Coastguard rescues alleged boat thief from sinking vessel in Bay of Islands

The vessel, which was taking on water, had to be towed to Ōpua Marina.

By RNZ

An alleged boat thief’s jaunt around the Bay of Islands came unstuck when the 10-metre launch started sinking and he had to be rescued by the Coastguard.

A police spokesperson said a 30-year-old man was arrested after the vessel, which was taking on water, had to be towed to Ōpua Marina.

Kevin Ben McKibbin, of Tauranga, was charged with theft and unlawfully taking a ship, and was remanded in custody after appearing in Kaikohe District Court on Monday.

Senior Constable Mike Gorrie, of Russell police, said Coastguard volunteers managed to tow the vessel to safety despite a significant amount of water on board.

The crew’s suspicions were aroused because the boatie was wearing a wetsuit hood masking his face, and claimed he could not remember his name.

They alerted police, whose inquiries revealed the vessel had been taken from a mooring near Paihia wharf on September 7.

The man was arrested as he was brought ashore about 6.40pm on Saturday.

Gorrie said the vessel had been holed, possibly by hitting rocks, and also had a damaged rudder.

The owner told him the $35,000 launch had just been refurbished, but was likely to be written off given the amount of water inside.

Gorrie said a kayak had been stolen from Paihia on the same day as the launch. It was believed it had been used to reach the vessel.

The alleged offender told him he had stayed onboard the boat overnight and travelled around the bay, visiting Nine Pin Rock and Ōpua Marina, before holing the vessel and calling Coastguard.

Gorrie commended Bay of Islands Coastguard volunteers for their efforts and managing to bring the damaged vessel to shore.

The latest incident was not related to an alleged boat theft ring operating in the Bay of Islands since early this year.

Three men had been arrested in relation to thefts of and from boats in Ōpua, Paihia and Russell.

Further charges

McKibbin also faced unrelated charges of stealing electronic items and a Samsung tablet in Paihia on September 6, and two charges of driving a car contrary to the conditions of an alcohol interlock licence, in Kerikeri on August 31 and Whangārei on August 17.

McKibbin, whose occupation was given as roofer, is due back in court by audio-visual link on September 26 when he is expected to apply for bail.