* FOUND * Stolen Boat - from Mercia Marina

[ditchcrawler]

I have just come from the very top, I walked to the new bridge and I am now moored by the A5 to go to the Lime kiln for dinner. I have been keeping a very careful eye for them but no sign. It is possible that the boat seen at Hillmorton is the same one we saw on the Ashby yesterday, but I think things have moved on and I am trying to catch up.

Tomorrow I will be leaving the Ashby and heading for Braunston, so will keep a good lookout . Its only 5 miles from here to the junction with no winding points in between.

[Top cat]

We are heading north on the Oxford currently at br 124 heading for Bedworth, will keep an eye out on that route.

 

Top Cat

[Painterlady]

Can Mercia marina provide any more info?

They say they have cctv but not on pontoons so is this showing the car park or other entrances.

Is there a vehicle nearby that's not moved?

Even parked as far as stenson or burton?

You can walk straight into most marinas so did the thief arrive by bus?

Is there any possibility that the thief is a former employee?

[Chris and Graham]

Dear all

Your support and actions have been mind blowing and we would like to say a huge thank you to all of you for looking out for our boat. We have had quite a few reports around the Coventry canal, Ashley and perhaps Oxford. We have also had a report of a possible sighting from Windsor. We have reported our theft to the Derbyshire police and have an incident 732.26.7.16 and case number 16000209853. Our mobile number is 07941078231. We have told them about the connection to the almost identical theft at Kings Bromley. Staffordshire and Derby police are consulting on thIs.We have two witnesses who saw the man, one spoke to him but he was. Very convincing about taking our boat Having developed an engine problem and being under warranty he was taking the boat to fix it. The Police know who the boat was being occupied by, but the boat was unoccupied when they discovered the boat. Evidently he is know to Police and has been in prison. We have also informed CRT and the Enviromental Agency and suggested they circulate our boat details to the lockkeepers there. We have spent the day visiting the Coventry canal then waiting at the Atherstone top lock talking to people about our theft. Dave,a brilliant chap has been very active on our behalf and stood guard at the bottom lock before his various other locations.

 

Good suggestion about a quick response from the CRT circulating details.

 

Unless we hear of any more sightings we will wait at Atherstone lock tomorrow, the keepers there also have a note. Wherever it is we feel that due to the hundreds of people now that are aware of our boat details, it will only be a matter of time before the boat is found.

If this is being followed by you the thief please know that we have saved hard all our working lives for our dream boat, only purchasing it last year.

 

To the rest of you, you have been superb, we have made so many new friends, thank you so very much! What a wonderful community we have 'on the cut'.

[tagulablue]

please don't shout STUPID but if the stensen boat is so unique would it not be an idea for the boat builders to ring/email all clients that have the same style boat and ask if they would mind telling them where they were ...it just might help eliminate some of the sightings. Also we have an aqualine and if one passes me I shout snap (they can't hear me promise) but I can't recognise any other boat so it might be helpful if all Stenson owners are aware as they might spot it quicker than an idiot like me x

[Dave Payne]

Chris, give spring haven marina a call in the morning, if the boat needs fuel this could be the place they stop, or up the Ashby you have trinity marina,Ashby boats and market Bosworth marina.

 

If you need my help tomorrow then please do call, I am more than wiling to help with my knowledge of that area.

[Sea Dog]

No. It shows that people are joining in and showing solidarity.

Yeah, fair enough, I get that too. Anyway, I sure hope the network wins again. Fingers crossed

[Ally]

One of our boats is on the Ashby at the moment and are looking out. Chris & Graham, hope it's soon found, I feel sure it can't stay hidden with so many looking. Social media and the boating community are unstoppable!

[romarni123]

Hi chris and Graham do you know how much fuel was in your tank.you can then work out roughly how many miles it can go before it needs a refuel.A lot of boatyards want a declaration filled in when buying fuel.you could call /email all the fuel selling yards in a radius from mercia.Also txt the fuel boats to ask them to look out for it

[Athy]

Chris, give spring haven marina a call in the morning, if the boat needs fuel this could be the place they stop,

Springwood Haven, perhaps?

