MGN Online ENGLEWOOD, Fla.- The theft of boat motors from storage and maintenance facilities has increased within the last several months, the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office said Monday. Thieves have mainly targeted Yamaha 4-stroke engines ranging from 115- 300 horsepower, officials said. To help deter criminal activity, the sheriff’s office is asking business owners to: Install security cameras and lights. If vessels with outboard engines are stored inside a fenced property, place the boats in a manner where they can be easily checked on during nighttime patrols. If your business has any type of rolling gate system, chain lock both sides of the gate to ensure that it can’t easily be pried off its tracks and opened from the unchained side. Authorities say several businesses had holes cut into their chain link fences which allowed the suspects to get into the lots If you have any information on the motor thefts or would like to report suspicious activity, call the sheriff’s office at 941-475-9005.