Woman Allegedly Goes Cruising With Stolen 52-foot Yacht

A Texas woman went sailing with a 52-foot yacht that did not belong to her. The Jefferson Monticello yacht, dubbed “Loyalty” was reported missing in Galveston.

Renee Waguespack, 45, who went cruising with the yacht has been charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle and possession of a controlled substance, according to a probable cause affidavit for her arrest.

Waguespack remained jailed in Galveston County Thursday afternoon on a $30,000 bond, online records said.

The owner of the boat had been showing it to sell, the affidavit said. Witnesses reported the yacht was sailed away at about 11 am. Waguespack left a note that she would meet people at the Kemah Boardwalk, the affidavit said, although it did not specify who the note was directed to or where it was left.

The Galveston Police Department received a phone call shortly before noon Monday the yacht had been sailed away from its berth, the affidavit said.

Police requested assistance from the US Coast Guard and the Galveston County Sheriff’s office to help locate the missing vessel, NBC affiliate KPRC of Houston reported.

“Loyalty” was found at about 1 pm moored at a pier. Authorities found Waguespack aboard the ship, the outlet reported.

Police later also found about 4 grams of drugs in her possession that tested positive for methamphetamine, the affidavit said.

Galveston newspaper ‘The Daily News’ reported that the yacht’s owners, Lorraine Grubbs, and her husband, live on the vessel that was docked in Offatts Bayou.

“Can you imagine coming around the corner and your home is gone?” Grubbs told the newspaper.

Security video captured the suspect climbing over a fence and boarding the yacht without anyone seeing her, The Daily News reported.

Grubbs told the newspaper she believes Waguespack once lived on a different boat berthed at the same location and was confused. Loyalty was found on the north side of Offatts Bayou and was not damaged.

This isn’t the only incident involving a stolen luxury vessel to make headlines recently.

In March, an alleged thief stole a yacht in Southern California and then collided with multiple boats in a harbor. Joel Siam, 38, was booked on suspicion of grand theft of a boat and possession of a stolen boat in Orange County after he allegedly rammed the craft into at least three other boats.

According to NBC News, Jennifer Ott Roth, Waguespack’s attorney, declined comment to.