[Dave Payne]

Hi chris and Graham do you know how much fuel was in your tank.you can then work out roughly how many miles it can go before it needs a refuel.A lot of boatyards want a declaration filled in when buying fuel.you could call /email all the fuel selling yards in a radius from mercia.Also txt the fuel boats to ask them to look out for it

Half a tank they mentioned earlier. Not sure how big the tank is though.

Springwood Haven, perhaps?

Sorry, yes that's correct

[FidoDido]

Not seen it from gt hey wood to penkridge. Am 90%+ I saw it yesterday in the rugely area. I'm a professor of chemistry, so very observant. The boat I saw was in those colours with embossed stern. Of course MCC may well have made several with similar features, but this is the first one in 5 yrs of boating I've noticed, and I'm a proper geek... Will continue to keep my eyes out.

[junior]

If I was using a stolen boat id buy my diesel in cans from a garage.

[bigray]

Not seen it from gt hey wood to penkridge. Am 90%+ I saw it yesterday in the rugely area. I'm a professor of chemistry, so very observant. The boat I saw was in those colours with embossed stern. Of course MCC may well have made several with similar features, but this is the first one in 5 yrs of boating I've noticed, and I'm a proper geek... Will continue to keep my eyes out.

I'm over that way for work tomorrow afternoon so if you (or indeed anyone else) do see anything PM me.

Edited July 27, 2016 by bigray

[Jrtm]

This sounds very sim to the other theft prob watches a marina and knows if someone is about not being funny but most locked boats look the same. We always lock our boat up especially at night even when still on it.

 

Were just outside cosgrove and mk to fenny so i cant be of any help i do hope you find it! Ill keep an eye out but as side im in the wrong direction we decided to head the other way

[Ange]

please don't shout STUPID but if the stensen boat is so unique would it not be an idea for the boat builders to ring/email all clients that have the same style boat and ask if they would mind telling them where they were ...it just might help eliminate some of the sightings. Also we have an aqualine and if one passes me I shout snap (they can't hear me promise) but I can't recognise any other boat so it might be helpful if all Stenson owners are aware as they might spot it quicker than an idiot like me x

Definitely not stupid but very sound advice.

 

I'm rubbish at recognising boat builds but know the distinctive features of a Doug Moore boat and know where to look a little more closely on passing for confirmation.

[Guest]

please don't shout STUPID but if the stensen boat is so unique would it not be an idea for the boat builders to ring/email all clients that have the same style boat and ask if they would mind telling them where they were ...it just might help eliminate some of the sightings. Also we have an aqualine and if one passes me I shout snap (they can't hear me promise) but I can't recognise any other boat so it might be helpful if all Stenson owners are aware as they might spot it quicker than an idiot like me x

I wouldn't call the suggestion stupid but probably more impractical.

 

Not only would a call from sombody purporting to be from your boat builder completely out of the blue asking about your whereabouts likely worry some people you may end up ringing people who have given up boating for a number of reasons. Boats will have been sold on.

 

I don't think the design is particularly unique to a particular boat as I said very early on a couple of the features are pretty much trademark Stenson. The boat they had at Crick a few years ago had the very same rails and metal 'back' on the cruiser stern which is why I remember them.

Edited July 28, 2016 by MJG

[Ange]

I wouldn't call the suggestion stupid but probably more impractical.

Not only would a call from sombody purporting to be from your boat builder completely out of the blue asking about your whereabouts likely worry some people you may end up ringing people who have given up boating for a number of reasons. Boats will have been sold on.

I don't think the design is particularly unique to a particular boat as I said very early on a couple of the features are pretty much trademark Stenson. The boat they had at Crick a few years ago had the very same rails and metal 'back' on the cruiser stern which is why I remember them.

