Dieboote are back! Canoe sports club Bad Kreuznach cheers!

Dieboote are back! Canoe sports club Bad Kreuznach cheers!

The dramatic developments related to the Canoe Sports Association Bad Kreuznach (KSV) continued to hit waves in the region. Last weekend the canoes stolen in January were rediscovered. An attentive passerby discovered the three boats in the forest and informed the police, who then secured traces and returned the canoes to the club. The theft, which took place from Wednesday to Thursday, heavily burdened the club and especially slalom canoeist Paulina Pirro. The value of the stolen boats was estimated at almost 11,000 euros, which illustrates the dimension of the incident. Antenne KH reports of the positive developments regarding the return of the canoes.

The theft occurred in a closed camp of the KSV in Bad Kreuznach, where Pirros Kajak-Einer and two other high-quality competition boats were stolen. Walter Senft, sports manager of the KSV, commented on the situation and described the incident as "incredibly tragic". The athlete personally was "completely finished" after the theft and was worried about the course of the upcoming competition season. According to the Senft, the delivery time for a new boat is between three and four months, which makes it difficult to participate in essential competitions. An important course on the island of La Réunion is on February 9, and the qualification runs for the World Cup are planned for the end of April. A quick replacement was therefore essential. RPR1 has also taken care of Pirros and reported the urgency of the boat recovery.

The context of theft

The topic of boot theft is not new. Statistics show that in 2022 140 sports boats and 593 outboard engines were stolen, which resulted in total damage of around 5.1 million euros. The most common victims include sports boat clubs and individuals whose boats are often parked in unsecured areas. In the past, the police have pointed out that the perpetrators specifically observe the locations before the thefts. Despite a decline in theft in recent years, the demand for stolen boats and engines in Eastern Europe remains high. Boote Magazin provides further insights into the current location.

Due to these circumstances, in the region and beyond, privately owned is asked for increased vigilance in ports and in water vehicles. In cooperation with European police services, it is always possible to identify and trace stolen boats. Nevertheless, the fear remains that such incidents could repeat themselves in the future, a constant companion for athletes and boat owners.