Boone Man's Boat Disappears from Bass Pro in Altoona

The Altoona Police Department is investigating after a Boone man reported his boat missing at Bass Pro Shops in Altoona late last month. Charles Chamblee tells KCCI he dropped his boat off at Bass Pro Shops in Altoona on May 13 to install a motor, along with other additions. The boat is special to him because of its origin. “It’s a really ugly camouflage paint job and the reason it’s ugly is because my brother and I painted it when we were kids,” said Chamblee, who lives in Boone. “I have some of my earliest memories of duck hunting and fishing with my grandfather in that boat.” Chamblee picked up his grandfather's boat in April and brought it back to Iowa. He and his children were only able to take the boat out once before dropping it off at Bass Pro Shops in Altoona in hopes of getting it back. However, when he arrived on May 24 – the date he said was agreed upon between him and Bass Pro Shops to pick up his boat – he was shocked by what he learned. “When I walked in, the service manager — the first thing he said to me was, 'Your boat's not here,'” Chamblee recalled. According to Chamblee, store employees and managers told him they searched the entire property and did not find the boat. Chamblee said he spoke with several supervisors and managers at the store, only to be told the following. “The boat was not their responsibility. I am responsible for the safety of the boat,” Chamblee said, recalling what an official told him. “I was told someone from their risk management group would contact me and have a good day.” Chamblee says Bass Pro Shops called Altoona police on May 24 when he arrived at the store. He also called the police. Chamblee says he has continually contacted Bass Pro Shops but has not received a response. “All I know is I dropped off a boat and never got it back,” Chamblee said. KCCI contacted Bass Pro Shops in Altoona. An official said KCCI media inquiries should be directed to the company's public relations team. KCCI reached out Wednesday afternoon but did not receive a response. Chamblee says that while he's bothered by not knowing where his boat is, there's something that bothers him just as much, if not more. “I expect a thief to steal,” Chamblee said. “I didn't expect a company like Bass Pro to treat me like I was their enemy.” Chamblee says that in addition to the boat's camouflaged paint job, people can be on the lookout for the left LED tail light on the trailer, which he says is out. The Altoona Police Department told KCCI it is investigating the case. Altoona police say when it comes to cases like this, they have a high success rate and are using their resources to figure out what happened. The Altoona Police Department is asking anyone who may know anything to contact them. » Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google PlayGet the latest headlines from KCCI