Theft of Outboard Engines on the Rise

Preventing outboard engine theft is definitely not in any of my areas of expertise, but I recognize that this sort of thing can be a cancer on our industry. If a boat owner is victimized by a thief today, he or she may be so turned off from boating that they will not need my services tomorrow.

The following video link from CNBC provides a very interesting description of the problem.

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/30/organized-thieves-target-expensive-boat-engines.html

What is the solution to stopping these engine rustlers? They used to hang horse thieves, didn't they? Since capital punishment is not an option, and the marine insurance loss recovery/special investigation units can only do so much after the fact; it is up to us in the industry.

Perhaps we can use this year's Fort Lauderdale Mariners Club Seminar to put our heads together and work toward improving this deteriorating situation. Perhaps SAMS, NAMS, and IAMI can work together with the underwriters and engine manufacturers to develop a way forward?