On the morning of the 4th. I was inspecting the ground tackle on one of the boats, as we would be riding the hook for an hour or so that evening with a hundred or so passengers to enjoy St. Pete's fireworks.
I noticed that the closest chain link to the anchor shackle had been cut with a bolt cutter! This boat had a COI inspection in June, so I know it was good then. The anchor is a Fortress FX37, about 400 bucks. I assume something had spooked them, as they were only seconds away from succeeding. I am not sure why they did not cut the line, or attempt to undo a shackle, or something. The shackles are moused pretty good with SS wire, maybe the only tool the sc@#bags carried was a boltcutter.
I have seen an old pickup cruising the lot full of scrap metal, and I am guessing they were focused on the aluminum. I hate to think we have to stow the anchor every night!
Unfortunately, tough times increase these crimes of opportunity.
Any thoughts? Anyone else have this happen?

My first thought was how sad that things have come to this point where people would steal an anchor to sell for scrap. But the followup thought to that was...people steal everything else, why would I be surprised about an anchor.

Rat, short of taking the anchor inside when you're not using the boat, I'm not sure there's an easy way to secure it. No matter how securly you fasten it to your chain, all a thief would have to do is move up the chain a few links and cut it there.

Perhaps a solution would be to remove the anchor from the chain and secure it to the trailer using a steel cable and hardened steel lock. Not one of those cheapie locks, but a good quality padlock.

I use a good lock to secure my dinghy motor to its bracket. It has a longer than normal shank so when I'm not taking the dinghy with us on the boat I can secure the dinghy and motor to one of the dock cleats using a steel cable. It still could be stolen but they'd have to spend a lot of time and energy to do it.

This is a 65' boat that stays (naturally) in the water.

It is a suitable anchor for only such a large boat, that is why I think it is a scrap junkie, not a boater. I think anyone with a boat large enogh to require such a big anchor is above stealing one!

All we can do is keep the honest people honest. If a bad guy wants the [censored] think, he will get it.

OOPS! My bad for being spring loaded to the wrong conclusion.

You're probably right about the junk dealer. Do you go bow-in to your slip? Any chance of backing that big girl into the slip? Might make it more difficult to steal the anchor.

She sits starboard side to, on relatively loose lines,3-4' from the dock, with the boarding ramp removed. It is still pretty easy to board.
Sometimes a police car sits in the lot when I arrive early in the morning. Once when I had just started, I was in street clothes, climbed around the closed gate, and went aboard the big boat, (a 120' paddlewheeler). I was worrid that the cop would approach me and at least ask me what I was up to. No such luck!
I guess apatrol car is a deterrent, just by being there.
In the mean time, we will hope for the best.

i wonder why some sort of waterproof micro GPS solution isn't available,
i have other things i also worry about, like a 50 year old harley, that would really be a drag to see stolen,
and i have seen a handful of stories in the newspapers of valuable large statues turned in to metal-yards soley for their metal recyclable value ,
i imagine a waterproof micro-GPS transponder will be eventually made, the GPS element in cell-phones seems cheap enough, but they could also be used for bad purposes as well i suppose

Glad the scoundrels didn’t get away with it – I hate thieves
If they would have broke it free, I could only hope they would have got tangled up in the chain and went over board with it – straight to the bottom.

Bummer almost! Glad they didn't get it. I was just reading on rv forum about a motorhome having its catalytic converter stolen. Evidently this is getting common for the metal inside them. Lady said she cranked up the motorhome and the noise scarred her death!

Last month they where 150 manhole covers that were stolen in the city. They caught the guy 2 days ago.

"Tim Argiropoulos, 42, has been charged with theft over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime for over $5,000 and mischief for endangering life for the theft of 25 manhole covers."

That last one is going to hurt him. Imagine anyone, car, bike, bicycle, kid falling in that manhole.

Might be worth trying to rig some type of anchor facing infrared motion detector alarm.

This past winter while the boats were on the hard at the marina they nabbed a couple of locals jerks steeling props off of boats. They were selling the props at a local scrapyard.

Scrap metal is through the roof right now, especially AL, SS, and CU.