Buoy theft plagues U.S. Coast Guard

WASHINGTON, June 1 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Coast Guard has become the victim of a series of thefts targeting its buoys, prompting the service to make a public plea for leads that could help solve the case.

Local media Friday quoted Coast Guard spokeswoman Chellsey Phillips as saying that six buoys have been tampered with in the past six months off the coast of Maine, a Northeastern coastal state known for its nautical culture.

The thieves have made off with brass sounding devices on the buoys, effectively muting the gadget, which Phillips says creates a public safety hazard.

"These thefts not only reduce the reliability of our aids-to-navigation system and put lives at risk, but they also create a burden and expense to the taxpayer for the buoy tenders and crews responsible for maintaining the aids," Matthew Odom, another Coast Guard spokesman, said in a statement.

Officials believe that the expensive brass parts may have been sold to nautical novelty shops or scrap metal yards. Local authorities have reportedly reached out to these businesses in the region in an effort to identify the thieves.

According to U.S. law, tampering with aids to navigation is a federal offense punishable by fines of up to 25,000 U.S. dollars or up to one year in prison. Anyone providing information leading to a conviction may be eligible to receive up to half of the fine imposed by the court.

Even with modern technology, sailors rely on traditional means of assistance, such as buoys and lighthouses, to navigate the rugged coast of Maine, especially in heavy fog. Enditem