Leaving car at Trailhead with glovebox open

[hammock engineer]

I read somewhere on here, can't remember where, someone suggested that you empty everything out of your glovebox and any other compartment and leave them open when you leave your car.

Well I did that, and I do not think that I will again. I went to a local state park and parked in the parking lot overnight. I left nothing anywhere in my car, the glovebox open and empty.

Apparently at around 1am a police officier saw this and thought my car had been broken into. They had someone come out to my house. Luckily I had a roommate they could wake up to tell them that everything was fine.

I am happy that they are doing a good job and checking on everything and I feel bad I wasted their time.

Just thought I would share a little warning and a funny story.

[D'Artagnan]

That's definitely reassuring that they went the "extra mile" to ascertain your wellbeing.

[max patch]

That seems to be pretty common advice on forums.

I don't bother with the glovebox thing; I don't believe for one second that a thief is going to change his mind about breaking into a car if he walks up to it and sees the glovebox open. Hes still gonna break into it and check under the seats, etc.

[Just Jeff]

That's interesting...I've never heard of that before. I would think cops patrolling trailheads would be aware that it's a common practice. I've heard of many more trailhead break-ins, though, so I'll continue to leave my box open.

Sure is nice they went out of their way to make sure everything was ok, though. Tax dollars working like they're supposed to!

[hammock engineer]

Yeah, I am glad they are going that extra mile to make sure everything is ok. I had my car broke into before, everytime there was something that could be seen. I was also concerned with the area I was parking in.

But I probibly won't leave it open there again. I might in a place where their are more cars or more people parking (mine was the only car).

[sliderule]

Tha I don't believe for one second that a thief is going to change his mind about breaking into a car if he walks up to it and sees the glovebox open. Hes still gonna break into it and check under the seats, etc.

No... Thieves are lazy. The thief will think the same thing as the police officer. He will think someone has already beat him to it and move to the car with the Leica binocs laying on the console.

[max patch]

No... Thieves are lazy. The thief will think the same thing as the police officer. He will think someone has already beat him to it and move to the car with the Leica binocs laying on the console.

Leon and Bubba live in Elijay. They drive 5 miles outside of town to Roy Road, another 10 miles to the start of FS 42, and then 6 miles on FS 42 to the Springer parking lot. One car is in the lot. Leon stands watch on the FS road while Bubba approaches the car with brick in hand, ready to break the window so they can loot the poor hikers car. So you believe that the next thing you are going to hear is...

"Hey Bubba, never mind, his glove box is open. Lets move on to Three Forks".

No way. That window is as good as broke.

[brpgsm]

I have heard that a good way to deter the hoodlums is to keep you car trashed, half eaten burgers on the dash, fake cat vomit on the seat...make them think you are a poorer redneck then they are...

This MAY keep you car secure, but why spend the time and effort to maybe reduce your chance of break-in by a 25%?

The best idea to keep your stuff safe is to post a dancing banana near your car :banana , works every time.

[Sly]

The best way to keep your car safe is with a booby trapped shotgun or IED. Of course, you'd likely be liable for killing the vermin, but it would almost be worth it.

On the otherhand, a sniper in the woods with a rock salt shot in the ass may only get you probation.

[sliderule]

"Hey Bubba, never mind, his glove box is open. Lets move on to Three Forks".

No way. That window is as good as broke.

It's not like leaving the car "clean" is difficult, complicated or expensive. Granted, there are no guarantees. But it's just plain stupid to leave valuables in plain view. (Almost as stupid as arguing this topic on the internet.)

In the Smokies, it is not terribly uncommon for thieves to hit the parking lots at Newfound Gap or Alum Cave. But they almost never hit every car. They hit the ones that have visible items of value.

[Tin Man]

Break-ins appear to be a problem everywhere. I will never forget my first section hike 6 years ago where upon arrival at the parking lot I saw a sign posted warning of break-ins. After being so pumped to go hiking, this was a downer way to start. I just leave an old car and put anything loose in the trunk. I have not had a problem...so far.

[Ramble~On]

As mentioned above...leave the car trashed.
I've been doing this for a long time and haven't had a problem..
I never leave anything of value inside anyway but to avoid a smashed windshield I have found that by looking like a poor slob...the poor slob thieves leave me alone.
I actually have a bag that i keep full of trash for this purpose...oily rags, crushed cans, wrappers, dirty socks.
There was a similar thread about this on here somewhere earlier

[Ridge]

I've been broken into several times. The last time I had nothing in the car, including no radio from previous robbery, and the doors unlocked. They got my battery and I was left to find a ride to a phone. I now chain my hood and padlock the sucker. I also have a locking gas cap, with the price of gas it might be wise to do the same. A friend of mine had his tires stolen and left the car sitting on the ground, they got his battery, spare, radio and some other stuff. I've heard of entire cars hauled off by rollbacks, never to be seen again. Never underestimate a crook.

