Break In at Fish Lake (king county); my rant

[yooper_fisher]

Those of you that know me and/or my reports, you know that I fish at Fish Lake in King County almost exclusively. Lately the perch have been biting fairly well so I've been fishing a couple nights a week after I get off work. Tonight was one of those nights...

Since I get off work at 6 I have to rush to get to the lake to have an ample amount of time to fish. I arrived at the lake around 6:45 to an empty parking lot. The empty lot is usual as very few people seem to know or care about this lake, which is the way I like it. By 7:00 I had drug my boat to the water and was rowing out. At 7:10 I had rowed to where I wanted to fish and dropped anchor. I was rigging up my perch gear when I heard a car alarm go off. Since the last few times I had been out I had heard lots of horns honking in the area I didn't think anything of it, until this time it didn't stop. I began wondering if this was my car alarm since I hadn't heard it before. I had just pulled anchor and started to row back in a hurry when the alarm stopped, so I figured it was from a neighboring house and went back to fishing.

At 9:00 I made my way back to the parking area and got to my truck. I pressed my unlock button and went to get in and noticed my glove box was open. I thought this was weird, but it took me a split second to realize that I hadn't left it open. Than I looked at the backseat window... SMASHED OUT!!! Now I'm pissed and confused!

Having never had a vehicle broken into I really didn't know what to do. I called my fiance who's truck it was and asked her. She had me look for the insurance card and anything that might be gone while she looked up the number for the King County Sheriff. I discovered that the gps unit that I had in the glove box my father had just sent me was taken, and nothing else (it was the only thing of value in the truck, there was garbage laying everywhere else).

I gave the sheriff dept. a call and the dispatcher I got couldn't have been more helpful. It was a bit rocky at first trying to explain where I was since I didn't know the nearest cross street, but we eventually figured it out. At one point he asked me if I would help prosecute if they found a suspect, I responded with an emphatic "ABSOLUTELY!!!" He offered to have an officer come out to take the report but I figured an officer couldn't do anything more so I continued with the report over the phone. When it was all done and he was going to give me the report number I informed him that I didn't have a pen or pencil. With that (and this is the most impressive part) he asked if I had been fishing on the lake. I, of course, said yes. He asked if I had any lead sinkers since I could use that to write down the number. I thought that was brilliant and thanked him profusely.

Now, after this whole story/rant I ask WHY? Who does this? I know these things happen, but seriously? I have talked to a lot of people that fish this lake and no one has had this happen to my knowledge. The closest driveway to the lake even has a police car parked in it. My best guess is that it was local kids out walking since I didn't hear a vehicle pull in (and you can hear any car going by or pulling in from anywhere on this small lake). I really thought this was the one lake in the area that was "safe" from all this. I just don't know what possesses someone to take what is not rightfully theirs! Again, I know this happens but it makes a guy feel helpless and pissed! This is my favorite lake and I'm not sure I'm going to be able to fish it for a while out of fear of my property being destroyed... BAH!

Okay, thank you to those of you that actually read all the way through my rant. It was good therapy for me to write it down and I will be adding this experience, in a much shorter form, to the break-in's page.

[edge540]

Sorry to hear that man, I hate this crap! I always take my old truck when haul the little boat out to the lake and leave the windows down and the doors unlocked. Nothing in there to steal so I don't want to have to buy a dam window to satisfy there curiosity!

Pretty well sux that a guy has to worry about his truck getting prowled at the boat launch these days.

[spindog]

Sorry to hear that man, I hate this crap! I always take my old truck when haul the little boat out to the lake and leave the windows down and the doors unlocked. Nothing in there to steal so I don't want to have to buy a dam window to satisfy there curiosity!

Pretty well sux that a guy has to worry about his truck getting prowled at the boat launch these days.

That really sucks! I have been broken into several times and I'm with edge540- no valuables and
an unlocked open window format. Sorry to hear about your loss and you always feel violated.
Don't let them losers keep you from fishing your favorite lake, with the car open you can be
assured nothing will be broken- let them take a look.
Be sure and post in "Where have you had breakins or vandalism" running list of problem areas to
be careful. Found under the Freshwater fishing topics. Postup we will all be safer.
link
http://www.washingtonlakes.com/forum/ya ... alism.aspx

[rjn cajun]

Sorry to hear that yooper. Fish lake is notorious for breakins with the few people that fish it. My cousin lives on the right side before the lake and we also have family friends that live on the left side before the lake. Been going on for years as it`s not patrolled and you can`t hear a peep. My guess is kids out of school. But I`m not going to put it past the tweekers. In the past they have set up shop back there. I would stop and ask the the neighbors on the road if they saw any other vehicles or people walking. There had to be someone outside and I`m 100% sure someone saw the person or persons. If someone drives down that road they will usually get stares. Be careful as it gets closer tothe rainy season as the kids will start taking there 4x4`s out there down the launch in the mud and the duck hunters when that time comes. Again sorry that stinks. If you stop at a neighbors to ask make sure there outside.

