A portion of the local fishing fleet and recreational vessels sit ready for the winter at Heritage Harbor on November 18. Early last weekend three boats were reported trespassed upon and burgalarized by unknown parties, making off with diving gear, a firearm, and other items. The local police are currently investigating the incident.
Several Wrangell boat owners learned they had been burgled early Saturday morning.
Wrangell Police Department received a call concerning Heritage Harbor, where it appeared three boats moored there had been entered, one forcibly. Owners were contacted, and they confirmed a number of items were missing, including dive gear and a firearm.
"Sure enough, someone had liberated my possessions," commented Steve Prysunka, owner of the boat Mollyann. "They stole such an interesting variety of things."
In addition to his dive gear, he found the intruder had made off with his binoculars, a tool kit, a bottle of rum, food and assorted boat items.
"It got personal when I saw they took my dishes," Prysunka added. Interestingly, he noted some other expensive items like his onboard dive computer were left behind.
As of Monday, officers were making inquiries in an effort to locate the pilfered items.
"If anybody sees or hears anything, let us know," said Lieutenant Merlin Ehlers, coordinating the investigation.
People can report any leads they may have at the station, or can call 874-3304. Police are also looking for a Harley Davidson motorcycle, which was reported missing from a garage on Peninsula Avenue.
"We're not sure if that's related," Ehlers commented.
Heritage is one of three full-service harbor basins managed by the Harbor Department, and serves both commercial and recreational craft. Harbor staff pay periodic visits to the facilities for maintenance, safety and security purposes, and while noting thefts on this scale are unusual, harbormaster Greg Meissner acknowledged personal items do find themselves missing from boats and docksides.
The Port Commission took a look at security issues in October 2015, after a number of thefts were reported at the boatyard, including a 30-gallon compressed air fire extinguisher owned by the department. The installation of cameras at the yard was discussed, but for budgetary reasons not pursued.
At the time, Meissner had explained there would also be logistical difficulties to overcome as well with having closed-circuit cameras at the Shoemaker Bay and Heritage harbors. But with the recent intrusions, he noted the idea could find itself on the commission's agenda in the near future.
"Cameras might come up again in conversation," Meissner commented.
Though not entirely a sure-fire dissuasion for a committed intruder, one way to prevent most casual thefts is to make sure equipment is properly secured and entryways to boats locked up.
"We've lived here over 20 years and it's really the first time we've had anything stolen," said Prysunka.
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