Authorities arrested three seniors Monday (Mar. 4) for stealing an 82-foot yacht and when it washed ashore a Northern California beach. Two men and one woman were found on the luxury yacht.
The yacht was stolen from its anchorage in Sausalito, near the Golden Gate Bridge, before dawn. Suspects Leslie Gardner, 63; Dario Mira, 54; and Lisa Modawell, 56, were taken into custody by Pacifica police and were held at San Mateo County jail.
As reported by the Associated Press, the San Francisco distress calls were made to police Monday by beachgoers, as the vessel named "Darling" appeared to be in trouble. It was trapped at low tide in shallow water, 20 miles down the Pacific Coast and made television news reports. Jets skis, the Coast Guard and a helicopter surrounded the vessel, but the occupant refused to disembark and refused assistance.
"The individuals did not want assistance from the Coast Guard but were stuck on a vessel that could go nowhere," said Sausalito police Sergeant Bill Fraass.
The yacht's owner, John Fruth, realizing that his boat was being shown on television called the police to report it stolen.
"He was seeing the news media coverage of a vessel that had run aground," said Fraass.
When the police were alerted that the yacht was stolen, they approached it with guns drawn. Three hours later, the three occupants agreed to leave the yacht and were quickly ferried back to shore.
"We do have thefts of vessels throughout the area, but the theft of a vessel of this size is uncommon," said Fraass.
Apparently the three wanted to recapture their days of youth by taking the 'Darling' for a joyride.
