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PUNTA GORDA POLICE DEPARTMENT Interim Captain Dylan Renz, drenz@pgorda.us
Boat and boat equipment thefts are commonplace in Southwest Florida. We in Punta Gorda
are fortunate to have a full-time Marine Patrol Officer, a group of dedicated Marine Patrol
volunteers, and also the active Neighborhood Marine Watch. Even with all these watchdog
efforts in place, boat owners must remain vigilant during these summer months to avoid
falling victim to thieves. The Punta Gorda Police Department recommends the following
practices to make your vessel a hard target for criminals.
First, record all your boat’s information such as serial numbers, ID codes, and HIN.
Take photos, and mark your property with a unique code, such as your house
number.
Install an alarm system designed for the marine environment – criminals don’t like to
make noise or attract attention. Dock lights triggered by motion are an inexpensive
means to deter theft.
Secure your vessel. Lock the boat and ignition system, and keep your key in your residence.
Don’t forget to check your security measures to ensure they are working and also take this time to double check
your insurance policies and confirm you have coverage.
As always, we encourage our residents to be vigilant and report any unusual activities they observe at the time they
occur. Vessels running without lights, carrying multiple large containers on deck or loitering in the areas of residential
docks and public marinas are of interest to the department, especially in the late night and early morning hours.
Contact 941-639-4111 to report suspicious activity immediately.
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