car break-ins

[-ben-]

I would like to warn everyone about more car break-ins.I got nailed saturday night at mt clinton road parking lot.They did alot of damage to my car so everyone please keep your eyes open to this.These bastards must be caught!Any ideas?

 

[patrickbrusil]

Tar and feather!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!






(when caught)

 

[SherpaKroto]

On our Presi Traverse (attempt for me ) we opted to leave the cars at the Highland Ctr. Food for thought.

Very sorry to hear about the car. I was very concerned leaving mine at the Great Gulf Trailhead this past wekend, but all was fine when we returned, and I saw no broken glass anywhere in that lot.

 

[Artex]

May they die a thousand painful deaths.

I really wish the authorities would do more. This seems like its happening way too often.

 

[dr_wu002]

Very sorry to hear about your car. What a rough time that must be -- coming back and seeing it broken into. Could you give us more details... such as, was anything stolen, what type of car etc. It could be beneficial to all of us if you could describe what happened & maybe give us an idea what the criminals are looking for in a car to bust into.

I've yet to be broken into. My car looks like a train crashed inside it. There's disgusting trash everywhere, 'gatorade' bottles (folks, that ain't....), and also dog vomit in the back seat. I can't imagine anyone looking in would think that there was something of value to steal. However, I realize that not everyone has the opportunity to decorate their car with dog puke and make it so appealing to thieves and criminals. I wonder however if there is any real deterrent.

Sorry about your car again.

-Dr. Wu

 

[dfernald]

hi all - i'm new to this board - some of my thoughts on car break-ins at trailheads - all you can do really is - don't keep any valuables in your car and bring clear plastic film and duct tape to quick fix broken windows - there's really nothing else you can do - outside of fancy alarm systems

What are the thieves are looking for? car stereos, CDs, expensive hiking gear, cash, credit cards - anything of resale value - anything to sell on the Internet -eBay, et cetera...

Who are these thieves? I would guess mostly teenagers looking for drinking and drugging money - meth-addiction is rapidly across the country - this stuff is extremely addictive! - with recipes easily available via the Internet - and the ingredients cheaply available at the new Wal-Mart in Plymouth NH and the other Wal-Mart in the Great North Woods...don't ya just love what Wal-Mart?

I live on the South Shore of Boston (in a wealthy suburb) and I notice teenagers buying the ingredients to cook meth at the local Wal-Mart - they can only buy 3 boxes at a time (about $26 worth) - but they are able to get all they need or can afford...

I know someone who is recovering from this addiction - I guess the high is very similiar to crack cocaine...

 

[WhiteMTHike]

Sorry to hear about your car. Not too many things urinate me off more than destruction of personal property.

I think the communities around the WMNF need to get involved along with the local merchants and authorities to really address this problem; it's growing more and more.

If the local merchants sense that this could effect their tourist dollar they'll be more than willing to get involved. When the town officials see this could effect town revenues it'll grab their attention. I think we as a hiking community need to contact the people in these positions and alert them of what is going on.

I've been going to the Whites on a regular basis for 20+ years but I'm pretty new to this board (less than 1 year), has this always been a problem? I have to say that of all the trailheads I've parked at that I've never had nor have I witnessed any problems like this. It all seems to be very recent. Any thoughts?

 

[Trekkin]

I too fell victim to a break in a few years back. Early season trip (1st week of April) - brand new '04 VW Passat with nothing left inside aside from a Winnie the Pooh kids backpack containing toiletries. They knocked out the driver's side window and attempted to gain access to the trunk (which is where wallets, purses, and unneeded gear was being kept). Fortunately the stock alarm system made that an impossibility once the alarm was tripped.

We were lucky in a sense. A passing police officer noticed the broken glass and stopped to tape a bag over the window, and left his card. So when, after 6 days, we came back down, we at least had a place to start. All the same, driving 5+hrs back to CT in 40 degree temps with a missing window (and a light rain, to boot) was an unpleasant experience, to say the least.

I have a feeling (as did the officer we reported to) that this was the work of local bored juveniles. Reason being.....I had a valet key in my glovebox that had been removed and dropped on the driver's side floor. They could have stolen the car. An emergency credit card I keep hidden was left alone, although found. A few weeks later we got a call.....our backpack and associated losses had been found right outside Gorham.

I've always loved the Whites.....and it still pains me to think of the hurt this caused me. I felt......betrayed, almost. I have since done 80% of my backpacking treks outside the Whites (although I still buy 2 passes faithfully each year) and will only park the Wrangler.....not my much cared for STi.

 

[Mike P.]

Did they steal anything?

IMO it's bored juveniles unless $ or something of value taken to fund beer or drug purchases.

Hope the authorities do more, that lot I would think would be hard to hit given how open it is from one direction although that helps them see lights coming at night. Also allows quick access to a road that leaves in two directions at a fast speed & a third option on the Clinton Road that once you reach Base Road (allows even more options for directions for fleeing)

(Also possible bored juvenile guests at HC are going out at night while parents blab about past hikes as this lot seems to be hit pretty hard recently.)

