Dockside thieves steal boat electronics in two Pompano Beach incidents

Two boat owners in Pompano Beach lost key electronic components from their vessels within weeks of each other. The thefts occurred at separate locations along the Intracoastal Waterway, leaving the owners without navigation screens and audio systems.

One victim, identified as Scott, discovered the loss on Friday morning. His 32-foot Tidewater was docked at his home on Southeast 4th Street. He found that two 12-inch Garmin screens were missing. Security footage from the scene shows a masked and gloved person walking along the dock at approximately 3:00 a.m. before boarding the vessel.

"I was devastated," Scott said. "It was a punch in the gut." He noted that the intruder jumped directly onto the boat. Scott described the loss as a complete robbery of the electronic systems.

A second theft occurred a few blocks away on Southeast 2nd Street. A friend of Scott’s had a similar incident on October 17. At 8:30 a.m., a thief removed three Garmin screens, speakers, and an amplifier from that boat. The suspect cut the wiring during the process.

Scott believes the two incidents are connected. "It seems like a ring," he said. "And it’s definitely different people, but they’re doing it." He noted that the thieves operate regardless of the time of day, citing the early morning hour of the second theft.

Both victims are currently seeking to resolve the cases. Scott said he has avoided using his boat since the incident because the experience causes him physical distress. The two docks where the boats were stolen are close in proximity, yet the crimes happened at vastly different times of day.