Ex-Crew Member Wanted in €75,000 Yacht Robbery
A former crew member of a luxury yacht has become the prime suspect in a robbery aboard the same vessel, which was moored in Lanzarote. The National Police are searching for the individual, a 49-year-old British man, who fled to the UK after stealing items valued at €75,000 from the boat.
The Night-Time Raid in Marina de Arrecife
The incident occurred in the early hours of 8 January. As seen in security footage obtained by this newspaper, a hooded man accessed Pontoon H at the Marina de Arrecife sports harbour where the yacht was berthed. According to the investigation, the suspect gained entry to the vessel by climbing one of its locks, allowing him to board without raising immediate alarm.
A Meticulous and Knowledgeable Thief
The thief acted with precision, selectively targeting objects of high economic value. These included customised fishing rods and high-end foil boards. The suspect’s precise knowledge of which items to steal caught the attention of investigators from the very beginning.
The Getaway and Key Break in the Case
After committing the robbery, the suspect left the scene in an unremarkable car. To avoid identification, its number plates had been covered with an external device. A key breakthrough came from analysing security camera and traffic control footage from the area. A recording taken outside the port precinct showed the individual removing the device obscuring the plates before driving out of Arrecife towards Costa Teguise.
This clue led police to identify the vehicle as a French-registered rental car, which had arrived in Lanzarote by ferry from Cádiz the day before the robbery. Further enquiries revealed the suspect did not stay in any hotel accommodation during his time on the island and left Lanzarote the day after the crime.
Suspect Identified as Former Crew Member
Once identified, police confirmed the man was a former crew member of the targeted yacht. This circumstance likely explains his familiarity with the boat’s internal layout and the specific items he stole.
International Manhunt and Ongoing Investigation
The National Police have submitted the results of their investigation to the relevant judicial authority. Authorities are now awaiting the issuance of an international arrest warrant, as the suspect is outside Spanish territory, presumably in the United Kingdom.
In a related development, the owner of the affected company, a US resident, is reported to have used social media to offer a financial reward for information leading to the full resolution of the case. The investigation remains open, with further actions in coordination with international authorities not ruled out.
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