OK so on the first point an email rather than a telephone call with a link to this thread sorts that.

 

Job done and situation may be helped - if not it's definitely not harmed. What's wrong with that?

 

PS get your point about builds - some are deffo more distinctive than others and I admitted earlier I'm a duffer at recognising them but maybe, just maybe there is something particularly distinctive in their particular build? In our case it's looking for the DM on the dollies, or JJC on early ones.

 

It can't hurt but may help if they have similar peculiarities - just trying to seek different tools to help these people find their boat.

Edited July 28, 2016 by Ange

[Yank on the Cut]

OK so on the first point an email rather than a telephone call with a link to this thread sorts that.

 

Job done and situation may be helped - if not it's definitely not harmed. What's wrong with that?

 

PS get your point about builds - some are deffo more distinctive than others and I admitted earlier I'm a duffer at recognising them but maybe, just maybe there is something particularly distinctive in their particular build? In our case it's looking for the DM on the dollies, or JJC on early ones.

 

It can't hurt but may help if they have similar peculiarities - just trying to seek different tools to help these people find their boat.

Great idea Tagulablue, I think. I have put in a call to Marion and Eddie of Stenson to ask if they can contact owners of that distinctive style to ask their whereabouts. It may work.

Edited July 28, 2016 by Yank on the Cut

[Painterlady]

Um, has anyone checked the Leicester section including the soar?

There are some odd boats around at this time of year and it is possible that the boat may have gone thro braunston and foxton unnoticed .

Once in 20 mile there are lots of remote locations including welford arm and harborough?

[Yank on the Cut]

Um, has anyone checked the Leicester section including the soar?

There are some odd boats around at this time of year and it is possible that the boat may have gone thro braunston and foxton unnoticed .

Once in 20 mile there are lots of remote locations including welford arm and harborough?

Hopefully, someone will come on soon about Leicester. To answer your earlier points: we do not have recent male ex-employees (Mercia or nothing!). There is a strange car in the public area which I will follow up this morning and the problem with gates cctv is the same as at the canal entrance which is we need a date to check or we will be watching almost in real time for weeks.

Edited July 28, 2016 by Yank on the Cut

[Painterlady]

The car idea may be a thread to go on duck!

Why do marinas not try the hotel/b and b idea and get guests and resident moored to register all vehicles number plates at time of booking/ mooring so that odd ones out can be identified

[Guest]

The car idea may be a thread to go on duck!

Why do marinas not try the hotel/b and b idea and get guests and resident moored to register all vehicles number plates at time of booking/ mooring so that odd ones out can be identified

 

When we moored at Mercia they were just bringing in such a scheme, ISTR you were issued with a windscreen sticker with your boat name - I don't know how far it progressed or if it is still in force as it was four years ago.

Edited July 28, 2016 by MJG

[Yank on the Cut]

 

When we moored at Mercia they were just bringing in such a scheme, I don't know how far it progressed or if it is still in force as it was four years ago.

Yes we have it and we obtain regs when people take up a berth but we rely on people telling us when they change vehicles. We also have windscreen stickers. But the public area car parks are a different matter. The one I mentioned is in the public area. Anyway, it has only been there a few days so not a lead.

Edited July 28, 2016 by Yank on the Cut

[NickAndAnne]

Not seen it from gt hey wood to penkridge. Am 90%+ I saw it yesterday in the rugely area. I'm a professor of chemistry, so very observant. The boat I saw was in those colours with embossed stern. Of course MCC may well have made several with similar features, but this is the first one in 5 yrs of boating I've noticed, and I'm a proper geek... Will continue to keep my eyes out.

Just bumping this comment, in case the sightings around Atherstone don't come to anything.

 

Will take a look around the Rugeley area on my way to work, but is anyone passing by boat who might be able to get to the places between the road bridges?

 

Really hope this is found soon.

 

Nick