There's plenty unpleasantness in earlier times regarding stealing from wrecks:
From Hodgson:
In 1316 a ship laden at Hartlepool with wheat, rye, and salt, and bound for Berwick-on-Tweed, for the sustenance of the garrison there, having been driven ashore at the port of Warkworth by the attack of pirates, was boarded by Richard de Thirlewal, Robert de Arreyns, Eustace the constable of Warkworth, John de Aketon, Hugh Galoun, John of Lescebury and others, who carried away the cargo and arrested the ship. A commission was thereupon issued at the suit of Richard de la More and others, the master and freighters of the ship.
Eight years later a ship belonging to certain merchants of Bruges and Ypres (John Robin being master), and freighted `cum lanis, coriis, pellibus, lanutis,' and other goods to the value of £600, shipped at Berwick and bound for Flanders, was cast ashore at Amble in a storm. The master and crew escaped safe to land, whereby the said goods and chattels could not be called a wreck according to the law and custom of England ; yet Adam son of Nicholas of Haukeslawe, Robert de Raynham, Roger son of Robert de Raynham, Robert brother of the same Roger, William son of Thomas, Roger son of William son of Thomas, Robert son of William son of Thomas, Nicholas son of Adam of Haukeslawe, Henry de Rihill of Werkeworth, Adam ` le taillour,' William Fox, Thomas Egly, Henry ` le peschour,' Nicholas Scot, John Cokkebayn, Alan Alegode of Werkeworth, Richard the grieve of Togesdene, William son of Robert, Stephen of Togesden, Adam son of Peter of Anebille, Henry son of Robert, William son of Henry, Robert ` ponder,' Robert Batyn, John son of Simon, John `le fevre' of Anebille, Hugh Wayt of Aclynton, William Paynesman of Aclynton, Nicholas Mawsone of Newbiggyng, Alexander son of Elias, Robert Shoute, John Hant, John son of John ' le clerk,' John son of Juliana, Roger Botting, and Robert del Borne of Newbiggyng and others, seized and robbed the ship at the vill of Anebille. The king, on the petition of the merchants, on the 28th of March, 1324, ordered an enquiry.
I'm sure some of that mob still have descendants in the district! [Robert Batyn ... now Beattie perhaps?? I better be careful here, I'll get a solicitor's letter
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