Sunrise Boat Theft: U-Haul Used in Brazen Heist, Demands for Ransom Follow
Sunrise, FL – July 23, 2024 – In a shocking turn of events, a U-Haul truck was used to steal a boat from a Sunrise business early Sunday morning. The incident has left the victim grappling with both the loss and subsequent demands for ransom.
“We live in a place where people are not all nice and pretty, you know?” said the victim, whose name is being withheld as Sunrise police continue their investigation.
Surveillance cameras captured the bold theft outside the victim’s family business, where a blue and turquoise 21-foot Tidewater 210 LFX boat, emblazoned with Jigkingz.com on the side, was stolen. In a bid to recover his prized possession, the victim turned to social media, only to be met with an unexpected barrage of phone calls and messages from strangers demanding money in exchange for information about the boat’s whereabouts.
“I would answer a phone call and it would be like, ‘Hey I see your boat,’” the victim recounted. “Then I would tell them, ‘OK, where?’ and they don’t give me a location, they request money and stuff like that.”
One message even included video proof that the boat was still intact. The victim revealed that multiple phone numbers and social media profiles, including those on Instagram and WhatsApp, were used to send the ransom demands. Some claimed to have randomly found the boat but insisted on payment for its location. When the victim offered $500, one of the messengers dismissed it as insufficient.
The use of U-Haul trucks in crimes is not an uncommon tactic in South Florida. Local 10 News has reported on numerous incidents where stolen U-Hauls were employed to commit various offenses.
In this case, the perpetrator broke a lock on a trailer to access the boat. While the victim has insurance, he emphasized the boat’s sentimental value and its importance to his fishing lure business.
“I’m hoping for some act of kindness and for police to find the people responsible,” the victim said.
Sunrise police are actively investigating the theft and urge anyone with information to come forward. Individuals can contact Sunrise police directly or call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.
