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View Full Version : vandalism in hiker parking lots



Deb
10-03-2004, 11:12
I never had a problem parking overnight for hikes on the AT. On Sept. 29 I left my car in a DEC parking area near West Saugerties, NY for an overnight on the Long Path. I returned the next day to find my car vandalized. All the windows were smashed, completely gone. There was a log inside my car.
The local deputy who responded said there wasn't much they could do.
I'm still in shock. I didn't have glass coverage, but worse than that...I know I am always going to have doubts about leaving my car in the future, whereas before I never worried. As a woman who often hikes alone it's also made me think about my safety. It was a very violent attack...how far would people like that go?
Has anyone else had a similar experience? Any advice?

Jack Tarlin
10-03-2004, 12:50
Deb--

Sorry this happened, but thankfully, this is usually a really rare sort of thing.

Please make sure you report this incident to to the A.T.C. or local Trail club; they keep track of this sort of thing, and they make sure that local authorities are aware of unusual incidents and "trouble spots."

smokymtnsteve
10-03-2004, 20:15
I wish it were rare, I had my truck window broke out at the mt leconte parking lot a couple years ago, I made a report,rangers said that there was not much they could do ,,,and that it happens all the time there.

Hammock Hanger
10-03-2004, 21:17
Hikerhead just had the window of his car broken out at a trailhead in NH near Franconia Notch.

Hikerhead
10-03-2004, 21:40
At the Flume Trailhead parking lot. Nothing in the car was disturbed which was quite puzzleling. Was it a bear? It didn't touch the cooler in the backseat which had milk and orange juice in it. Maybe it was a greenpeacer or animal lover since I had my blaze orange hat on the window deck and they just wanted to make a statement.

Thanks to the Lincoln Police Dept for tapeing plastic over the window and leaving their card under my wiper.

At the Lafayette campground just up the road, the manager said a girl had the same thing happen to her car at the campground, again nothing was taken. So, maybe it was a bear.

Kerosene
10-04-2004, 10:53
I just think that those mice are getting stronger, Hikerhead!

The Eleven
10-04-2004, 12:03
Sorry to hear about broken windows. It is getting so to the point that rangers answers are just excuses.....just beef up patrol/security guards....create jobs. It is also getting so to the point about not being able to leave vehicles for extended periods of time that I feel like I have to start using shuttles/taxis all the time.....what an expense. Part of reasons I backpack is not only for the nature, goal and physical activity, but also that after initial investment, it is an inexpensive way to vacation. If I EVER catch vandels in the act.....Happy Trails! Steve (Little Bear 2) in CT

chknfngrs
10-04-2004, 12:23
Vandalism is *so* weak...I remember years ago a neighbor I had while growing up had his tires slashed, and I thought nothing of it. Last year I bought 4 new tires for my car, at $90 a tire it adds up really fast!

How else can we get to and enjoy the trail without additional expense of window repairs, taxi's or shuttles?? I won't stop parking in legit areas for weekend hikes, I refuse. I will just continue to hope that my dinky Ford is not an attractive target for lumber.

smokymtnsteve
10-04-2004, 12:38
How else can we get to and enjoy the trail without additional expense of window repairs, taxi's or shuttles?? I won't stop parking in legit areas for weekend hikes, I refuse. I will just continue to hope that my dinky Ford is not an attractive target for lumber.

More public transportation, I would like to see at least the Choice of public transit in places like the Smokies, wouldn't it be great for there to be less cars and parking lots and such around our National Parks, If the answer to our Urban transportation problems is Mass transit ,,,,I think the NPS should lead the way. the shuttle buses I used in my recent visit to Denali were great.

Kerosene
10-04-2004, 18:44
...I bought 4 new tires for my car, at $90 a tire it adds up really fast!Try $200+ per tire for my 'sporty' car.

Hmmm, I'd use a shuttle bus if it was reasonably priced and I could be sure my car was safe at the bus parking!

smokymtnsteve
10-04-2004, 18:48
I drive a Ford Escort wagon...set of 4 tires for under $200.

and about 40 MPG! ;)

Deb
10-05-2004, 07:43
The car that had all its glass smashed was also a Ford Escort wagon, 1996. Good basic transportation. The bill for towing, cleaning up the glass, used glass all the way around, labor and tax was $1000.
I'm ready to put the incident behind me. BTW, there was nothing in the car to steal, it was empty, back hatch wasn't even locked. Pure maliciousness.

