by Some people relax with a cup of coffee, while others, as it turns out, steal a luxury vessel and attempt to flee from law enforcement through the waters of Florida. Mondays are rarely easy, but for this Russian national and a group of local police officers, the day turned out to be particularly eventful.
Nikola Vilkoff is accused of stealing a 21-meter yacht worth $2 million and a subsequent low-speed chase. This story resembles a mix of police chase movies, only with a maritime setting.
The incident occurred around 1:00 PM local time when witnesses spotted Vilkoff near the vessel at the Blowing Rocks marina. By 4:00 PM, he had already set off on the stolen yacht, after which the port authority reported it missing.
According to WPBF, law enforcement deployed all available resources after the theft was confirmed. The search involved patrols from the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the Jupiter Island Police Department. However, high-speed chases with such a large vessel are impossible, so although the yacht was quickly found, stopping it proved more difficult.
“They located the vessel but understood the technical complexity of the operation. Compare: a three-deck yacht 21 meters long versus small police boats with a crew of 1-2 people,” explained Sheriff John Budensiek. In the end, law enforcement coordinated their efforts and forced the yacht to run aground.
“A decision was made to beach the stolen vessel. Several boats simultaneously began pushing against the side of the yacht until they pushed it into the mangrove thickets, where it lost momentum,” added Budensiek. After that, tear gas was used and the criminal was detained.
Motives Remain Unclear
The reasons why Vilkoff allegedly stole the yacht are still unknown. Among the versions are plans to reach the Bahamas or involvement in smuggling. However, this story clearly showed: police chase tactics work on water as well, although they require more equipment and a willingness to take risks.
