Outboard motor gang stealing Yamahas for export.
OUTBOARD MOTOR THEFT RING IN PLAY, IN THE COUNTRY OF
BELIZE
Two hundred horsepower Yamaha motors bring a lot of
money in neighboring countries. Recent thefts lead one
to conclude that like the Bahamas, we have a ring of
Outboard Motor thieves stealing big horsepower Yamaha
Outboard motors in Belize for sale in the neighboring
republics. The gang of outboard motor thieves and
other electronic apparatus taken from boat stripping
are believed to be Belizeans, but have a second hand
buyer system in a nearby country.
There are several ways to do this. Quickly made keys,
and or replacement of the locking mechanicism with
your own lock and key. Simply unscrew four bolts,
unclip the wires and replace with your own and start
the boat. Carry boat to remote spot, hide it from
sight and strip at leisure. Then run the motors and
other electronics and fishing rods to your buyer at
leisure in neighboring countries. One such theft can
net $10,000 or more.
Belize has a well oiled gang at work and usually they
are also intransit drug dealers as well in cases like
this. Murder is not unknown. The pattern is well
established in the Bahamas, where they prey on
tourists, who are boat insured, or visitors not in
country.
Copied with permission from Belize News Roundup.
http://belizenewsroundup.blogspot.com