Thieves target Whangarei marina `sitting ducks'

Boat owners are sick of their vessels being treated like sitting ducks by burglars targeting Whangarei Marina.
In recent weeks about five boats have been broken into and thousands of dollars worth of gear taken.
Boat owner Barry Nalder estimated he lost $12,000 of equipment from his boat Ruth.
"They jemmied the hatch. We lost six fishing rods, sounders, GPS. We lost all our tools, the boat was completely ransacked ... It's absolutely bloody infuriating that this is happening," he said.
Mr Nalder said he understood about $30,000 worth of equipment - including rods, reels, stereos, computers and navigational equipment - had been stolen from the five boats.
One boat belonging to a French couple sailing the world had its cockpit cover cut and cockpit doors smashed after the burglars found they could not get equipment through the jemmied hatch.
Boats on Riverside Drive seemed to be targeted.
"It's not good publicity for Whangarei. But at the end of the day people need to know ... The more people that know the better the chance of finding out who's responsible."
He now had an alarm.
Thieves broke into Rowan Calkin and Arthur Muggeridge's boat Hauwai last weekend, taking alcohol, a stereo and food. They too now had an alarm.
San Diego yachtsman Joseph Paravia, who arrived in Whangarei about two weeks ago on board Horizon, said "thievery is a problem around the world".
He was not really worried about security at the marina as Horizon was behind locked gates at night, and a good guard dog lived in the next boat.
"We like Whangarei a lot. We think it's a beautiful place," he said.
Whangarei Marina manager Lew Sabin said that the fact that the marina was surrounded by pedestrian access did not help security.
He said security patrols had recently been increased and security lights were to be installed.