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Ketchikan Crime Busters On November 6, 2003, R. T. Wallace of the Pacific Marine Foundation, Inc. received the following message: "Good Morning, I found and reported this vessel to the Seattle Harbor Patrol and Ketchikan Police Department this evening. They are investigating and hopefully will catch the guy still on board. I'll be at work tomorrow, feel free to call. Ketchikan Yacht Club is willing and will be happy to assist you in any way they can, don't hesitate to ask. Have a wonderful day! Kris Jensen S/V Aleutian Tern" The vessel referred to was a Catalina 27, stolen from the northwest dock at Fisherman's Terminal in Seattle, on September 11, 2003. The Vela was seen leaving the dock but no one was suspicious that the boat was actually being stolen. The boat belonged to the Pacific Marine Foundation, and upon the realization that the boat was gone they notified Seattle Police where it became case #03-424540. R.T. Wallace then placed notifications in marine publications asking for help in recovering the stolen boat. Kris Jensen is a member of the Ketchikan Yacht Club and saw the notice for the stolen boat as he was reading his 48° North. The Ketchikan sailors are a close knit group and know all the sailboats in the area, so Kris noticed this unknown Catalina moored close to his own Spirit 28. He reread the notice, determined that this was the stolen boat and contacted the Ketchikan Police who impounded the vessel. This is the second time a Ketchikan Yacht Club member had read about a stolen boat in 48° North, saw it on the dock and reported it to the police. Jim Dahl (see letters) had aided in the recovery of a stolen Santa Cruz 27 in the summer of 2002. There are two lessons to be learned from this: 1) Sailors are a community and helping one helps us all. 2) If you steal a boat, don't try to hide it in Ketchikan. A hearty thanks to Kris Jensen for making the world a better place. |
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