Interacted with a Deputy Sheriff and a Game Warden today.

[Rams]

Family visiting us and my BIL and I made a trip to Crenshaw Mississippi to pick up a tricycle gear International Harvester he owned there.   The tractor hasn't run in years and I personally would have hauled it to the scrap yard but, it's not mine.

Regardless, when we pulled into his overgrown property, I saw a bright shiny thing reflecting  the sunlight, down the hill in the brush somewhat behind a building.   So, once we had the trailer lined up to load, I went back there to check it out.

It was a 2023 fiberglass johnboat on a new looking trailer and motor, had gas in the tank and the battery was good, all the lights worked as they should.   Had several compartments with lids, a pretty nice fishing boat.  Told my brother in law, something is wrong here, he doesn't own a boat.   So, with his agreement, I called the county Sheriff.   A deputy came out and it wasn't long before a game warden showed up.   

Turns out, the boat was stolen last week in Southern Mississippi, a long way south from Crenshaw.   Being honest, it felt good doing this.  I offered to store it for the game warden but, he thought it best if he took it to the Impound Lot. 

Rams

[Oldfishguy]

Good for you, I hate thieves.  You were right in leaving, then calling the authorities; most of these folks are unpredictable.

I’ve looked at a lot of vintage machines over the years that were for sale.   Very early in the inspection process I’ll ask to see the title.  I’ve run in to a few that were suspect stolen. 

One, the neck vin plate was missing, the vin was etched off the other side of the neck I knew should be there on that model, and the engine number was etched off.  A fresh paint to boot.  I looked at the alleged owner and gave a stare and just backed away.  Hard to trace an original owner in that condition.

Another one, the title vin and machine didn’t match.  The owner was genuinely shocked as he had owned the machine for 20 years. 

And then some states titled vintage motorcycles on engine serial numbers, not the frame.  Odd I know.

Records of stolen motorcycles are only kept in our area for 20-30 years (I forget the exact time).  Machines I look at are all older than that so one has to use your own wits.

I’ve sold a lot of vintage machines too . . . and never once have I had a buyer check the title vin against the machine vin.

[Rams]

Although I'm not a fisherman, I recognized this to be a nice and upper value boat.   It had built in compartments with fold over lids and mounting brackets and wiring for other things.   The Game Warden told me this is where a "fish finder would be mounted and a depth finder over here, two way radio with an antenna already mounted.   IOWs, a pretty nice boat.   

The Game Warden, when asked told me this boat would sell for $20 to $25K.   Not being a fisherman, I was really surprised by those numbers.   IMHO, that makes those fish caught and grilled kind of expensive. 

Rams

[Jess from VA]

Good job on figuring this out and calling the authorities Ron.

Except for fishing an overstocked big pond in elementary school where we would catch one (little bluegill) every 2-5 minutes, fishing has never appealed to me.  Patience has never been one my virtues.

My good friend and neighbor 5 doors down just retired and got himself set up with a brand new aluminum fishing boat and 90hp Merc outboard with all the bells and whistles (and not cheap).  I got him to show me the whole setup and he just lit up with enthusiasm going into great detail about how he doesn't use a worm on a hook, but special lures with casting and reeling and going for fighting fish.

He said he loves this hobby.  He has an old Harley in his garage, but it's been down with mechanical for some years and just sits in there.  I pointed to my Valk in front of his house, and said that's my hobby. 

Back to your discovery, it's kind of strange finding a stolen boat on that property.  Hiding it isn't strange, but doing it on some random property is, and it seems likely the thief(s) probably live nearby.  My mind always goes to criminal apprehension, and dusting for prints and setting up cameras, but returning it to the true owner right away is also the right thing to do.

[LadyDraco]

Glad the boat can finally be reunited with its rightful owner.

Good job....

[Jersey mike]

Wow, that a great catch, but it does make me wonder just how the thieves knew to stash it there or was it just coincidence.

I’ll be the boat owner will be happy to get his boat and trailer back.


I certainly hope this wasn't some type of insurance scam. Owner can’t afford payments and has a friend of a friend hide the boat and report it as stolen.


Any way you slice it, reporting it was a good thing. 

[LadyDraco]

Wow, that a great catch, but it does make me wonder just how the thieves knew to stash it there or was it just coincidence.

I’ll be the boat owner will be happy to get his boat and trailer back.


