Police: Texas woman stole yacht, took it for joyride

GALVESTON, Texas — Police arrested a Texas woman who they say stole a yacht and took it out for a ride.

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Galveston police were called Monday when a 52-foot Jefferson Monticello yacht, named “Loyalty,” was stolen from its berth, KRTK reported.

“Can you imagine coming around the corner and your home is gone?” Lorraine Grubbs asked The Galveston Daily News.

Grubbs and her husband live aboard the yacht, which had been docked at a friend’s house, Grubbs told the newspaper. Grubbs was driving past when she saw it was missing.

A little more than an hour after it was first reported missing, Galveston County Sheriff’s Deputies said that they had found the vessel at a different pier approximately 2 miles away, KPRC reported.

Officers with the Galveston Police Department told KTRK they found Renee Leann Waguespack aboard the yacht and charged her with unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

Upon taking Waguespack to jail, officers said they discovered she had approximately 4 grams of methamphetamine with her and charged her with possession of a controlled substance, KRIV reported.

Investigators told The Galveston Daily News that a security camera showed Waguespack climbing over a fence and getting onto the yacht without anybody seeing her.

Grubbs told the newspaper that Waguespack left a note behind that “appeared to claim ownership of the yacht.” Grubbs said that she believes Waguespack may have lived on a different boat berthed in the same place and was confused, The Galveston Daily News reported.

The owners of the yacht said the vessel is actually for sale and told The Galveston Daily News that the asking price is $170,000, but that interested parties should “pay for it before you take it.”

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