NICB: 2019 Watercraft Theft Report

Thefts down six percent from 2018

DES PLAINES, Ill., June 3, 2020 — The National Insurance Crime Bureau today released its 2019 watercraft theft report. The report, based on theft data contained in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database, revealed that there was a total of 4,240 thefts in 2019—a decrease of 6% from 2018.

Additional Release Resources:
Infographic | Full Report | Anti-theft Tips

The top five states for thefts in descending order were:

	State	Thefts	Recovery Rate
1	Florida	942	40%
2	California	475	56%
3	Texas	332	38%
4	North Carolina	193	37%
5	South Carolina	147	42%

 

No thefts were reported from Hawaii in 2019.

The top five cities for thefts in descending order were:

	City	Thefts	Recovery Rate
1	Fort Lauderdale, Fla.	43	35%
2	Sacramento, Calif.	39	49%
3	Tampa, Fla.	35	51%
4	San Diego, Calif.	34	65%
5	Miami	33	39%

 

The top five types of watercraft stolen in descending order were:

	Watercraft Type*	Thefts	Recovery Rate
1	Personal Watercraft	1,049	33%
2	Runabout	466	48%
3	Utility	261	44%
4	Cruiser	193	52%
5	Sailboat	45	62%

 

The top five manufacturers for watercraft thefts in descending order were:

	Manufacturer	Thefts	Recovery Rate
1	Yamaha Motor Corp., USA	467	33%
2	Sea-Doo	225	32%
3	Bombardier Corp.**	155	32%
4	Kawasaki Motors Mfg.	100	37%
5	Tracker Marine LP	72	42%

 

Most thefts in 2019 occurred during the months of July (543), June (517) and May (483). December logged the fewest thefts with 205.

With the boating season upon us, boat owners are reminded to practice safe and smart boating. That includes personal safety while on the water, as well as theft prevention.

NICB recommends the following tips to protect your watercraft from theft:

• When you “dock it, lock it” and secure it to the dock with a steel cable
• Remove expensive equipment when not in use
• Chain and lock detachable motors to the boat
• Do not leave title or registration papers in the craft
• Disable the craft by shutting fuel lines or removing batteries
• Use a trailer hitch lock after parking a boat on its trailer
• Install a kill switch in the ignition system 
• Ensure your marine insurance policy includes your equipment, boat and trailer
• Take photos of the boat and mark it with a Hull Identification Number (HIN)

* Described below are the 13 watercraft types as found in the NCIC code manual, one of which is “Jet Ski”—NCIC’s universal name for all personal watercraft without regard to manufacturer. Jet Ski is also the registered trademark for Kawasaki Motor Corporation’s line of personal watercraft. 

Airboat: not defined
Commercial: ferry, oyster boat, motor barge, towboat, tug, clam dredge, coaster, riverboat, smack boat, etc.
Cruiser: a boat with an inboard motor that is at least 25 feet long, but no longer than 50 feet
Houseboat: not defined
Hovercraft: not defined
Hydrofoil: not defined
Hydroplane: not defined
Jet-Ski (PWC): aqua bike
Runabout: launch, motorboat, outrider, speedboat, etc.
Sailboat: cat, catamaran, cutter, bark, ketch, lateen, lugger, pinnace, schooner, sloop, yawl, etc.
Utility: fisherman, sedan, etc.
Yacht: a boat with an inboard motor that is more than 50 feet long and is used mainly for pleasure or recreation
All other: canoe, dinghy, dory, johnboat, kayak, lifeboat, paddleboat, rowboat, skull, skiff, etc.

**In 2003, Bombardier Corp. sold off its recreational products division. The Sea-Doo personal watercraft is now produced by Bombardier Recreational Products, Inc. Thus, the 155 thefts would include pre-2003 models.