Surprisingly, St. John's has the country's largest rate of marine theft, 20 times the rate of Edmonton, Prince George, or Moose Jaw. Boats are being stolen at a rate of thirty-odd per day, a number which is causing great inconvenience to Atlantic commuters from Gander to Glace Bay.

Public marine parking areas where Newfoundland workers leave their boats while they take mass transit to work (ferries, hovercraft, water taxis), are the most vulnerable spots, and the most attractive locations for boat thieves.

Boat immobilization devices (sometimes known as anchors) are marginally effective as a theft deterrent, but the cunning boat thief will just hop into the next unprotected boat at the wharf, dock, or the Moor-And-Ride.

While most of the boats are recovered, left on beaches or abandoned at other ports, many are being stripped down, and sent to Korea where they are being used as parts for new crafts. There are organized boat-stealing gangs that run dry-dock chop shops in seedy marinas and run-down wharves. They target marine vessels for which they may already have a buyer in mind, or one that can easily be modified or have its identification numbers altered for resale.

Because of these gale-force winds of crime, insurance premiums are increasing significantly, taking a larger bite out of the fishers' seafood catches. The resulting costs are being passed on to consumers, who will have to pay more for sushi, fish sticks, and herring stew.

The government is looking for solutions that will protect boat owners, and see an end to boat thefts. Newfoundland law enforcement officials are already trying new methods, including a bait boat, a craft which will be filled with chum.

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