Trailhead crime

[copeg]

Out of curiousity (and disregarding the marmots at mineral king :retard: ), how many of us has had our car broken into while out on a day trip or b-ping trip? For me, never. I would never leave anything important in my car at the TH (and my car would never get stolen (if you saw it, you'd understand lol)). But I do recall driving to some trailheads and trying to avoid all the broken glass littering the parking area.

[hikerduane]

I've had most of my gas siphoned out of my old pickup while out snowmobiling all night. The owner of a resort had his gas taken the same night, when we were comparing notes later.

[markskor]

I better question might be, "Have you ever lost any gear - stolen out of your campsight/tent - while you were on your first night out - maybe in that no man's land - a campground at a trailhead?"

[JM21760]

Emerald Bay, Eagle Lake trailhead has been notorious for break in's. Spooks me to even park there, as many reports of theft have surfaced.
In 1980-81 or so, my brother in law had his truck vandalised, while serving as winter caretaker in Mineral King. Spray Paint on his truck said "No Snowmobiles in Mineral King".
I had an idiot friend, who stole a nice camera from a camp site in Kings. The folks saw the deed from a peak above the lake. They beat it out to the trailhead, and the Rangers took "Butthead" into custody. Moron. He paid for his jerkness. Ass. I was lucky enough to have never gone on a trip with him. Still pisses me off.

[dave54]

Just the 4-legged variety of miscreants.

Leaving nothing in sight in the car is just as valid at the trailhead as it is in the mall parking lot.

I have left my RV set up in remote locations all day with the lawn chairs and other misc gear out and haven't had a problem yet. But I do stash them out of sight of the road or bicycle chain it securely.

[Sierragator]

Not at a trailhead. Did have some asshats rummage through my tent in Humphrey's basin in 1999. Fortunately they did not take anything. (last I checked the four legged critters don't know how to unzip and then re-zip a tent....)

[markskor]

Along this same line, I am sorry to say be wary of leaving anything unattended in Camp 4 - aka Sunnyside, Yosemite. While true climbers can be/are the best sort, this camp also attracts lots of hangers on and "underfunded" wannabees. Personally lost a MSR stove/ pot/ fishing reel/stuffsack - It just vanished out of my tent. I have heard additional horror stories from park rangers too...backpacker campground is much nicer and safer...knock on wood.

[SSSdave]

Just once. I tend to put everything in my sedan trunk leaving nothing laying messily about the interior. That to send a thought to a potential thief looking into various cars a trailheads that my car is not likely to offer much.

In 1984 a nine-day group trip, parked at the start of the Bear Diversion Dam 4wd road. When we returned most cars at the trailhead had been broken into including prying open trunks. A brother of mine lost his wallet, money, and ID he'd stashed in my trunk. A lot of people were pretty angry of course. Found out a state work crew of urban juvenile delinquents in some program had been in the area working and one of the miscreants ran off at night then vandalized all the cars.

...David

[giantbrookie]

I've been fortunate enough not to have my car broken into. I haven't been victimized at my camp, either. I have certainly heard of a couple of problem trailheads in the Klamaths (used to backpack quite a bit in the 80's) and even heard of the sheriff's office staking out a particular trailhead in the Marble Mtns. (1982), but I've been lucky in the Sierras, I guess.

[Buck Forester]

So far so good. I've even left my car parked many nights at the Emerald Bay/Eagle Lake trailhead. When I used to take the summers off to backpack MT, WY, ID I would leave all my belongings (2-3 moths of food, extra gear, film, etc.) in my car at remote trailheads. I never had a single problem even after being out for nearly 2-weeks at a time. My car was packed to the ceiling with stuff and the trunk filled too. Even along the north coast I've never had problems. Whether it be at very remote trailheads or very popular ones, so far I've been lucky. I say lucky because it's just a matter of chance. Of course I don't have to worry too much because I have my ignition hooked up to a car bomb so no one will get away with anything. And if Homeland Security is reading this, I'm ONLY KIDDING!