Alleged Boat Thief Found Adrift On Lake Of The Ozarks: Patrol Says He Couldn't Get It Started

LAKE OF THE OZARKS, Mo. — An attempted boat theft was dead in the water last weekend, when the alleged thief couldn't start the getaway vehicle, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The incident took place on the evening of July 4 at Dog Days Bar and Grill, near the mouth of the Glaize Arm. Chad Kautz says he was at Dog Days with some friends, when one of them pointed out a Sea Ray that was leaving the docks, noting it looked a lot like his boat.

"It’s a pretty common boat for the Lake," Kautz said. "I didn’t think anything about it."

But when it was time to leave, Kautz says he and his friends came back to the dock to find his boat facing the wrong way in the slip. "I could have sworn I parked facing the other direction, but I was like, 'Whatever,' and got on to leave," he said.

But as they got on the boat, two men approached the group.

"They asked if this was my boat, and I said 'Yeah, that’s my boat, why?' And they said, 'Did you know it was stolen a little bit ago?'"

Kautz says the witnesses told him two men had tried to steal the boat but couldn’t get it started and it began drifting down the cove.

One of the men called the MSHP Water Patrol, who came to interview Kautz.

"I was in shock more than anything," Kautz said. "The water patrol was very courteous and nice and thanked me for cooperating."

According to Highway Patrol records, the alleged thief was Mario Sanchez of Appleton, Wi. Sanchez has been charged with BWI, resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance (less than 10 grams of marijuana) and 2nd degree tampering. Sanchez was arrested and taken to the Camden County Jail. He is being held on $20,000 bond.

Authorities say after Sanchez allegedly attempted to steal the boat, a bystander jumped into the water, swam to the boat to stop Sanchez, and secured the vessel back to the dock. The probable cause document noted Sanchez was allegedly visibly drunk at the time of the incident.

Kautz says he is consulting with his lawyer and is still making sure there wasn’t any lasting damage to his boat.

"I’m going to go out and look for damages on the boat, it was too dark yesterday to do anything. And there were some personal items missing off the boat that belonged to friends of mine, I’m hoping to get those back," he said.