Whoever forcibly, fraudulently or secretly takes or attempts to take and remove any vessel from any harbor, river, creek or sound within this State, on any pretense whatever, shall be fined not more than $500, and shall restore to the owners the vessel and cargo or the full value thereof.

Code 1852, § 1239; Code 1915, § 2990; Code 1935, § 3483; 23 Del. C. 1953, § 1302