Long Island Man Charged With Stealing Barge From Backyard Canal

SEAFORD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Long Island man stole a large barge from a canal running through a Seaford subdivision, police said.

As CBS2's Janelle Burrell reported, Frederick Eggers hid from the camera as he was escorted by police on Thursday.

Eggers allegedly stole a wooden barge, valued at $15,000, from behind a home on John Lane, where it was being used as a floating dock.

"It's a big barge to go down the canal," said Tom Mirenda, the victim's neighbor. "Somebody's got to see it. In the middle of the night, they took the barge."

Investigators say under the cover of darkness last Thursday Eggers used a boat to haul the barge from the canal and brought it to the water in John Burns Park in Massapequa.

Residents say Eggers is a marine dock builder and took the barge, outfitting it with crane equipment for his work.

Word about the theft spread through the quiet marine community, and police were tipped off, locating the stolen property Wednesday.

"It's very shocking to have something like this happen down here," Mirenda said. "It's very quiet."

"These people have gall to come in, take it and remove it, something so big," added Joanna Mirenda.

Nassau County police have the barge in their possession, and plans are underway to bring it back to where it belongs.