buyer country for stolen boat engines
On behalf of Frontex, two KBK special investigators travelled to Romania again last year. In addition to searching for stolen goods, training measures are also carried out on site to provide the foreign police officers with the necessary basic knowledge. Romania is still one of the main target countries for stolen outboard motors.
The investigators and their local colleagues were also successful in similar operations in Albania and Latvia: 16 stolen outboard motors worth over 100,000 euros were recovered, which had previously been stolen in various European countries. Investigation proceedings were initiated in over 100 other cases, which the KBK continues to monitor.
46 million euros in assets seized in 22 years
This means that the assets that the KBK search unit has played a key role in seizing in the 22 years of its existence totalled over 46 million euros. Added to this are so-called by-catches such as stolen motor vehicles, motorbikes, e-bikes, bicycles, etc. with a total value of over 1.9 million euros - 350,000 euros of which were seized last year alone.
The Competence Centre for Boat Crime (KBK) at the Constance Water Police Station, which is part of the Police Headquarters Operations, began its work 22 years ago and coordinates searches for stolen recreational boats, outboard motors and recreational boat trailers in Germany. The work of the four investigators has a Europe-wide focus and is closely linked in particular with the European border protection agency Frontex and the European Police Office Europol.
Hands off lazy sales offers on the Internet!
The investigators expressly warn against bogus sales offers on the Internet, especially in connection with outboard motors. Stolen engines are often labelled with professionally falsified serial numbers. But stolen sports boats are also offered on the Internet with histories that appear plausible at first glance.
Caution is always advised if documents are missing and the previous history is unclear. To protect citizens from acquiring stolen property, the KBK investigators offer to have the desired item checked before purchase. This offer also applies to citizens from Switzerland and Austria.
Enquiries can be directed to the Boat Crime Competence Centre by telephone (+49 7531 5902-300). The centre also provides information a flyer about the risks involved in buying used pleasure craft.
In this context, the police also expressly point out that under German law it is not possible to acquire ownership of stolen items, even if the item was purchased from a dealer.
More on the topic:
- Theft thriller: Happy ending for Finnish national sailing team - 200,000 euros saved
- Theft protection: Locks for outboard motors put to the test
- Security How to protect your yacht and equipment from theft
- Theft prevention: sometimes better than any lock
- Piracy and attacks: travelling safely - how to protect yourself and your yacht
