Authorities in Florida apprehended a Russian national who reportedly attempted to steal a luxurious yacht and made a getaway attempt to the Bahamas.
Nikolai Wilkov, a 29-year-old from Russia, was taken into custody in Hob Sound, Florida, after being spotted on a 68-foot yacht. Police took over an hour to locate him. According to the local sheriff, it’s believed he might have stolen several boats to reach his goal. A report from Maritime Executive indicated that early Monday, around 1:00 AM, Wilkov was captured on surveillance cameras approaching the marina from a nearby restaurant parking lot in Jupiter, Florida. By 2:00 AM, a US-listed towboat was seen leaving without permission, heading north before it ran aground on a sandbar and was abandoned. Initially, the thief’s identity remained unknown.
At about 3:00 AM, officers in Jupiter found Wilkov walking along the highway. However, since there was no direct evidence connecting him to the stolen towboat, they had to let him go. Later, between noon and 1:00 PM, authorities reported that Wilkov had reached another marina approximately three hours north. Bystanders found him on a stunning yacht and helped him along. Around 1:55 PM, the marina dockmaster reported the yacht as stolen to the police.
Law enforcement officials then tracked a yacht into a mangrove area near Hobsound Bridge, which led to Wilkov’s arrest shortly after. There are speculations regarding his intention to flee to the Bahamas. He now faces charges of grand larceny, escape, and resisting arrest.