[Mike Carey]

every time I go hiking when I return there's always a question as I approach the parking lot - "will this time be the time I got broken into?".

It sucks but unfortunately it's the way of the world. Just can't let it keep you from doing the things you enjoy. Sorry for your violation.

[racfish]

As Ive said before. I too leave my door unlocked. I have nothing of value in my rig. Id rather have my truck ransacked to getting busted windows.Windows are expensive to replace.Especially in a stinking economy I dont usually park where I cant see my rig.The aggravation of a break in can ruin any fishing trip.Sorry for your loss.

[yooper_fisher]

Thanks for the support everyone! I honestly didn't think I had anything of value in there. I had completely forgot about my gps until I realized it was gone. I hadn't even had time to set the darn thing up, lol. Such is life I guess.

[natetreat]

I've had my old car broken into in front of my apartment, but haven't had a fishing related break in for quite a while. I can't believe there are people out there that would do this, it makes me so angry! Probably kids, highschoolers listening to gangster rap or tweakers neeeding a fix. Sorry that happened! I don't lock my car and keep all valuable outta the car for this reason. It just makes sense. Plus I don't wash my car, haven't installed my stereo in it and never fixed the dents in the fenders. They don't think twice about beater cars a lot of times.

[Gringo Pescador]

every time I go hiking when I return there's always a question as I approach the parking lot - "will this time be the time I got broken into?".

It sucks but unfortunately it's the way of the world. Just can't let it keep you from doing the things you enjoy. Sorry for your violation.

This is me whenever I return from fishing. But I refuse to let it stop me from going!

I don't leave my doors unlocked or windows open for fear of some idiot doing something nasty in my rig:-& , but here are a few things I do to try and reduce the possibilty of either getting broken into or the pain afterwards.

1.) I don't leave anything in my rig - I take only what I am going to carry with me when I leave the vehicle. If it cannot be put COMPLETELY out of sight, or carried with me, it doesn't go.

2.) I leave ALL compartments open and empty - glove box, the little sunglass holder that hangs down from the roof, ash tray, everything.

3.) When possible, I try to park in high traffic areas - even if it means I walk a little farther to get where I am going.

4.) If I do have things I am going to hide (under/behind seats, or wherever). I hide it BEFORE I get to my destination (you never know if they are watching you right when you pull up).

5.) If I have things hidden, and I am at a place I go to often, I don't pull em out of hiding until AFTER I leave (again, you never know who is watching and will be watching the next time you show up). Just drive down the road a mile or two and pull over before revealing your hiding spots to the world.

6.) For stuff that I have to have in my rig (papers, GPS, etc.) I bought one of these at Outdoor Emporium for $20, pulled the foam out of it, secured it with the provided cable to the vehicle and hid it in my rig.
http://www.sportco.com/productcart/pc/G ... p53592.htm
Sure somebody, given the right equipment and time, could cut the cable, run off with it, and break it open - but dammit - they will have to work for it!

7.) I have insurance, I know - it may not cover it all, and it is expensive - but IMHO it is a necessary cost for the times we live in.

I know I will get hit one of these days - and when I do I will be pissed, but in the meantime I am going to reduce my changes in every way I can and NOT let it where I will or will not go.

[BentRod]

Sorry to hear yooper. Everytime I come back to my truck from fishing, I think, "Is it going to be me this time?" So far I've been lucky. Of course I don't get out fishing as much as many, so I guess the odds are in my favor.

[kenimes]

They need to design some sort of taser device that connects to the vehicle battery, and is armed like a car alarm, so if anyone touches the door handles in an attempt to break in, they get zapped to the ground.

[yooper_fisher]

agreed Ken!!! And thank you to Gringo for the ideas. I also don't feel comfortable leaving the truck unlocked as it's not technically mine. The Fiance works at an insurance company and says that 90% of their vehicle claims are those of opportunity; ie: no broken windows, just cars unlocked.

I got the window replaced today at the tune of just over $250, and the gps was only worth a touch over $100 so it didn't even cover the insurance deductable... That's a hefty price to pay these days.

Again, thanks again for all the well wishes and stories, it really does help to take the sting off.

[kzoo]

agreed Ken!!! And thank you to Gringo for the ideas. I also don't feel comfortable leaving the truck unlocked as it's not technically mine. The Fiance works at an insurance company and says that 90% of their vehicle claims are those of opportunity; ie: no broken windows, just cars unlocked.

I got the window replaced today at the tune of just over $250, and the gps was only worth a touch over $100 so it didn't even cover the insurance deductable... That's a hefty price to pay these days.

Again, thanks again for all the well wishes and stories, it really does help to take the sting off.

Sucks man! Raises my blood pressure everytime I hear this. I've been broken into a couple times. At least reporting it was a better experience than mine, Renton Police made me file a report on line.