I certainly hope this wasn't some type of insurance scam. Owner can’t afford payments and has a friend of a friend hide the boat and report it as stolen.


Any way you slice it, reporting it was a good thing. 

I thought about that as well...


And if a place looked abandoned and overgrown, as Ram said it did, that's most likely where they stashed it there!  I wonder if they were  going to come  back for  it.

[carolinarider09]

Yes, good job and great that you took the steps you did. 

 

[Rams]

Yes, good job and great that you took the steps you did. 

 

   The only disappointing part of the whole story is the rejection of my offer. 

I offered to store it for the game warden but, he thought it best if he took it to the Impound Lot. 

I would have only charged a small storage fee.   

Rams

[cookiedough]

Although I'm not a fisherman, I recognized this to be a nice and upper value boat.   It had built in compartments with fold over lids and mounting brackets and wiring for other things.   The Game Warden told me this is where a "fish finder would be mounted and a depth finder over here, two way radio with an antenna already mounted.   IOWs, a pretty nice boat.   

The Game Warden, when asked told me this boat would sell for $20 to $25K.   Not being a fisherman, I was really surprised by those numbers.   IMHO, that makes those fish caught and grilled kind of expensive. 

Rams

most fishing boats, if kept in very good shape, fetch the same price paid new for them when new some 15-20 years ago.  I paid 7K for my 17 ft aluminum fishing boat and 40hp mercury in 1997 and considering the exact same alumacraft boat, etc. now is 13K,  be pretty easy to get back 6-7K for the total package.  Aluminum pricing is thru the roof, much like most everything else nowadays.

If I did not get hail damage all over my 7x23 enclosed aluminum trailer,  my 2006 bought new for 7.7K could easily get 8K for it now, if no hail damage, same trailer now cost 13K.

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

Good job. There seem to be a lot of boats and utility trailers stolen in this area (central Indiana). I sometimes go to a lot of trouble to keep a vehicle parked in front of mine to prevent such things. Yet, I still walked to a window to verify it's where it should be when I read this.
As do virtually all honest citizens, I hate thieves.

[Robert]

Good job Rams, but fishing can be expensive.

In this pic below each engine on that boat is 150k, so times 3, 450k just on engines.

I also agree with LadyDraco and wonder what they will do when they find their stash gone.

[Rams]

Good job Rams, but fishing can be expensive.

In this pic below each engine on that boat is 150k, so times 3, 450k just on engines.

I also agree with LadyDraco and wonder what they will do when they find their stash gone.

Not being a boater or fisherman, it's hard for me to see that much value in such things but, to each their own.


Reference the "borrowers" of this fine watercraft, I only know what the Game Warden said.   He planned on spending a few evenings monitoring the site.   The next door neighbor also has security cameras that he says view who passes down this dead-end road.   The Game Warden asked to review the past recordings the neighbor still retained.  The neighbor said he had additional uninstalled cameras that he would put into operation because, he was now concerned about his own property.   Whether or not the thieves ever get caught is not something I can predict but, it is suspected that the one and only neighbor at the end of that dead-end road are the culprits.   Apparently, the sheriff has made frequent visits to the place and it's occupants.

For all I know, this could have been an insurance scam but, it still felt good taking something stolen back from thieves and getting it back to the rightful owner.   I know that if it had been my boat, I would have appreciated someone doing as we did.

Rams

[Robert]

Good job Rams, but fishing can be expensive.

In this pic below each engine on that boat is 150k, so times 3, 450k just on engines.

I also agree with LadyDraco and wonder what they will do when they find their stash gone.

Not being a boater or fisherman, it's hard for me to see that much value in such things but, to each their own.


Reference the "borrowers" of this fine watercraft, I only know what the Game Warden said.   He planned on spending a few evenings monitoring the site.   The next door neighbor also has security cameras that he says view who passes down this dead-end road.   The Game Warden asked to review the past recordings the neighbor still retained.  The neighbor said he had additional uninstalled cameras that he would put into operation because, he was now concerned about his own property.   Whether or not the thieves ever get caught is not something I can predict but, it is suspected that the one and only neighbor at the end of that dead-end road are the culprits.   Apparently, the sheriff has made frequent visits to the place and it's occupants.

For all I know, this could have been an insurance scam but, it still felt good taking something stolen back from thieves and getting it back to the rightful owner.   I know that if it had been my boat, I would have appreciated someone doing as we did.

Rams

Totally agree with you and you did what you needed to do and now your out of it.