Boat theft caught on BRNKL camera
Apr 23, 2020
54ft Sea Ray – Son Seeker IV
On April 13th at 3:30 am, at the Oak Bay Marina, a 54-foot yacht was stolen by a thief who had paddled into the marina on a canoe. Unfortunately for him, boat security start-up Barnacle Systems had a floating office only 20 metres away. Barnacle had partnered with the Oak Bay Marina to set up a BRNKL WeatherCam, a high-definition camera that streams video to YouTube, to provide a panoramic view of the marina. It captured and recorded the whole ordeal, including when the thief crashed into the dock while piloting the yacht out.
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The vessel broke down very shortly into its journey where the police later boarded the vessel. If this wasn’t frustrating enough, the suspect claimed that he had COVID-19, so he was immediately taken into hospital. He since tested negative for COVID-19 and has been released into police custody and faces several charges.
Oak Bay Police close in on thief and stolen yacht
Barnacle Systems turned over the footage they had to the authorities, who were thankful that their camera was there. The WeatherCam was installed back in 2019 when Barnacle Systems opened their floating office in the Oak Bay Marina. They had heard from many marina clients that they wanted a way to check on the weather conditions at the marina while at home, which made Barnacle Systems realize that a live streaming camera and weather station could provide tremendous value. With a field of view of 190 degrees and a 24/7 live-stream, the WeatherCam was originally intended to be a marketing tool that the marina could offer its clients. However, it’s been much more than that. In addition to this theft, it also captured the beginning of a boat fire earlier this year.
Son Seeker IV returned to Oak Bay Marina
While the camera was able to capture the theft on camera, the best solutions prevent thefts from happening in the first place. A BRNKL boat security and monitoring system along with door sensors and a siren could’ve scared off the thief and prevented him from taking and damaging the vessel in the first place. This is especially helpful in times like these, where there are fewer people than usual out in public and at marinas. Learn more about how BRNKL can help here, and in the meantime, stay safe and vigilant.
