UPDATED: The suspected theft of a speedboat by a missing person prompted a multi-agency emergency response this evening (Sunday) off of the East coast of the Island.
Bembridge RNLI’s All Weather Lifeboat and Inshore lifeboat; Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat; Bembridge Coastguard Rescue and Police were all involved in an operation in the Whitecliff Bay area at around 17:50, following reports that a missing person had stolen a speedboat.
Whilst enjoying a drink at the Driftwood Beach Bar in Sandown Bay, the owner of the speedboat ‘Volcanic Ash’ was dismayed to see a man swim out to his moored boat and then climb on board, start the engine and drive the boat towards Whitecliff bay.
Having alerted the Police and HM Coastguard, the boat was eventually found by the Hampshire Constabulary Marine Police boat ‘Commander’ in the region of the Blackrock area of Bembridge with no one on board and a lifejacket in the sea.
Emergency crews were stood down shortly before 19:00 when the suspect was apprehended ashore by Hampshire Constabulary. Eye witnesses have described the man as wearing nothing more than a soggy pair of shorts and was asking directions as to which way to go to reach the main road.
Commenting afterwards, Coxswain Steve Simmonds of the Bembridge Lifeboat said:
“It was a bit of a strange end to the day, fortunately there are not that many boats stolen on the Island certainly not in broad day light whilst the owner is watching”.
UPDATE @ 13:20 – A 31-year-old man remains in Police custody today following his arrest for the theft of the 19ft Chaparel White & Burgundy speedboat, as pictured.
UPDATE @ 14:40 – The unnamed man has been bailed until Monday 2nd June following an arrest for suspicion of theft of a conveyance other than a motor vehicle or a motorcycle.
Photograph courtesy of the Hampshire Constabulary Marine Policing Unit/Twitter.
