Woman recovers stolen boat after seeing it in the harbor

A woman reclaimed a stolen boat Monday afternoon when she noticed it motoring around Newport Harbor, according to police.

Police did not identify the woman but said she called authorities when she spotted the small inflatable boat worth about $7,500.

The craft was being driven by a group of people who said they recently purchased the boat on Craigslist, according to Newport Beach police.

Months earlier, the watercraft and its trailer had disappeared from the 2000 block of West Coast Highway, police said.

Police are now investigating who took the boat and whether it was indeed sold online, said Newport Beach police spokeswoman Jennifer Manzella.

Someone had obviously tried to alter the vessel’s identification number, she said.

Police released the boat to its original owner. She also got back the $500 trailer.

— Jeremiah Dobruck

Twitter: @jeremiahdobruck