POLICE are hunting a man who stole a boat sparking a major Solent search and rescue which cost tens of thousands of pounds, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Search and rescue teams along the Hampshire coast rushed into action following the discovery of a 12ft open fishing boat that was found drifting off Chilling near Hill Head.

The boat, called Jimmy, was dragged ashore by members of the public who found food and fishing equipment onboard - but the boat was unmanned. Two lifeboats from Calshot RNLI station were first to start the search and they were soon joined by Cowes and Hamble lifeboats and a Coastguard helicopter.

Two teams of volunteer Coastguard Rescue Officers from Hillhead and Southampton were also involved in the search last week as were Gosport and Fareham Inshore Search and Rescue Service.

Rescue teams scoured a huge area of the central Solent and shoreline from Hook Shore to Lee Shore following the call at around 3pm on August 26.

The search was finally called off after contact was made with the boat’s owner – however police later linked the boat’s disappearance with a burglary from a beach hut at Meon Shore.

A spokeswoman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: “We would never put a value on a human life and would always send all the resources that were needed to a rescue.

However it turns out the boat was stolen and dumped but the cost of this operation would have been tens of thousands of pounds.

It costs around £5,000 an hour to run just one of our helicopters plus all the time and resources given up by the lifeboat crews and rescue teams involved.

This person’s actions have not only wasted a huge amount of money but also diverted our time and resources from real emergencies that could have taken place.

A spokesman for Hampshire police said forensic testing was being carried out on the boat and its contents.

The suspect is described as male, in his 50s, with a slim build and wearing a dark jumper and trousers. He was said to be carrying a bag.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Graham Snelgar at Park Gate police station on 0845 045 45 45 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Source: Daily Echo