PINE ISLAND, Fla. -- Deputies are looking for thieves who stole more than $80,000 worth of boat engines from a Pine Island business.
Thieves stole two motors from Island Crab Company in St. James City, Monday. The engines were replacements for three other Yamaha engines that were stolen off the property three weeks ago. The financial blow comes just as Stone Crab Season begins in Southwest Florida. "This is the time everything gets busy," said manager Jacob Johnson.
The Pine Island business is not the only place crooks targeted. In early October, thieves cut through gates at Cape Tool & Tackle in Cape Coral and stole eight motors off boats in a lot behind the business. Saturday night, two more engines were stolen from the property, valued at $9,000 and $12,000.
Johnson suspects the thieves may be sending the boat parts out of the area to make some cash. "They make a lot of money off of people's hard work," he said.
An investigation is ongoing.
