Three stainless steel propellers were stolen off the Bainbridge Island Police Department’s patrol boat sometime during the week before Nov. 26.

Police have no suspects.

The total loss amounts to approximately $2,000, said Interim Public Safety Director Larry Dickerson.

Though the department did have spares for all three propellers, the crime amounts to more than just a financial loss.

“Basically when you disable an emergency vehicle like that it’s Class B felony,” Dickerson said.

The topic of the propeller theft was raised at the police department’s recent town hall meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 4. Harbor Master Tami Allen said they noticed the propellers gone when they tried to leave the dock.

“We started up the boat and didn’t go anywhere,” she said. Allen said that they were fortunate that they weren’t going out on an emergency call.

“We could have been on a rescue, and that is what is really upsetting,” she said.

The police department moors its boat at the Queens City Yacht Club, on the south shores of Eagle Harbor. It has three outboard motors that are raised out of the water when not in use, leaving the propellers exposed.

With the yacht club being a secure dock, Dickerson deduced that someone could likely have come from the water and made off with the propellers.

The propellers are stainless steel, 12 inches in diameter, and have four blades each. They are made by Quicksilver and have the brand name stamped on them. Police said two propellers were right-handed and one was left-handed.

“If something like that shows up somewhere, it’s probably worth a 911 call,” Allen said.

The police department has reached out to Washington’s Crime Stoppers to help track down the propeller snatcher. There is now a $1,000 reward offered for information leading to the arrest of the thief or thieves.

Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.