To the person or persons who stole Ron Ferrell's four radio controlled boats, the joke's on them — they didn't steal the items necessary to make the boats start or run.
Ferrell discusses the theft with reporters and police.
That's why Ferrell will kindly accept their return and, if undamaged, will give $2,000 to whoever points him and the police department to those who stole the boats or even the ones who stole them.
Ferrell, who is retired and used to run Ferrell's 10th Street Appliances, has been making models since a child and now spends his retirement further crafting his hobby.
He discovered his building had been broken into the morning of September 9 by forced entry and four boats, two inboards and two outboards, taken.
Captain Andy Jackson said the thieves, who most likely know Ferrell or have been in his shop before, took the wrong items. “They don't know how to fuel them or how they run. They are useless.”
Ferrell said he doesn't mind paying $2,000 to get them back. “It's well worth $2,000 if I can get them back and get the ones who did it arrested and in court.”
The boats are powerful models, one of them which runs up to 60 miles per hour to 70 miles per hour. “I spent hours and hours on them.”
Even if the boats are fenced, Jackson said, they will not run. “It's useless to try to get them up and running.”
The boats are valued at $3,000 and Ferrell has searched East Coast Craigslist and eBay but has not seen them listed. Because of the intricacies of these models, Ferrell knows one thing. “They're not hobby guys that got them.”
Anyone with information is encouraged to call Ferrell at 252-537-2147, Detective Jeff Baggett at 252-326-3941 or Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444.
