By Debbie Williams
Walk around Davy Jones’ boat storage yard in Orange Beach, Ala., and it’s not hard to see that something is missing. “We started walking the yard and found one, after the other, after the other.”
Boat motors, lower units and electronics were stolen. “Close to $500,000 in retail cost of
goods,” said Jones.
In all, seven boats were targeted, nine motors taken, along with four lower units and Garmin electronics. “They used bolt cutters and cut the cabling and the rigging and unbolted them from the boats and used a front loader to load them into a box truck,” said Jones.
That box truck was captured on security cameras turning onto the property at 9:30 Sunday night. A hole was cut in the fence to gain access, and the paint shop in the back of the property was used as cover.
“Just a terrible feeling,” said Jones. “We have been here and rented boat spaces to customers for nearly 40 years.”
Seven hours after arriving, the box truck is captured leaving the boatyard at 4:30 a.m. on Monday. “Hopefully it’ll turn up somewhere, and we can trace it back, and somebody will pay for what they’ve done,” said Jones.
Police are also looking for an older model Cadillac Escalade seen driving onto the property late Saturday night. That same SUV and the box truck were seen heading into Florida early Monday morning.
While incidents like this are rare, thefts are one of the hazards of operating RV and boat storage facilities. Thus, storage facility owners are reminded to review insurance policies so that they are thoroughly protected.
“Carrying the right insurance coverage is not just a safeguard; it’s a crucial component of risk management for storage facility operators,” says Terry Campbell, Commercial Insurance Agent and Risk Advisory at Johnson Insurance.
“Ensuring you have comprehensive protection not only shields your business from unexpected events but also provides you with a peace of mind about your investment. Whether it’s Property and Casualty or self-storage specific coverages, having the right, tailored insurance solutions can make all the difference in recovering swiftly from incidents and maintaining trust within your community. Having the right agency to represent you is just as important to look out for your interests and to advocate for you.”
For more information, visit Johnson Insurance here.
Debbie Williams is a reporter with CBS affiliate WKRG Channel 5 in Baldwin County, Alabama.Â
