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NATCHEZ — Chad Murray worked hard to get his Charcoal Black Skeeter.

“I worked so hard to get that boat,” Murray said Saturday night. “It took me about two boats buying and selling to get that boat. I was able to save up about $40,000 to put down on it. Now, it’s gone.”

Murray, who lives on Highway 569 at Lake St. John, was out of town working on Friday when he got a call from his neighbor, who told him his boat had been stolen.

“I was keeping it in my neighbor’s shed next door, right by my house. He had his outboard motor stolen, too,” he said. “It made me sick to my stomach.”

A friend told Murray that the boat was there on Thursday morning, so the theft must have happened later that day or night.

Murray’s stolen boat is a Single Console Charcoal Black Skeeter with Silver Flake and White under-trim with a black bottom hull. It has a Yamaha Sho 250 Outboard Motor and was on a Black Skeeter Trailer.

He said the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating.

“They are working on it and trying to find leads, but I’m pretty sure it’s people from out of town. But I’ll never get my stuff back,” he said. “It’s just people out there that can’t stand to see people who work hard. They are like leeches and pray off the working class. They don’t know what they have and will sell it for pennies off the dollar, but they will get what’s coming to them one day. It’s kind of like when your house burns down and you have to start all over.”

Murray, who owns CM Electric in Vidalia, said thefts have not been a particular problem when he lives.

“I had some stuff stolen back in the summer. They stole some copper wire and things, but it hasn’t been a big problem out here,” he said.

Murray’s friends are helping to bring the thieves to justice by posting information and photos on social media. Friends are asking anyone who sees the boat to take a picture of it and contact Murray at (601) 807-2098 or the local authorities where the boat is located.

Anyone with information can call the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office or Crime Stoppers at (888) 442-5001.