RON Grover, a Soldiers Point resident, loves taking his two grandchildren out on the water in his tinnie.

However in recent months, Mr Grover has had two tinnies stolen from the Port Stephens Council boat racks situated next to the Soldiers Point Boat Ramp.

Each tinnie was chained with a thick metal chain and still thieves managed to cut the chain and steal the boats.

“I engraved my name and phone number on the rail at the front of each boat for identification purposes,but still it didn’t stop them,” Ron Grover told Bay News Of The Area.

“I still have not given up on finding them, and as I walk along the foreshore, I keep my eye out for them,” Mr Grover said.

Mr Grover is currently looking for a replacement tinnie so he can again go out and enjoy our blue water wonderland with his grandchildren.

Mr Grover has lived in Soldiers Point for more than 12 years and loves the area.

Inspector Tony Townsend from Port Stephens Police Local Command told Bay News Of The Area, “From time to time we have reports of these things happening.”

“Usually the more remote a location, with an obvious lack of lighting, or with bushland around gives easy accessibility to the would-be thief,” Inspector Townsend said.

“Keeping details of registration, identification etc. usually means that once the stolen item is located it can be restored to it’s rightful owner,” he added.

Secure your boats on private land whenever that is possible, as prevention is always better than cure.

If you know of a tinny that has the name R. Grover stamped on it, please contact Nelson Bay Police Station.

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