High-end fishing tackle stolen

A devastated fisherman is offering a $500 reward for information that leads to the recovery of eight stolen fishing rods after they were taken from a boat moored at Quindalup beach.

Perth man Justin Pieroni was visiting Dunsborough last week with his family when an opportunist thief jumped onto his father-in-law’s boat “Caroline” at night and attempted to start the motor with a screw driver, on January 16.

The thief soon gave up on the jump start and ransacked the boat where six fishing rods with custom reels and two children’s rods were stored.

“It’s demoralising; they stole about $2000 worth of items and inflicted about $800 worth of damage,” Mr Pieroni said.

Several boats and jet skis have been stolen from the area.

Two have been recovered and returned by police to their owners.

Busselton police officer-in-charge Sergeant Manus Walsh said these cases usually concerned opportunistic thieves who steal boats for a joy ride and abandoned them when out of fuel. “There is no trend and nothing to indicate the incidents are related,” he said.

People with information are urged to contact police.