Dana Malcolm
Staff writer
Boat snatchers are taking pleasure craft from the Turks and Caicos to help facilitate illegal migration from Haiti, it’s been going on for some time but concerns have risen enough that the Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force has issued a warning.
“Recently, there has been a concerning rise in the theft of boats from various locations within our community,” they said on March 19.
Residents are being asked to adhere to a range of safety tips including locking their boats and parking in safe locations. It’s in an effort to keep vessels out of the hands of criminals.
“The stolen boats range from small recreational vessels to medium crafts, and the perpetrators appear to be targeting them for either resale value, facilitation of illegal migration, or use in other illicit activities,” Police revealed.
In early 2023 Arlington Musgrove, Minister of Immigration had mentioned the pleasure craft stealing ring as a facet of irregular migration in a press conference on border security.
It’s a concern for residents as a single illegal migration trip facilitated by people smugglers can bring in hundreds of people at a time. And though interceptions are often sucky singles boats are missed with hundreds escaping.
The government is doing what it can to level the playing field for police officers in the Marine Branch, Washington Misick, TCI Premier, said around $5 million was being spent in the current budget cycle on vessels. Additionally, the UK has committed to revamping boats currently in the country like those from the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR).
Police now want residents to Install Portable GPS Trackers which they say is the most effective way to locate a stolen boat.
Other safety tips included turning off the Boat when Unused by removing batteries and shutting down the fuel supply as ‘No one would look or think of stealing from an empty or sparse boat.’
Police also recommend having an alarm system which acts as a deterrent to thieves. They say the alarm system should be robust and weatherproof since your boat is exposed to all the elements of nature.
