The SS United States may soon have a new home – with plans to sink and turned into an artificial reef in Florida — but first, Philadelphia police say they are investigating a burglary on the historic ship.
Police say the ship, which is docked at Pier 82 in the 2200 block of Christopher Columbus Boulevard in South Philadelphia, was broken into overnight.
Sources say police know who the burglars are thanks to messages they uploaded to Instagram and other social media.
According to sources, the pier is equipped with video cameras, so the burglary was captured on multiple cameras.
It is unclear how the burglars got to the pier. It is surrounded by fencing. Sources believe they may have cut a hole in part of the fence or possibly even entered by boat.
Police say they discovered the burglary around noon.
Sources say the suspects got on the boat and then took flashlights and batteries used by the SS United States Conservancy during tours.
Police have not yet made any arrests, but sources say there will be increased security around the pier to discourage anyone else from boarding the boat.
Sources also say that since the ship was stripped long ago, there is nothing of value left on board.
The historic 1950s cruise ship should finally leave port by the end of the month.
Less than 24 hours ago we reported that this historic cruise ship from the 1950s should finally be out of port by the end of the month. Florida’s Okaloosa County plans to sink the ship in the Gulf of Mexico, creating what officials say will be the world’s largest artificial reef for divers and fishermen.
The ship remains a tourist attraction in Philadelphia.
Chris and Daniel Cardone, father and son from Middletown, New Jersey, traveled to see the ship. Chris Cardone said the ship should be “respected.”
“I’m just fascinated by the history of the ship, as my father said, I’m an ocean liner,” Daniel Cardone said. “I’m also a fan of the ship and the ocean liners.”
