Crime reports: Thieves steal $100,000 in motors, parts from boat dealership

The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office is investigating recent thefts of more than $100,000 worth of motors and instrument panels from several boats at a Bluffton dealership, according to a news release Wednesday.

The owner of Matthews Marine on 52 Cecil Reynolds Road discovered Sunday that the lock on the exterior swing gate to his business was broken and six new, gray Yamaha 350, four-stroke outboard motors and three instrument panels had been stolen.

The thefts of the motors, each valued at about $18,500, and the instrument panels, valued at $2,000 each, occurred sometime between 2 p.m. Saturday and 12:30 p.m. Sunday, the release said. Each of the motors weighs about 800 pounds.

Investigators believe at least one large work truck -- and possibly others -- were used to carry the motors away, the release said. It is also believed a truck used in the theft was stolen from a cabinet-making business because scraped-off blue plastic lettering was found at the scene and gray metal storage cabinets full of cabinet-making parts and tools were found dumped beside the business.

Anyone with information about the motor thefts or the work truck should call Investigator PFC W. Conant at 843-842-4111, extension 260, or the Beaufort County Dispatch Center at 843-524-2777.

The following reports were released Wednesday by the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office:

BEAUFORT

BURGLARY

• Fourth Street: Tools worth $800 stolen and recovered.

• Thomasina Lane: Electronics worth $1,440 stolen.

FORGERY

• Trask Parkway: Check worth $256 forged at convenience store.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND

VANDALISM

• Ashton Cove, Ashton Cove Drive: A white 1994 Nissan Maxima was spray painted, and a pipe was stuck in the exhaust system. Damage: $1,000.

ST. HELENA ISLAND

BURGLARY

• Lands End Road: Furniture worth $10,515, appliances worth $1,060, firearm worth $375, electronics worth $1,020 and other goods worth $3,960 stolen from residence.