Alligator
10-05-2004, 08:46
How else can we get to and enjoy the trail without additional expense of window repairs, taxi's or shuttles?? I won't stop parking in legit areas for weekend hikes, I refuse. I will just continue to hope that my dinky Ford is not an attractive target for lumber.
This is a constant worry. While an added expense, sometimes shuttle cost can be minimized by parking in a safe spot somewhat close to the trailhead lot, then getting a shuttle. This could be kept under $10.00 (5 miles at $2/mile). Consider that Deb's repair bill was $1000, that's 100 hikes or 50 if two shuttles needed.

If not too far, park further away and walk to the trailhead. Or hitch if you are comfortable with that.

I typically park at the trailhead, but since getting a different vehicle, I am a bit concerned myself about the high cost of vandalism. I have a $500.00 deductible, which is still way more than I would like to pay.

java
10-05-2004, 13:45
A friend of mine parked his old Toyota pick-up truck at Allen Gap (about 15 trail miles N of Hot Springs) at about 8:30 p.m. one night this spring. We were going to hike to his truck the next day, and drive back to town for another night of fun.
When we arrived the next afternoon his truck was up on blocks, all wheels gone, and everything of any value inside was stolen.
The cop said this was a very common occurrence, and didn't seem it give two *****s. He looked at the other (much nicer) cars still parked there and proclaimed "they'll be hit tonight".

Lesson? Leave your car in town, and get a shuttle to the trail.
We reported the incident to the ATC, and they weren't aware that this had been a popular spot for vandalism.
I in fact think that this is a rather common problem, and not all of it gets reported to the ATC.

orangebug
10-05-2004, 17:18
I understand why the folks (I wonder which state/county came) gave little concern at Allen Gap. This area is isolated and the thieves could have come from any number of neighboring areas. I suspect that the local police see section hikers are transient visitors who set themselves up for the crime.

"Blame the victim" happens to us also.

BeaverTrapper
10-05-2004, 20:29
Put a Confederate flag sticker on your car. :D Seriously, though; I often see cars in trailheads that are obviously "hippie cars". They've got more bumper stickers on them advertising every liberal cause under the sun. It would be the same as parking a pickup truck with a Confederate flag sticker on it in the ghetto for a week and expecting it to be there when you get back.

Use common sense, blend in and be low key. Thats about all you can do. I'm very conservative, but the only sticker on my Jeep is a small UnderArmour sticker.

java
10-05-2004, 22:13
Put a Confederate flag sticker on your car. :D Seriously, though; I often see cars in trailheads that are obviously "hippie cars". They've got more bumper stickers on them advertising every liberal cause under the sun. It would be the same as parking a pickup truck with a Confederate flag sticker on it in the ghetto for a week and expecting it to be there when you get back.

Use common sense, blend in and be low key. Thats about all you can do. I'm very conservative, but the only sticker on my Jeep is a small UnderArmour sticker.
My buddy who had his wheels stolen at Allen Gap is a local from just down the road in Asheville, local plates, no 'hippie' stickers (he's a 40+ year old engineer).
Frankly, they just wanted his wheels, there were much nicer cars parked there and they could have had their pick.

Youngblood
10-06-2004, 10:50
Quite often when you are the victim of vandalizm or theft, there is nothing you could have done to prevent it short of not being there at that particular time. It is obviously unwise to leave valuables behind, especially in sight, or to say or have signs that might insult people. Vandals get a kick out of damaging things, theifs look for things to steal and there is nothing to keep a vandal from being a theif or a theif from being a vandal.

It is not always that easy to characterize each incident and just because it has never happened to you, doesn't necessarily mean it is because you where smart enough to prevent it. Many times, it is just a crapshoot, kind of like the odds in winning a lottery... except this time you lose. Even if you make no 'mistakes', it can happen to you.

Youngblood