Man steals boat from Little Egg Harbor marina, but doesn't get far, cops say

Stacey Barchenger | Asbury Park Press

Show Caption Hide Caption Boat theft ends in arrest of New Jersey man State police say a man who stole a boat from a Little Egg Harbor marina crashed and was arrested late Tuesday, July 3, 2018.

TUCKERTON - Independence Day is one of the busiest boating days of the year, but one Stafford man's attempts to spend this year's holiday on the water instead led to criminal charges.

It started with a report of a boat crash about 11:20 p.m. Tuesday at South Green Street Park. Tuckerton Fire Department crews responded.

"It turned out to be a boat stolen in Little Egg Harbor had crashed into the new bulkhead at the park at a high rate of speed," the fire department wrote on its Facebook page. The boat and the bulkhead both sustained heavy damage, the post says.

The boat was empty when emergency crews arrived. A search ensued.

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"West Tuckerton and Mystic Island Fire Company Marine Units were called to assist in the search for the thief using thermal imaging cameras," the Facebook post said. Ultimately, the boater was "spotted under the deck of abandoned house along South Green Street by West Tuckerton firefighters."

New Jersey State Police responded to investigate, as did officers from Little Egg Harbor and Tuckerton.

State Police Sgt. Jeffrey Flynn said the boat was stolen from Total Marine in Little Egg Harbor. The boater, Kevin Bacorn, 32, of the Manahawkin section of Stafford, was arrested and charged with theft, criminal trespassing and boating while intoxicated, Flynn said.

Stacey Barchenger: @sbarchenger; sbarchenger@gannettnj.com; 732-643-4245