BOAT owners have been warned to be on their guard following a marine crime rise in Poole Harbour and on the River Frome at Wareham.

Dorset Police used social media to warn of the increase and called for any suspicious activity to be reported immediately.

Poole Harbour Watch (PHW) – the volunteer organisation that patrols the harbour – has joined the call for vigilance.

PHW chairman David Butler said: “We’re told marine crime is actually at its lowest for a long while but there has been an increase recently.

“This usually happens every year at the beginning of the season.

“It started off with small tenders being stolen, small engines being targeted, and it seems to have gone on from there.”

Mr Butler said at least three yachts have been recently targeted at Poole Harbour’s Wych moorings, near Brownsea Island.

He added: “There have been a couple of more serious thefts as well.

“One of the boats at North Haven Yacht Club, on one of the deeper water moorings in Poole harbour, has had its engine trashed.

“They ripped the top cover off, cut through all the pipes and wiring, so they could get to the engine manifold, which has been stolen.”

The owner has been left with a repair bill likely to top £3,500, Mr Butler told the Daily Echo.

PHW is urging boat owners to think of security by securing equipment, installing alarms, using engine locks and using security marking.

“The thing we are pushing the most at the moment is something called Selecta DNA.

“It’s like Smart Water. By using this, if something is stolen there is at least some remote chance of getting it back.”

Visit pooleharbourwatch.co.uk for more information.