Car Break ins at Rocky Branch Parking on RT 16

[peakbagger]

https://www.conwaydailysun.com/news...cle_e4883d54-b205-11ed-8878-c77988cc295e.html
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:
https://www.wmur.com/article/break-ins-hiking-trailheads-white-mountains-new-hampshire/43015609
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

 

[peakbagger]

WMUR reported multiple break ins at the trailhead, Flume and Beaver Brook Lincoln police believe they occurred last Sunday Night. I would guess daytime break ins will be rare at Falling Waters with the FS hiker booth set up and manned for at last part of the day but overnight parkers are definitely at risk until someone gets busted. The vast numbers these break ins usually come down to one or two individuals.

https://www.wmur.com/article/break-ins-hiking-trailheads-white-mountains-new-hampshire/43015609

 

[hikeritz]

In 1997, I did a three day/two night hike in late March, staying at Crag Camp and summiting Adams. Parked at Appalachia, and returned to a broken driver's side window. They got a knapsack of mostly dirty clothes. It was still pretty much winter, and I drove back to the Boston area with an open window and wearing all of my winter gear. I reported it to the police at Lowe's, but (no surprise) never heard anything.

 

[peakbagger]

I do wish that car break in reports would specify overnight or daytime break ins as it makes a big difference on exposure.

BTW, there really is no active law enforcement except for state police in many of the rural north country towns. Except for checking for parking passes at the major lots and writing tickets, I do not see a lot of WMNF enforcement. Eventually if the break ins get excessive, the WMNF and state will assign it priority.

 

[Ear Drum]

Over on the big facebook group, someone posted last week that her car was broken into at Falling Waters TH, along with several other cars. She posted on May 16,

"My car window was smashed and entire purse was taken at the falling waters/ bridle path trailhead.. along with 7 others!! Definitely a lesson to leave cars unlocked and leave nothing enticing in clear view. They saw my purse and went for it luckily it only had a passport (i’ve frozen everything to do with my identity). Thankfully I took my stuff with me so I could buy yummy treats at Greenleaf Hut"

Then she posted this yesterday:

"Well my passport has been found along with bags and bags of other peoples IDs. This woman is a prostitute, wanted in at least 4 states, and has stolen at least $16000 that they know of. Shortly after my stuff was taken in NH she went to an air bnb and caused $30000 worth of damage. She was found after crashing in a 20 minute high speed chase with police in VT driving a stolen car from Westbrook, Maine."

Here's an article about the arrest in VT:

"Police say a woman cashing stolen checks led them on a high-speed chase in a stolen car full of stolen credit cards. ..."

https://www.rutlandherald.com/news/...cle_e16b732b-5604-5255-ab22-8fe51f540986.html

 

[Rhody Seth]

Well that's some closure at least.

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

And just when I thought that Rutland was improving its image with Mount Holly Brewery’s craft IPAs that I found at the Base Camp store when skiing Killington’s Superstar “Glacier” Trail / Quad Chairlift last Friday.