I cannot speak to break-ins in the Boulware area...maybe it is
local homeless...or not. But, my wife and her fellow coworkers and friends
were the ones broken into at the Rochelle lot. This theft event occurred on
a weekday afternoon. The area was quite lonely. Their cars were the only
ones there.
While our van was NOT
broken into...the 3 other cars were, by smash and grab. All teachers,
the ladies, involved left obvious items...purses, book bags, etc in
plain view on the seats of the vehicles. Luckily, in two of the three
cars...the bags were essentially empty. But, the windows of the vehicles
were still smashed by a hammer or similar tool. Unfortunately, the third
car DID contain a purse with credit cards and a checkbook. The sheriff
investigators lifted prints and identified suspects. Known locals. The
cards were canceled within 2 hours. Interestingly, the first time the
checkbook was used was in NORTH CAROLINA. A total of ~$3000 was written on
the account. Luckily, by immediate notification to the bank the victims
were not charged for these check writing losses. The last check came back
with a byline note of "Thank You" apparently
written by the knowing criminal. Suspects are known but still at
large somewhere out there. Bottom line: these bad guys are knowledgeable
smash and grab thieves. While they have local connections to that area of
the county, they are mobile and immediately got out of the county &
state with what, to them, must have seemed a
good theft. They did get the ~$3000.
Bottom line: beware where you park on weekdays...less riders
means less cars in any trail lot...less witnesses at remote locations. I do
NOT park at any of the lots on weekdays...I ride over and back. My wife
will not likely ever park at that lot again....at least on a week day.
Think when you park, put away ALL objects that look valuable...which is
likely the ONLY thing that saved our van...it looked empty and actually was
since my wife took her wallet with her in a rear trunk on her
bike.
To paraphrase Hill Street's Sarge..."Be careful out
there". Bob Howland