AFTER 35 years on the water a despondent Poole grandfather has sold his beloved boat after it was targeted by thieves for the third time.
Patrick Weldon from Hamworthy said the latest incident was “the straw that broke the camel’s back” and he reluctantly sold his 20ft cabin cruiser ‘Squiffy Too’ last week after becoming consumed by worry that thieves might strike again.
The retired driver, 69, had kept it moored at Lake Pier Hamworthy for 19 years and said it had been a source of “great pleasure” for his family.
But last month thieves ripped out a fuel tank and stole some binoculars causing £280 of damage in the process. It followed the theft of a propeller in 1998 and an outboard engine in 1999.
He told the Echo: “This was done despite me having more locks than Fort Knox on everything – but how could I compete with a thief who was obviously intent on going to steal with bolt croppers.
“I was in a no-win situation – if I’d claimed on my insurance that would have gone up, or pay out of my own pocket. It was just the straw that broke the camel’s back.
“Even though the children are grown up and married they’d still bring the grandchildren and we’d go out on the boat – that’s all stopped now.
“It was all down to the thieves – that’s what made the decision. After the theft I had all the damage repaired – but I was up there all the time thinking ‘are they going to come back and do the same thing again’. I was in the car park with binoculars looking at the boat all the time.”
Mr Weldon also raised fears about marine police cut backs adding: “I know of four other people whose boats have been targeting and it seems like open season for marine theft, so my message to boat owners is be very aware of what is happening.
Dorset Police is currently reviewing marine policing to make it “affordable” under a requirement to make savings of £18million from an annual budget of £120million by March 2014.
Deputy Chief Constable Debbie Simpson said: “We will work closely with the marine community to consult on their views as part of the review process and no significant changes will be made to our current marine policing arrangements until after the 2012 Olympic security operation.
“We remain absolutely committed to policing the marine community but we must make marine policing affordable within our future budget.”