After reading the rules on whiteblaze, i can't copy and paste the news report but a local man left his car at the parking lot near the AT at 501 in PA and it was broken into by breaking the side window. A few things were taken from the back seat is what it said.
(If i gave you the URL, it is in the middle of about 10,000 words of a police report and you would probably get mad at me for wasting your time so i meant to copy and paste it but remembered from my rule reading here on whiteblaze that that is not allowed. oh well. )

Here's the URL for those interested, i hope i'm not breaking the law by doing this though. someone kindly let me know if i am. http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16901913&BRD=2626&PAG=461&dept_id=532624&rfi=6

The item i'm referring to is about halfway down after the word: BETHEL

Sorry I know it isn't related but i was reading down through that police blotter when I noticed the story about the pit bull running loose....
The police shot and killed it and charged the owner with several things.


Car break in at trailheads happen...they are rare but they happen.

I usually leave my truck trashed looking and leave nothing of any value inside.

So far, (knock on wood) I haven't had a problem....
The way I see it if someone is going to break in I don't want them to get anything.

I was at 501 shelter on Monday, and had left my car in the pull-out on the highway. There was a lot of noise towards midnight -- cars pulling in and out, loud stereos, shouting. I wanted to check on my car but I was sort of afraid to call attention to it... fortunately the next morning it was fine. Apparently the locals use that lot as a gathering place. Park with caution.

SpiritWind, I use the trashy look with my car too. Valuables out of sight (preferably in the trunk, but at least stuck under the front seats). It's worked so far.

It is a hang out for the locals who set up tents right across the road off the AT during the summer.I had few brew with some in 99 &00 they say its where they have gathered for yrs,I doubt its any of them probably drive byes,ky

I was at 501 shelter on Monday, and had left my car in the pull-out on the highway. There was a lot of noise towards midnight -- cars pulling in and out, loud stereos, shouting. I wanted to check on my car but I was sort of afraid to call attention to it... fortunately the next morning it was fine. Apparently the locals use that lot as a gathering place. Park with caution.

SpiritWind, I use the trashy look with my car too. Valuables out of sight (preferably in the trunk, but at least stuck under the front seats). It's worked so far.

I stayed at the 501 shelter on Monday--I know it was Monday, b/c there's no pizza delivery Monday--I heard no noise, and was there with my husband, another friend and two thru-hikers.

Maybe you were there another day?

Maybe he was one of the other hikers having a bad nightmare:D

I was actually glad there was a caretaker here. When I started to cross Rte 501, en route to the shelter blue blaze, I waited by myself at the road crossing (husband and buddy behind me and not at the trailhead yet). A green van coming up over the hill pulled into the parking lot rather abruptly--was going fast, slammed on the brakes, and pulled over. Kind of creeped me out. The guy started to get out of his car. He wasn't backpacking, unless he was doing it in 90+ degree weather with jeans on...I went back down the trailhead to wait for husband and buddy and came back up with him. The guy looked at us as we came back up to the trailhead, and then walked around the front of his car, without any noticeable purpose. I quiet honestly averted my gaze, and we walked across the road and down to the shelter.

I noted the oddness of the man's pulling over to the friend hiking with us, who said its the second time he'd noticed that van (or a similar one) at one of the road crossings since we'd been hiking on Friday.

Never saw the fellow again, and perhaps it was totally innocent--but did you ever have a situation occur when the hair on your neck just kind of rises up? I was glad to be surrounded by the four other gentlemen in the shelter that evening.

And maybe Uncle Silly was one of the other hikers...are you thru-hiking, Uncle Silly? :)