Authorities say one or more thieves shanghaied four boat bumpers after an attempt to steal several private vessels from the Wolfe Street docks floundered last month.
    
Police found two boats floating untied on the Potomac River with their controls set to the on position about 8 a.m. on August 23. Department spokesman Jody Donaldson said the thieves would have needed keys to start either vessels engines.
    
It sounds like they probably had the opportunity and got on the boat to see what they could do with it, maybe get it started and possibly take it for a joy ride or steal it, he said. But they couldnt get it started.
    
Its the first attempted theft of a boat Donaldson can recall in his two years with the department. 
    
As far as trying to steal [a] boat, it doesnt happen often, he said.
    
Authorities do not yet have any suspects and the incident remains under investigation.