Police: Search for missing boater in Fairhaven shifts on land, suspect believed to have stolen boat

FAIRHAVEN, Mass. (WLNE) — The search for a missing boater in the water Monday morning quickly turned into the search for a suspect on land, who’s believed to have stolen the boat from a nonprofit in New Bedford.

Fairhaven police said that just before 7 a.m., reports of a boat washed ashore on West Island Town Beach came in.

Soon after those reports, officials in New Bedford were alerted of a boat that was stolen from Community Boat at about 8 p.m. Sunday. Community Boat is a nonprofit organization that teaches children to sail.

Lt. Kevin Kobza with Fairhaven police said it isn’t known if the boat was abandoned when it washed ashore. It wasn’t immediately known when the boat could have crashed.

At least six search and rescue boats were seen in the water early Monday afternoon to search for the boater.

Police said the search shifted to on land when multiple callers alerted police that they believed they saw the man in Fairhaven.

No further information about the man was made available other than than a picture.

Anyone with information about the missing boater should contact Fairhaven Police Department at 508-997-7421.