An alarming number of cases have been reported over the last few years, of yachts being stolen to move illegal immigrants across international borders. The problem has been particularly bad in the coastal regions of Greece and Turkey where an established network of immigrant smugglers are targeting tourist yachts.

By choosing larger tourist-owned yachts, the smugglers are able to transport a large number of immigrants while appearing to be holidaymakers. They often fill the boat in Turkey and then sail to either the Greek or Italian coast where the immigrants are off-loaded. The yacht will then be scuppered or dumped to avoid being caught.

To make matters worse, communication between Turkish and Greek Coastguards is minimal (even though there is only 2 miles separating them), which makes tracking stolen yachts even more laborious. Smugglers are aware of this and can use it to their advantage.

If you intend to sail to these regions, here are some helpful tips on securing your yacht:

Invest in a Yacht Alarm
Even a simple alarm fitted to entry hatches and doors can prevent thieves from sailing away in your pride and joy.

Yachts are often moored alongside 100’s of other vessels – so if thieves see that your yacht is alarmed but your neighbour’s isn’t – which one will they pick to steal? The latest yacht alarms allow you to monitor your yacht by CCTV so that you can access the camera via the internet using your laptop – giving you real-time footage.

Hatch and Door Locks
Simply improving locks and padlocks can prove to be a visible deterrent, especially on older boats where entrances consist of a drop-in board and a sliding hatch.

Window Locks
Windows are often held in place by very weak plastic catches that can be easily broken, making entry to the yacht very easy. It is inexpensive to upgrade the window catches and locks and could prove an invaluable addition.

Choose Your Mooring Location Carefully
With larger marinas, it is reasonable to assume there will be more staff and fellow sailors which will mean yachts are under constant surveillance. It is also likely that CCTV will be employed, so try to moor close to a camera if possible.

Try to avoid leaving your vessel in areas where there are few people such as a bank side or enclosed bay.