Surveillance Captures Thieves Stealing High-Value Marine GPS from Dania Beach Dock
Dania Beach, FL — Surveillance footage captured two thieves in action as they stole a marine GPS valued at thousands of dollars from a boat docked at the Thunderboat Marine Service Center in Dania Beach on Wednesday night. The brazen theft, which left the boat damaged and the owner frustrated, is the latest in a series of high-value equipment heists targeting South Florida’s boating community.
Victim Wayne Hemming, whose boat was docked at the service center, spoke about the impact of the crime. “This is going to put us back tremendously,” Hemming said, noting that both the equipment’s cost and the repairs will delay his boating plans. “The navigation is about four grand, plus the labor, plus the wire, plus everything else that’s connected to it.”
In the video, the suspects can be seen approaching the boat on a four-wheeler. One thief quickly jumps aboard, disconnects the GPS, and leaves a hole in the boat’s center console after cutting the wires. Moments later, his accomplice returns to pick him up, and they make their getaway.
Hemming revealed that he typically secures his boat with added precautions, including swapping out screws and adding a steel bar to make equipment theft more challenging. However, he had not yet had time to add these protections before the theft occurred.
This incident mirrors similar equipment thefts in the area, including a spate of thefts in 2023 at Complete Marine in Pompano Beach. In that case, authorities arrested a group responsible for multiple boat thefts in which high-value navigation equipment was stolen and resold. Law enforcement believes stolen marine electronics are in high demand on the black market, where they can fetch a considerable sum.
Hemming remains hopeful that the GPS will eventually lead police to the thieves, thanks to tracking capabilities registered to its owner. “The minute someone registers it or puts it online, it’ll ping,” he said. “Hopefully, the authorities will pick them up.”
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the suspects or the theft to contact Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.
