As Longboat Key residents ring in the new year, local law enforcement is urging boat owners to remain vigilant following a brazen, high-value burglary at one of the island’s most established marinas.
Weeks after thieves stripped more than $40,000 in high-end GPS equipment from vessels at Cannons Marina, investigators say the case remains active. The precision and speed of the crime have led detectives to coordinate with outside agencies, investigating potential links to organized theft rings that have plagued Florida’s coastal communities throughout 2025.
Overnight Raid
The incident occurred in the early morning hours of Dec. 2 at Cannons Marina, 6040 Gulf of Mexico Drive. According to police reports, the break-in was discovered when a technician returned to a vessel to finish an installation, only to find the equipment he had placed just 24 hours prior was gone.
In total, thieves boarded five boats and removed eight GPS navigation units. The stolen devices, valued between $3,000 and $6,300 each, bring the total loss to approximately $40,100—a figure that elevates the crime to a first-degree felony under Florida statute.
“I observed the wires connecting to the GPS were cut, except for one vessel which appeared as if the wires were not cut and the connectors were simply unscrewed,” an officer noted in the initial incident report.
A “Sophisticated” Pattern
Longboat Key Police Captain Robert Bourque confirmed that the department is looking beyond the island for answers.
“We are working with some other agencies that have had similar instances or similar crimes happen recently, and so we are following up on some promising leads,” Bourque said. “You’ll have burglaries of the boats themselves as grand theft, and multiple times because you have different victims that own different boats.”
This cooperation points to a troubling trend. Florida has long been the nation’s “capital” for marine theft, leading the U.S. in reported watercraft crimes for consecutive years. Recent state data suggests a rise in “cut-and-grab” crews—often traveling from larger metro hubs like Miami or Tampa—who target specific high-value electronics like Garmin and Raymarine systems. These groups are known to strike upscale harbors quickly, often under the cover of darkness, knowing the equipment can fetch thousands on the black market.
Protecting Your Investment
For local captains, the theft is a harsh reminder of the vulnerability of open slips.
“It’s definitely a scary thing to think about getting on your boat for work and everything is gone,” said local Captain AJ Grande.
While many owners rely on standard marina security, experts suggest that the sophistication of modern thieves requires a layered defense. Police and marine security specialists recommend:
• Motion-Activated Lighting: Thieves prefer total darkness; sudden light is a strong deterrent.
• Wireless Security Systems: Modern cellular cameras can alert owners to motion on their deck instantly.
• Remove or Lock: If electronics cannot be removed (as many are flush-mounted), specialized tamper-proof fasteners can slow thieves down.
Ongoing Investigation
As of this week, no arrests have been publicly announced, and the investigation remains open. Cannons Marina, a fixture of the community for over 70 years which was acquired by Ingman Marine in September, continues to cooperate with authorities.
Police are asking anyone who may have seen suspicious activity on the water or near the 6000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive in early December to come forward.
