Evenin' all (as the plod on the beach might say!)

The timber belongs to the people who own it, and eventually to their insurers. To remove it from the beach with the intention permanently to deprive the owner of it is theft. Common or garden criminal theft.

A member of the public can recover beached cargo only to keep it safe and to report it to the receiver of wreck, eventually to return it to the rightful owner. Such a person may be rewarded reasonable costs and expenses for their efforts. Not "profit" or a "reward".

Even after floating at sea for a few days, the timber will have a commercial value of about 30% of the original sound value so the owners will be keen to recover it. This is a lot of timber!

I am a maritime insurance expert. I know what I am talking about. Lead surveyor on "Ice Prince" and "MSC Napoli". Google me.

Why do people think it is funny or "OK" to nick stuff that comes up on the beach from an accident. Would you nick property at the scene of a car crash? Or from someone who collapsed or died on the street? If you left your car unattended would you consider it fair game for someone else to take away because you weren't there to stop them?