This just in: some trailhead break-in artists nabbed

[Raven]

In light of smashed windows, we had been considering just leaving the car unlocked and empty of valuables, but I know this isn't always practical for some.

Not a bad idea to deter at least the theives. If you have a trunk release in the cabin, be careful to not put anything valuable in the trunk either. Or drive something with 225K miles on it like I do so it's apparent you have nothing of value (to criminals anyway...)

 

[Mike P.]

Not a bad idea to deter at least the theives. If you have a trunk release in the cabin, be careful to not put anything valuable in the trunk either. Or drive something with 225K miles on it like I do so it's apparent you have nothing of value (to criminals anyway...)

Apparently 200k works just fine as does leaving candy wrappers, & empty soda bottles. While at times they are looking for valuables, sometimes it's just about vandalizing cars & getting away with it. Vehicle type & age not much of an issue but saying I broke windows on a $60,000 car may carry more cache with your firends than saying I broke them on a 1973 Vega. (although that would total the Vega)

They'd learn their lesson more & prevent other kids from doing it if they were publiclly ridiculed in their community & schools right away with virtually no other punishment if that expedited the embarrassment.

Next years kids with cars will be bored some weekend nights, it's envitable, like the tides, death & taxes. How they spend that idle time depends on what they think the consequences may be. Shamed in front of your peers is tough on kids in a social society. Weekly visits with a parole officer, probably not much worse than the weekly visit some kids have with a non-custodial parent.

Sounds like the legal process, a couple of years to get them through, is more aggravation. It's highly unlikely they will be doing 2-4 years. I'd rather see them as a deterrent to the next wave of bored teens looking for kicks.

 

[Tom Rankin]

Now if only we could stop this from happening!