Royal Harbor Boat Thefts ended

Stolen Boats from Royal Harbor and Aqualane in Naples

This summer there were at least 2 boats I am aware of that were stolen off the canals in Naples. (One in Royal Harbor and one in Aqualane.) Both these boats were alike. They were 36 foot Yellowfins and each had on 3 large outboard motors. There were also several failed attempts to steal boats. All this happened in the matter of a few weeks. At the same time the Sheriff’s department and Highway Patrol had confiscated several boats that were being transported on the highway. These were all found by alert police. These boats had some unusual thing about them. One had a boat being pulled by a car too small, one had been overloaded and was found to have lots of gas and supplies on board. Others found special add on gas tanks had been added etc etc. Several of these boats were being pulled by cars that were also stolen. Their drivers in many cases were found to have no identification and to be here illegally.
There was a lot of speculation as to what was going on. Most I talked to thought these boats were to be used in smuggling people from Cuba to the US on this side of the Florida Peninsula. . In fact we had several cases of this from Sanibel on down to Marco. The arrivals told authorities that their plan was to go out around the Dry Tortugas on the trip up from Cuba and then up the Gulf a hundred miles or so and then East to land further up the coast. They had been told this would take them past the Coast Guard patrols. Evidently it worked. Also they were in very fast boats, like the kind stolen. These would outrun the coast guard and the TV even had a scene from a helicopter of a boat outrunning a coast Guard Cutter and making it to land.
Then a few weeks ago I was told that one of the stolen boats from here was found in Cancun. What was it doing there? Last night on the late news the newscaster reported that the new smuggling plan is to go from Cuba to Mexico. (Cancun) then fly to the border and then cross legally to the US at the border. This way the Cuban refugees comply with the “Wet Foot Dry Foot” law allowing them sanctuary in the US.
As much as we all complain about things here in the US think how much worse it is if so many people are willing to risk so much be here. I think Tony Blair said it best ..”the true worth of a country is measured by how many people want to get in…”
Stepped up patrols on the water and on the roads apparently has worked as no tefts have been reported for several months.