This serves to make the concept a bit more tangible... from the local newspaper, though the online version was pulled offline already. Having the state registration helps establish ownership:
A 35-year-old Palatine man faces felony charges In connection with the theft of a $3,000 kayak from Winnetka's lakefront.
Thomas J. Millar, of 140 N. Bothwell St. in the northwest suburb was charged Aug. 27 with felony theft. He is accused of stealing an Eddyline brand kayak from its storage space at Lloyd Beach, 799 Sheridan Road, some time between July 25 and July 29, said Winnetka Police Dep. Chief Patrick Kreis. The kayak had not been locked up, according to a police report.
Police entered the boat's description and registration number into the National Criminal Information Center database as well as the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System at the state level.
The Winnetka Police Department received word from the Illinois Conservation Police Aug. 20 that officers had recovered the missing kayak and detained a man, later identified as Millar, who had it in his possession, Kreis said.
With that information in hand, Winnetka Police conducted an investigation over the next seven days to determine whether Millar was indeed responsible for the actual theft. Kreis said detectives were able to gather enough evidence link him to the crime itself and to seek a felony charge.
Police were able to "identify him as the sole offender in the case," he added. Millar was subsequently taken into custody Aug. 27 and charged.
If convicted, he could serve two to five years in prison.
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Similarly, a kayak was stolen out of the parking lot of a canoe/kayak shop in Madison, WI, recently. I haven't heard if it was registered or recovered yet.
Note that I'm still not particularly in favor of canoe taxes, and yes, the stickers are ugly as hell, but maybe the registration isn't such a bad idea. This isn't the first time I've heard of a canoe or kayak getting returned to its rightful owner, with the registration numbers being part of the situation.