Marina: Swanwick
Like all Premier marinas, Swanwick marina has taken the opportunity to review its security arrangements particularly now that the evenings are drawing in.
Swanwick marina's CCTV and automatic number plate recognition cameras and systems have been through their six month maintenance program; lamps across the marina have been checked and replaced and the marina's security provider, security guards and dockmasters have been briefed on new Hamble River initiatives by local Police to help tackle marine crime. On top of that, fences and gates around the perimeter of the marina site have been checked to ensure maximum safety and security.
If you have not already registered your vehicle on the marina's automatic number plate recognition database please call into the marina reception with a note with your vehicle details including make, model, registration and colour as well as vessel name and the marina will add you to the ANPR system. All vehicles entering or leaving the marina are captured on CCTV - this means that the marina can quickly identify security or operational issues and cross reference any problems with the CCTV footage, as well as being able to alert registered customers to any flood warnings that many affect vehicles in the marina car parks during the winter.
Advice from Marine Crime Prevention
REMOVE IT, LOCK IT AND MARK IT
There is only one way to guarantee that your property will not be stolen from your boat and that is to TAKE IT HOME.
It is not always possible but try to look at your boat as you leave it and consider how it looks to a potential thief. Ensure attractive items you are leaving are out of sight or locked away.
Take a moment to consider how you would get into your boat if you were locked out. This is probably the way the thief will try, so improve your security with effective locks which will last in the marine environment.
Look at the equipment stored on your boat such as outboard motors and dinghies and use appropriate security devices to secure them. Install an alarm - there are many different types of alarm so it may be worth speaking to other boat users to discuss the pros and cons of different systems. Consider if your system notifies you someone is on board your boat will you be in a position to respond to it?
Many items are already marked with some sort of serial number, hull identification numbers on dinghies, engine numbers on outboards, serial numbers on electronics and life rafts; make sure that you record these details somewhere that you can find them again if we need them.
Marine Crime Prevention also strongly recommends additional means of marking. They acknowledge that this will not stop your things being stolen but it increases the chances of them being able to return them to you. The important thing is to use a system which will allow the finder to identify you, such as a house or club postcode or phone number but they must be current so remember to update them. Ensure that the marks are clearly visible and difficult to remove. Support this by marking them out of sight, so that there is still something to check if the obvious marks are removed. Liquid marking systems are another effective means of marking property which could be considered.
Take photographs of your property, as they say a 'picture is worth a thousand words'.
There is also some evidence to support the view that if property is clearly marked it is a less attractive item to sell.
The other benefit to recording serial numbers and marking your items is the improved chances the crime unit has of prosecuting offenders. A number of recent prosecutions have rested on their ability to prove that the property is stolen. There is nothing more frustrating than having to return an outboard to someone because they cannot prove it was the stolen one from your boat.
The culture of buying second hand goods is well established but please do not assume that the property is legitimate. Check out as much as you can about the property and the seller and remember - if the deal seems too good to be true it usually is!
If you would like to learn more about what is happening in and around the Solent, take a look at the links below for more information.
Marine Crime Unit
Project Kraken
Stolen Boats
