West Shore RCMP are investigating the theft of a catamaran from the Oak Bay Marina in broad daylight Sunday.
Oak Bay Sgt. Rob Smith said the 11.5-foot, dark blue 360 catamaran had been moored in a berth at the marina.
About 12:30 p.m., a friend of the owner saw it being towed away by a sailboat.
“He called the owner and basically asked ‘Did you know somebody was taking your catamaran away?’ ”
The owner did not.
Oak Bay police arrived at the marina, but were given conflicting directions on which way the sailboat had gone.
“We went looking for it,” said Smith. “It was seen off Clover Point and then again off Ogden Point.”
Oak Bay police asked Victoria police for their assistance and an Oak Bay officer boarded the Victoria police boat in the Inner Harbour.
“The idea was to go out and intercept the sailboat, but the police boat broke down on us,” Smith said. “We managed to get back to the dock, but were unable to intercept the sailboat.”
Police then learned the suspect sailboat was moored in View Royal.
When the catamaran owner learned of the sailboat’s location, he went down to the beach and found his catamaran hidden near the sailboat. He brought the boat back to Oak Bay.
West Shore RCMP are trying to find out who owns the sailboat, Smith said.
