Pirates on Missouri Lake - MyOutdoorTV.com

Pirates on Missouri Lake

POLSON, MO- Pirates appear to be at work on Flathead Lake.

They row in under cover of darkness, loot boats that are moored at docks in Polson Bay, then row back out into open water before firing their engines and disappearing into the night without turning on their running lights.

Polson Police Chief Doug Chase wants boaters to be aware of what his department calls “a potential problem developing on Flathead Lake.”

“We have not gotten an official complaint yet,” Chase said Friday, “but we've had reports of items being stolen out of boats.”

Chase said he decided to do a “pre-emptive strike” and issued a written statement encouraging boaters not to leave items of value unsecured in their boats overnight.

“We thought we'd head it off at the pass,” Chase said, “and get the word out that boaters should secure their valuables, especially with the big weekends coming up.”

Officer Bill Barron said he has spoken to two property owners in Polson Bay who have found fishing gear, fish-finders and even boat batteries missing from their vessels.

“It's not a new thing,” Barron said. “It happens every year. They row in, steal things, and don't start their engines until they're back in open water.”

Chase is asking lakeshore property owners and boaters to report any suspicious activity to the Lake County Communications Center at 883-7301, or to 9-1-1 if they feel it is an emergency. Authorities are especially interested in being tipped off to any watercraft operating at night without running lights, Chase said.

Thus far, all the reports have come from people who left their boats tied up at night and found items missing the next day.

“We have not had anyone complain during the daytime,” Chase said.

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