Car Break ins at Rocky Branch Parking on RT 16

[peakbagger]

Break-ins reported at Rocky Branch trailhead lot

JACKSON — Jackson police sounded the alarm on car break-ins with a Facebook post Monday.

www.conwaydailysun.com

Break ins are usually very low priority for policing, that leads the thieves getting rewarded for quite a while before any organized attempt is made to catch them. Usually its locals who eventually get busted and then slapped on the wrist. If its pros that are traveling from outside the area its very unlikely they will get caught. When organizing hikes I tend to get to trailheads early, ovee the years, I am surprised how many people I see leaving their car keys on top of tire or under a bumper. Then again someone with towel and spring type window breaker can pop a window in a couple of seconds so why look for a key.

Interesting to see they have warrants out for someone working all over the region.

 

[Andrew]

I was just going to share this:

Police investigating string of vehicle break-ins at hiking trailheads in White Mountains

Police are investigating a string of break-ins in trailhead parking lots.

www.wmur.com

Story is reporting an uptick with incidents at FNSP and Beaver Brook Trailheads.
A friend was at Mud Pond Jefferson this weekend and another hikers vehicle was window smashed.

 

[peakbagger]

The Flume, Falling Waters and Beaver Brook were also mentioned as places that cars were broken in.

 

[CaptCaper]

Got to do what San Francisco folks do. Leave the doors unlocked and hatch or trunk open high. PIA to replace glass and also the cost of doing it.

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

Got to do what San Francisco folks do. Leave the doors unlocked and hatch or trunk open high. PIA to replace glass and also the cost of doing it.

Excellent advice. And, obviously carry your wallet or purse with you, and do not leave valuables in vehicle if you insist on locking. Years ago I began posting a “no cash or credit cards inside” note on the dash and have not been broken into since, but probably just lucky, although one time at 19 MB trailhead my vehicle was the only one without smashed windows.

 

[CaptCaper]

Excellent advice. And, obviously carry your wallet or purse with you, and do not leave valuables in vehicle if you insist on locking. Years ago I began posting a “no cash or credit cards inside” note on the dash and have not been broken into since, but probably just lucky, although one time at 19 MB trailhead my vehicle was the only one without smashed windows.

They break winows to open the trunk if they see nothing in the car via window. Lot's of videos showing gross numbers of thieves in SF doing this.

 

[Daniel Eagan]

Reminds me of the "No Radio" signs we used to leave in cars in NYC.

 

[andrewb]

Uggh - my least favorite part of hiking! If it wasn't so expensive I would just rent a car and get the damage insurance ....

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

Uggh - my least favorite part of hiking! If it wasn't so expensive I would just rent a car and get the damage insurance ....

But, is not the deductible about the same as repair costs for a smashed side window whether your own or a rental car? So you pay one way or the other, even if you do not stupidly leave cash and/or credit cards in the vehicle. At least sound systems are more laborious to steal now, I think.

 

[andrewb]

More or less yes on the deductible. It's the rental cost which is way way more money compared to using a car I own out right. I just hate the feeling. That's my car and it's been violated! I don't rent and won't due to cost I just don't want to be broken I to again.

 

[Grey J]

OTOH, a few years ago I did a loop over Jefferson and Clay going up Caps Ridge and down Jewell Trail. We left KMan's vehicle at the Base Rd lot at the end of Jewell and drove my car over to Caps Ridge. Many hours later when we got to his car, he discovered that he had not only left his driver side window open, all the way down, but he had left his wallet in plain view on the console! Incredibly, it was still sitting there when we got back. I guess it was just his lucky day.

 

[skiguy]

OTOH, a few years ago I did a loop over Jefferson and Clay going up Caps Ridge and down Jewell Trail. We left KMan's vehicle at the Base Rd lot at the end of Jewell and drove my car over to Caps Ridge. Many hours later when we got to his car, he discovered that he had not only left his driver side window open, all the way down, but he had left his wallet in plain view on the console! Incredibly, it was still sitting there when we got back. I guess it was just his lucky day.

I guess all he forgot to do was leave the keys in the ignition.

 

[andrewb]

More than we care to admit in life boils down to luck. Glad you were on the right side that time