Unsure this criminal activity will stop many tourist from going to NH & if only out of state plates hit unsure local authorities will give it higher priority over the regular duty they have to stop crime. While I don't stop in Twin Mountain much, if I had a missing window, I'd probably stop to try & buy somethingto cover it so the vandalism may in fact help the local merchants if you have plywood, duct tape or beer for sale. (buy a case, take it out of the box & use box to cover window, tape to exterior & interior - who sells things in big plastic clear bags or would Hefty bag work)

 

[ChrisB]

Here's an idea!!

I usually go out of my way to make my car unappealling to a potential thief. (Probably not as gross as dr_wu002's, however, but the same concept!)

I toss a pair of dirty socks and underware briefs up on the dash. I drape a foul T-shirt over the steering wheel as if drying. I leave lots of trash on the seats, and I also leave the glove box open. Anything of real value (CDs, etc) goes under the front seats.

I hike with my wallet, credit cards, and keys in my pack (oh, ...the extra weight!) and hope karma works.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Last winter I was sleeping in the car at the Hancock trailhead on the Kanc. About 2 AM a junky Toyota with a loud exhaust pulled in and drove up next to my car. I head an occupant say, "someone's sleeping in it."

They moved down to the very end of the lot next to where another (empty) car was parked. They shut off the engine and stayed there for about 20 min, then drove off. In the morning I noticed a few beer cans and roaches in the snow where they had parked.

I assume had I not been sleeping there they would have whacked that other car and been on there way.

Maybe if the state let folks sleep at trailheads there would be fewer breakins!!

cb

 

[kerry13]

ChrisB, I hope you gave a description of the Toyota to the local police. Every tip they can get will help them. And that goes for everyone. We all must be vigilant and provide tips. I recall when the thread was first posted someone had noticed a truck speeding out of the Galehead road about the time some break ins were happening. I would think this kind of info would be helpful for the police. Sooner or later the little tips will begin to reveal a common thread. That is, of course, if the cops are serious. Unfortunately if the targeted cars are all out of state cars the cops may not be to overly concerned.

 

[Bluethroatedone]

- ben - tell us more

Ben,

I was parked in that same lot Saturday night and wasn't broken into (I have parked in that lot 3 times in last month, twice on bend at beginning of lot, this time I was in the middle of the lot). My car is quite unasuming (white 98 sentra) but nothing like Dr. Wus....I would be curious as to whether I was lucky or if these guys tend to go for the most expensive looking car in the lot (my hope). What kind of car do you drive?

 

[Remix]

Just curious, does anyone know anyone who has ever had a locked-down bike rack stolen? I mean, if I am biking, should I take it off the car and put it inside where it can stolen more easily, or leave it on the car and risk roof and door damage?

 

[RoySwkr]

Just curious, does anyone know anyone who has ever had a locked-down bike rack stolen? I mean, if I am biking, should I take it off the car and put it inside where it can stolen more easily, or leave it on the car and risk roof and door damage?

A guy had a fancy load-equalizing hitch stolen off his truck at the Liard River NWT, he had to wait several days for a replacement to be shipped so he could tow his trailer home. Also somebody stole a starter off a Jeep parked at Shaws in Concord. One would think the police could guess the car model owned by the perps.

 

[DougPaul]

Also somebody stole a starter off a Jeep parked at Shaws in Concord. One would think the police could guess the car model owned by the perps.

Not necessarily--car theft (and presumably parts theft) is sometimes done on order.

Doug

 

[AntlerPeak]

It is hard to say what works and what does not. I had a four year old Nissan Sentra parked at Clarendon George, locked. Nothing in the car except a McDonalds bag filled with empty burger wrappers and assorted trash. In the middle of the day and I was there only thirty minutes came back to the car to find the window broken the trash stolen and a lot full of people who saw nothing. This was several years ago not recent. The point is there was not a thing in the car except a bag of trash and it wasn't even an expensive car. Who knows.

The one time my car was broken into in New Hampshire was at the Moriah trail head again on a day hike So it isn't just over nights some of these guys are bold. This was on rte 16 again nothing of value taken.

 

[Butch79]

Outrageous, infuriating stuff -- speaking from irrelevant experience (had my car broken into and my wife's stolen, but both times in the big city).

Question: is there a pattern of this happening at ADK trailheads as well, or just in the Whites?

Happy trails --
Uncle Butch
(feeling only a very little worry as my car would give Dr Wu's a run for the title of Dumpster On Wheels)

 

[dr_wu002]

(feeling only a very little worry as my car would give Dr Wu's a run for the title of Dumpster On Wheels)

Aesthetically only. My car still gets 40+ mpg and runs well with 100,000 miles on it. Even if it were broken into all they'd get were the, hehe, 'gatorade' bottles but I'd still get good gas mileage!

-Dr. Wu

 

[marty]

I was thinking about leaving my vehicle at the Windham, NH Park & Ride off I-93 on Route 111 this weekend, and car pooling up with my friends. Does anyone know if that lot is generally safe? Thanks, Marty

 

[jjo]

Sad.....

Sad...These incidents ruin what should be a most pleasurable escape from the bad things of the cities. Head to the hills and nature to relax, unwind, etc......But we have a few misguided folks ruining it for many. A reflection of our society and values. Well, back to the trail....