Commercial Fishermen Versus Thieves

Bayou La Batre Fishing Commercial Fishermen are already having a tough season with rising fuel prices. A rash of metal thefts gives them something new to worry about.

by Chad Petri

Published: Tue, July 01, 2008 - 3:06 am CST Last Updated: Thu, July 31, 2008 - 12:45 am CST

For the Bayou La Batre men who bring in loads of shrimp everyday, it's already a tough season. Not only are they paying more for fuel, they also have to watch out for thieves. Some people are stealing valuable metal from their boats.

“Anything that's of value stainless steel aluminum, copper brass, it's being stolen both off the beach and off the boats,” says Rodney Lyons.

He runs Lyons seafood and sees several boat captains daily. He says it's so bad; someone even snatched a pair of 400 pound boat propellers from his yard.

“It just puts you that much further behind, you know, it's just hard to catch up that's money we've made years ago we've had to spend you know,” says Commercial Fisherman Ray Foster.

In the weeks leading up to shrimp season, boats are docked for days. Full of metal, they're a tempting target for thieves that are looking for metal.

“You'd have to hire somebody to stay on it I guess, can't afford that kind of stuff,” says Foster.

Ray foster's boat was hit a few months ago. He says they made off with 24-hundred dollars worth of towing cable, stay wire and other gear.

“People's out of jobs and oyster reef's shut down no way to make money and it's just going to get worse,” says Foster.

Bayou La Batre Police say they have more reported metal thefts now compared to last year. There were 7 in 2006, 13 in 2007 and 16 so far this year. Police Chief John Joyner says he'd like more regulation of scrap metal dealers.

“I think having accountability for the thefts, giving some stiffer jail time for this type of theft would help also,” says Joyner.

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carl Says:

Tue, Jul 01, 2008 at 9:42 am

YEA But them gators are a dickens to feed. They will bite the hand that feeds them and with a gator anything he gits in his mouth you don’t git back. Ask ole captain hook about that. Sort of reminds you of that of other piece where the girl tried to naw her mama’s hand off don’t it ?

rosepetal Says:

Tue, Jul 01, 2008 at 8:56 am

carl, but you got the gator down there, now they could shoot that good ole junk yard dog. but the thieves would not be hard to find with a gator, they would still by yelling by the time the police got there. i think i would get a croc though more aggressive.

Tide Fan Says:

Tue, Jul 01, 2008 at 8:42 am

Yep….Im old school on this kind if stuff. The justice system just cant hand down the proper punishment for a thief… Get a rope I say…Let the victims hand down the punishment as THEY see fit.

carl Says:

Tue, Jul 01, 2008 at 8:40 am

Them alligators are kind of hard to handle and control and they don’t seem to know friend from foe. I’ve had about a 3 footer really give me a working over when I was trying to move it to a safe place down in the creek but I finally got him there. I think I would try a good junk yard dog or two first or maybe LEROY BROWN.

rosepetal Says:

Tue, Jul 01, 2008 at 8:24 am

no really i would get me some alagators and put them out. when caught these thieves will be the burden of the taxpayer, or be put back out on bond to do it again the next day. they could harm a dog. couple of good gators in there no problem.

the inquiring mind Says:

Tue, Jul 01, 2008 at 7:31 am

Adopt a dog from your local pound. Its cheaper than hiring someone.