British crew member wanted for stealing €75,000 from luxury yacht in Lanzarote
A former crew member is under investigation for allegedly stealing equipment worth €75,000 from a luxury yacht moored at Marina Arrecife. The suspect is a 49-year-old British man who fled the island the day after the break-in, and police are now awaiting a court order to issue an international search warrant.
The theft took place in the early hours of 8th January, when a hooded intruder entered pontoon H of the marina and climbed aboard the yacht. According to investigators, the thief appeared to know the vessel well, gaining entry and removing high-value items with precision. Among the stolen goods were customised fishing rods and high-end surf-style foil boards.
To avoid detection, the suspect reportedly left the area in a car with its number plates concealed by an external cover. After analysing CCTV footage from the marina and traffic-control cameras across Arrecife, officers found a recording showing the driver removing the cover from the plate as he headed towards Costa Teguise.
This led police to identify the vehicle as a French-registered hire car that had arrived via ferry from Cádiz the day before the robbery. Detectives also established that the suspect did not stay in any hotel and left Lanzarote less than 24 hours after the incident.
Once identified, officers confirmed he had previously worked as crew on the same yacht, which explains his apparent knowledge of the vessel’s layout and the valuable items on board.
The National Police have now submitted their findings to the judicial authorities and are awaiting authorisation to launch an international search, as the suspect is believed to be in the UK. Meanwhile, the yacht’s owner, a US resident, is reported to have offered a financial reward on social media for information that could help resolve the case.
The investigation remains open.
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