Another theft at Sawley
IN ADDITION to the thefts of the outboard engines from Sawley Marina, a boater has now reported an extensive theft from his narrowboat at the marina.
Mike Bass who moors his boat on the new DD berth writes:
"I too recently had a DVD /TV, electric start generator, wind turbine, DaB radio, power tools and gauges and CCTV equipment still to be fitted, taken from my boat on DD berth about three weeks ago. I am now fitting an alarm that sends a text message to my phone if anything untoward is tampered with.
"The Leicestershire Police didn't even attend and were no use (I work with British Transport Police myself) and the marina never said anything about the other thefts. My insurance only covered about half the loss. It has put me off going down to enjoy the boat so much after knowing people have been rummaging through my things."
We contacted the marina about the thefts from Pier E, with Derek Newton replying:
"First, can I say the Sawley Marina Pam portrays is nothing like what we find in reality. Within your articles you regularly challenge the authority to prove the evidence to alleged claims, I challenge Pam to do exactly that. If six outboard engines had been stolen all at once as per her allegations, I rather think these thefts would have been reported and logged with BWML's front desk and the police attending the site."
Take crime seriously
Derek Newton goes on to remark that they take crime seriously, and that the already installed CCTV system '... is being prepared for improvement and updating at this present time', and that all entrances onto pontoons are gated, and main roadway access around the site is gated, adding:
"Recently a few incidents have occurred within the cruiser moorings, but no incidents reported related to narrowboats. Our investigations indicate some poor security measures are evident like: Gates being left open; Engines not securely fixed or locked on the vessel; Alarms not fitted on cruisers which have easy access from the pontoon."
Thefts from cruisers
There is a notice in the front office that plainly states: 'We have had thefts from cruisers over recent weeks ... getting advice from Nottingham Police'.
Perhaps Mike Bass who had such thefts from his narrowboat, should have contacted Nottingham Police, who it seems have attended, even though being on the South of the river Sawley Marina is in Leicestershire, and nearby Sawley is in Derbyshire.