Police Advise Simple, Cost-Effective Measures to Deter Thefts
Dear Venetian Bay Members,
We want to bring to your attention a recent uptick in burglaries targeting Garmin electronics from boats docked in Venetian Bay. According to recent reports, thieves have been striking during daylight hours and are typically dressed in dark clothing, making them difficult to distinguish from authorized personnel or visitors.
The local police department has investigated these incidents and is urging all boat owners to take additional precautions to secure their valuable equipment. One highly recommended solution is to use a specific type of locking screw on your Garmin devices and similar electronics. In addition to these screws, police recommend placing double nuts on the back of the equipment’s mounting hardware. This combination significantly increases the time and effort required to remove the devices, making it much less likely that a thief will succeed before being noticed or giving up entirely.
These locking screws and double nuts are readily available at most hardware stores, including Ace Hardware, Lowe’s, and Home Depot. The cost is modest, especially when compared to the potential loss of expensive marine electronics and the inconvenience of replacing them.
We strongly encourage all members with boats docked on Venetian Bay to implement these crime-prevention measures as soon as possible. Not only will this help protect your own equipment, but it will also serve as a deterrent to would-be thieves, safeguarding the entire boating community.