Thieves snatch four outboard motors from West Solent Boat Builders on Shipwrights Walk at Keyhaven

THIEVES snatched four outboard motors from a Keyhaven boatyard during the weekend.

Police have launched an investigation into the thefts, which took place at West Solent Boat Builders on Shipwrights Walk sometime between Saturday and Sunday.

People are being urged to come forward if they witnessed any suspicious activity around the Shipwrights Walk and Keyhaven Road area.

Posting a police appeal on Facebook, beat Sgt Arron Wood stressed such thefts were taken seriously.

“This is clearly a concern for the boating community in the Lymington area and sadly, this is not the first time we have faced these issues in the local area,” he wrote.

“We are proud of our strong relationship with our boating community and I would like to reassure them that we are working closely with the local businesses, local residents, harbour masters and partner agencies to tackle the issue.

“As a result of our ongoing enquiries, we are offering the necessary crime prevention advice and target hardening advice to those in the local area who may be impacted by these crimes.”

Sgt Woods also sought to remind boat owners that they can have their vessels’ serial and engine numbers recorded to help recover any that are stolen.

Items can also be marked in a bid to deter thieves as this can make them more difficult to sell on.”

Anyone with information about the thefts should contact officers online at hampshire.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting crime reference number 44230307721.

Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously online at crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling 0800 555 111.