Water police want break-in reports

Broken Bay Water Police have called for reports of suspicious activity around boats moored in Brisbane Water after a number of break-ins over recent months.

Police have said that thieves have been targeting yachts and power cruisers moored within Hardy's Bay and Pretty Beach with items such as GPS navigation equipment, outboard motors, inflatable dinghies and other personal belongings being stolen.

In one incident, a dinghy belonging to a catamaran moored in Hardy's Bay was stolen and later recovered in Woy Woy Bay minus its outboard motor.

Sergeant Mick Crews of the Broken Bay Water Police encouraged the public to report any incidents of a suspicious nature to 9910 7899.

"We would welcome any calls from members of the public relating to anything of a questionable nature happening in the bays," Sergeant Crews said.

"But we must emphasise that the offender or anybody who is suspected of any form of illegal activity should never be approached."

Mr Ralph Newton of Freemantle in Western Australia thanked Broken Bay Water Police for its assistance in recovering his inflatable dinghy.

"A sincere thank you to the Broken Bay Water Police for such a quick action in retrieving and returning my inflatable dinghy which was stolen from the back of my catamaran yacht recently while moored in Hardy's Bay," Mr Newton said.

"I understand from police that a number of items from various boats were also stolen and the authorities were quickly alerted by Hardy's Bay residents which enabled the speedy and successful return of my dinghy to be made.

"Being a long way from home it is comforting to know that people care."

Newsletter, 20 Sep 2010 Hardy's Bay Residents Group