37-Foot Boat Stolen from North Naples
DATE: Between Wednesday, Jan. 30, and Friday, Feb. 1
LOCATION: 391 Pine Ave., North Naples
VICTIM: Louis Soriero
SUMMARY: Deputies Friday morning discovered the theft of a high-performance, 37-foot boat that was stolen from a North Naples boat lift.
The vessel, a 2007 Fountain pleasure boat valued at $285,000 owned by Louis Soriero, was stolen from a boat lift at 391 Pine Ave. sometime between Wednesday and Friday.
Thieves have been targeting so-called “go-fast” boats around the state and in Southwest Florida over the past year, although this was the first one stolen from the Collier County Sheriff’s Office’s jurisdiction. The large, high-performance pleasure boats are then being used for human smuggling, and investigators say there is evidence that is why Soriero’s boat was stolen.
It was a CCSO marine unit deputy on a patrol meant to stop this type of boat theft who noticed the boat was missing, Lt. David Johnson said. Deputies then contacted Soriero, who confirmed that it had been stolen.
Johnson, who heads the CCSO marine unit, said the owners of similar boats should take steps to protect their vessels from theft.
“We need everyone’s help to do the things we tell them to do to keep their boat safe,” he said.
Here are some tips:
Owners should keep the cabin locked and the curtains closed.
Never leave the key in the ignition or a spare key on board.
Install a coded ignition switch or a kill switch.
For boats kept on davits, the main power should be turned off and the control panel locked.
To see a CCSO video on boat security, go to www.youtube.com\colliercountysheriff
