Portpatrick RNLI team 'dismayed' after fuel tank stolen from boat
The lifeboat crew is appealing for anyone with information on the theft to come forward
Last updated 27th Sep 2024
Portpatrick’s RNLI team is appealing for help from the public, after the fuel tank was stolen from one of its boats.
In a post on Facebook the crew at the life-saving charity, which has responded to six incidents so far this year, said it was “dismayed” to discover the tank had been taken from the boarding boat earlier this week, and warned the theft could have led to a “life or death” incident.
The post says: “Everyone will recognise our Shannon Class Lifeboat in the harbour but another important part of our rescue service is our boarding boat - Basil Eric Brooks.
“This boat is used to ferry our crew to the lifeboat when it is on the storm mooring in the inner harbour. It is also used for crew training. We use it to practice towing smaller boats to safety or to practice going alongside to rescue people in peril. Skills that were very much needed during the two incidents at the Mull of Galloway earlier this year where we rescued 6 people and a dog.
“So imagine our dismay earlier this week during crew training when our volunteers discovered that someone had STOLEN the fuel tank from the boarding boat. On this occasion no lives were at risk - but imagine if this had been a life or death incident.”
Anyone with any information about what happened is urged to contact local police.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We were made aware of the theft of a fuel tank from harbour premises at Main Street, Portpatrick between Sunday, 22 September, 2024 and Tuesday, 24 September.
“Enquiries are ongoing.”