[Just Jeff]

It's easy to keep your car from being broken into. Park next to a nicer car than yours. :p

My mom used to know a guy who had all kinds of weapons - several guns, his own bullet press, a homemade crossbow, a few bows, and a blowgun (among other things). Before he bought his house he lived in a 2nd floor apartment with a balcony. He was out on the balcony one time after midnight when this car pulled up in the parking lot and a guy jumped out to break into one of the cars. He went in to get the blowgun. When he came back out, the thief was leaning into the car with his rear-end sticking up in the air. Pwoof. "Ow Hell!" Then the thief runs back to the car and jumps in. Oops...shaft was still in there! Another scream as the car speeds off...

At least that's the story he told.

[nyushka42]

I found the best way to avoid having break-ins is having a crappy car :-D For almost 2 years I drove a 90 Escort in DC that by all rights should have died well before 100k miles, rather than living to have 144k. I had a decent sound system, cd player, and lots of other goodies that no one would dream would be in that peice of junk (I say "junk" lovingly, I loved that car). It looked like a homeless person owned it, complete with faded quilt & pillows in the backseat (that we were just too lazy to bring in after a long-forgotten road trip) and clothes & shoes all over the place (I went to school after my M-F, 9-5 and had to change into scrubs to work at a clinic, most of my clothes I would just dump in my car to be laundered out bi-weekly when I would start to run outta clothes to wear). Add McD's wrappers & empty soda cans in the front, and you had a car that NO-ONE would touch. It broke down once in a not so nice Southeast neighborhood in DC, and I had to leave it until I could afford a tow, about 5 days. No one touched it despite that it was high crime rate area.
The funniest thing was my "anti-ever-locking-myself-outta-the-car" system. I discovered after I did that once that I could lower the rear passanger door window by just putting my hand on it and moving it down.
I did have my cd case stollen out of it once, but that was because I'd been stupid & left the car unlocked & the case on top of the seat.

[RockyTrail]

The funniest thing was my "anti-ever-locking-myself-outta-the-car" system. I discovered after I did that once that I could lower the rear passanger door window by just putting my hand on it and moving it down.
.

I had a beater car like that too, with a similar "anti-lockout" feature. The passenger side rear door never locked.

But thieves almost always go to the driver door first or maybe sometimes the passenger door, they don't bother checking the rear doors. Or at least that's what I was later told by a crime prevention officer.

Someone also said if your parking long term, put a glob of vaseline on the door handle it's a quick turnoff for casual thieves! Yecch!

[neighbor dave]

:-? fork da tiefs!
place a bear trap on the floor in the front seat, cover it wid a blanky or sumptin. then place yer freekin' wallet on top wid all kinds o sheeit hangin' outta it. leave door unlocked and go sit in da bushes till the drunk piece of lowlife shows up an' gits all happy an' sheeit cause he jus' tinks he scored enuff ching ta git his little sister the birth control pills she needs fer da boata dem. when da trap snaps down on hiz hand,run o'er an hit him in da head wid da bud lite can dat he lef on da hood of yer car. now i done went ta skool long enuff ta know da bud can ain't gonna kill him,but you doan wanna do dat anywho. jus wanna trow him in da ditch an wait fer da hiway dept ta pick 'em up,thereby releasin' you of all responibility fer da dumb arse!!:jump

[just jim]

Having an old "Trail Car" is what I have been doing for some time now. I bought the ugliest 1986 Buick Skylark in the world for $200.00, but it's my baby, and it has yet to fail to start. I learned my lesson several years ago when I parked my good vehicle in a parking area in the White Mountains of all places. My car, along with many others where vandalized on Christmas Day near Pinkham Notch. My convertible top was slashed open which made for a very chilly ride back to Central Maine. Like everyone else, I also agree that thieves are lazy and opportunistic, and if you take just a few precautions, the thief will move on to something else to steal.

[SGTdirtman]

the majority of car theifs and vandilist arent proffesionals... if they are going to loot a car they are going to smash a window and more than likely not one bound to have an alarm on it. If they are gonna steal a car they are gonna steal one that you can start with a screw driver. they also look for cars in secluded areas.

what kind of cars fit that description? old crappy cars in the woods.

what do most hikers have? old crappy cars in the woods.

advice... get an alarm, if thats to expensive get a fake alarm. (a blinking LED light in your dashboard and some stickers on your windows that say "protected by whatever security system")

[Just Jeff]

Welcome, Just Jim...it's always good to see someone's first post, especially when they've been a member for a while.

[gr8fulyankee]

Leon and Bubba live in Elijay. They drive 5 miles outside of town to Roy Road, another 10 miles to the start of FS 42, and then 6 miles on FS 42 to the Springer parking lot. One car is in the lot. Leon stands watch on the FS road while Bubba approaches the car with brick in hand, ready to break the window so they can loot the poor hikers car. So you believe that the next thing you are going to hear is...

"Hey Bubba, never mind, his glove box is open. Lets move on to Three Forks".

No way. That window is as good as broke.

I think the real question is, How long did it take them to get to Three Forks.