Jul 18, 2008 9:32 pm US/Eastern
South Shore Fuel Pirates Put Boaters On Guard
WBZ Reporter Jim Smith
MARSHFIELD (WBZ) ―
One boater on the South Shore is calling the culprits who stole fuel from his boats "pirates."
Thinking he had full tanks of gas in his two boats, Dave McShane was shocked to see the fuel gages set to empty. The fuel had been stolen by modern-day fuel pirates.
"It's a half a million dollar boat and someone would have the nerve to take that much fuel," McShane said.
McShane agreed it could be a sign of a rough economy.
"It has to be. We've never had a problem here before," he said.
The thieves also drained the tanks of two other yachts on dry land. In all, 800 gallons of diesel have been stolen. At $5 a gallon, it totals a theft of $4,000.
"It's the first report we've had for a crime of that type," said Marshfield police Lt. Chris Jones. "I would imagine given the current condition of gas prices and so forth this may be a new trend that we'll have to begin to deal with."
During the thefts, it appears some of the diesel was pumped into another boat and some perhaps into a truck, police said.
The thefts have put local boaters on guard.
"I wouldn't come back and try it again," McShane said.
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