Motor stolen from boat donated to Operation Open Arms
Sometime between Monday night and Tuesday morning last week, a boat motor was reported stolen from Cape Tool and Tackle, at 405 N.E. Pine Island Road, Cape Coral.
The 16-foot aluminum boat, trailer and vintage Chrysler motor had been donated to Operation Open Arms.
“The package was donated to Operation Open Arms by a member of Lexington Veterans Association in Fort Myers,” OOA director John “Giddyup” Bunch said. “The boat, trailer and motor were left at Cape Tool and Tackle on Pine Island Road for sale on consignment.”
OOA had planned to sell the boat to raise funds for the program.
“The value in this donation to Operation Open Arms lies in the complete package of the boat, trailer and the motor,” Bunch said. “I’m sure the thieves had no way of knowing that they stole the motor from a charity that helps our service members. The money we hoped to raise from the sale of this donation was to be used to provide transportation for our service members around the country. This is Christmastime and we help our service men and women come home for Christmas. We don’t stand a chance of a sale to help support our charity without the motor. I am asking that this be returned, no questions asked.”
According to Bunch, Cape Coral police are investigating the theft.
Operation Open Arms, the brainchild of Bunch, is a non-profit organization that has a calling and reputation for providing much deserved benefits to active duty U.S. military service personnel and their families.
OOA celebrated its 11th anniversary on April 19, 2016.