Thanks for the condolences and well wishes guys.

I have taken measures to make sure it doesn't happen again. I bought a new storage box. But this one is the steel kind they use on construction sites. It's solid steel and locks up weather tight. You'd need a serious blow torch to get into it. It will be bolted to the deck to store my stuff.

The new battery will be bolted to the deck with a steel strap that would take a good hour to cut thru.

I'm also trying to get the other boat owners to force the HOA to set up security cameras and beef up police patrols.

Wish I could rig up some small explosives to surprise the next thief that comes along.

If a thief get's his leg caught in a bear trap or wire snare on my boat, could I be held liable for that?

If you were in NY I would say definitely but here in NC, you might could get away with that. Maybe not in Charlotte though. I know in the mountains they define justifiable homicide by declaring "He needed killin'" and someone stealing a childs fishing rod from a boat would certainly fall into that category.

I know the new Bass Cats have compartment alarms.

I have no idea if any other boats have alarms.

Great ideas.  Will consider some of them.  

Thanks for the condolences and well wishes guys.

I have taken measures to make sure it doesn't happen again. I bought a new storage box. But this one is the steel kind they use on construction sites. It's solid steel and locks up weather tight. You'd need a serious blow torch to get into it. It will be bolted to the deck to store my stuff.

The new battery will be bolted to the deck with a steel strap that would take a good hour to cut thru.

I'm also trying to get the other boat owners to force the HOA to set up security cameras and beef up police patrols.

Wish I could rig up some small explosives to surprise the next thief that comes along.

If a thief get's his leg caught in a bear trap or wire snare on my boat, could I be held liable for that?

He would sue you and win.

I bought a car alarm off E-Bay for $20 and adapted it to my boat for an additional $20. If anyone opens any hatch, or jars the boat, there goes the alarm. Also, I installed a tilt sensor. Anyone trying to steal the boat will have to crank it down to their hitch. There goes the alarm.

I could have a lot of fun with this on my boat.