What A Drag ---- Theft-----

[kimrb266]

We were on our way to camp with a group from PUT and stopped at Weinersnizle (sp) for lunch.  We parked next to to the restaurant and were going to sit so we could keep an eye on the trailer.  No more than 2 minutes after DH got into the restaurant, someone came in and asked if the truck with the trailer attached was ours.  We said yes and he said that someone had just smashed the passenger window with a crowbar.  Sure enough, it was our truck.  DH called the police and they found that the theft was caught on tape.  The bad thing is that the tape quality wasn't great and the image was far away from the camera.  They did make out that the car was a white Ford Escape type vehicle with about 4 occupants.  Two guys got out and one had a crowbar.  They smashed my window and took my craft bag and attempted to snag our DVD case.  Evidently, they were scared away.  
 
Picture this.  Our 3 yr daughter was sitting on the curb crying while the other 2 thought it was pretty cool.  Later in the evening, my 5 yr old said, "mommy, feed us before we leave for our camping trip so no one will hurt our truck".  This broke my heart.
 
It is now about 2pm on Fri and we want to salvage our trip, after all, we have 3 kids excited about camping for the 1st time this season.  We went home and DH vacuumed out the truck while I called window companies.  The company we picked said that they could be out around 4 or maybe 5.  We said OK.  Well, 5 pm has passed and no window company.  DH calls them to find that they are now close and he just knew that they  we were going to get stood up.  They end up fixing the window and around 6:30pm DH makes the decision of leaving so the kids can wake up in the trailer.  We arrived about 9:30PM at the campground and thanks to Moose and Griffsmom, we popped up with no problem and everything was fine from then on out.
 
DH said that they only way that the crooks will get caught for our crime is that if they get caught doing another crime at a later date and they note  my hot pink bag with large ladybug on it and look at past crimes.  They can then put 2 and 2 together.  
 
The sad thing is that they not only almost ruined out trip, inconvenienced us but most importantly, they tramatized my small children.

[gager2002]

Sorry to hear of your trip.  At least they didn't take the whole package.  Or your lives...

[Billy Bob]

That's sad but at least someone came in and told you about it. This is the only way crime losses is when someone takes that little effort to get involve and help out a fellow citizen. I hope everyone remembers this if they someday witness a crime. Hey we all have cell phones now. Make a call to the police, get a license plate number, description of the get away vehicle or description of the low life's doing the crime. Someday someone might repay the favor. I know I would. I hate when someone messes with someone else's stuff. :mad:

The only problem is the courts just let them go to do it again when they are caught. :confused:

[PITPOP27]

AH, I felt like you all are family, being from whittier, how sad....I'm glad no one was in the car when they did all that, blessings there.  And glad you all went on to camp and have a good time.  Was the window costly?  So sad..do you think they're crafting as we speak?  Losers. So glad you broke my window for a craft bag... :mad:

[tlhdoc]

It is a shame that they damaged your family.  I hope you all have a speedy recovery.  I don't think the criminals have any idea of the lasting effect they have one peoples lives.  Even when caught and convicted, I don't think they understand.  I guess if the understood the effects of what they do, they wouldn't do it.

[balbrt1]

I am so sorry to hear of your misfortune..There are just some mean people out there.  Wonder what they are making out of your craft bag...hehehe. At least you got to camp with friends and enjoy your trip.  Someday those crooks will pay for all of there meaness..

[tknick]

I have to chime in here as I am a Police Officer and crime prevention something I know a little about.  First and foremost, the goal of crime prevention isn't really to prevent crime.  It is to make you (and your stuff) less attractive than your neighbor and his stuff.  That being said, it's pretty hard to do with a car obviously packed for camping.  At least try to conceal anything that might be a target for theft (DVD players, GPS units, game systems, etc).  And for God's sake, lock the doors.  You would be suprised how many reports I have taken in my career where people left purses, wallets, computers, and all kinds of other valuable stuff in unlocked cars and seemed suprised that someone would steal it.  

As you learned, it only takes a second to pull up next to a car, smash a window, reach inside, take what you want and be gone in less than a minute.  Please remember a few things: It's property and it can be replaced, your lives cannot.  If you see something that doesn't look right, it probably isn't.  Take a second look and make sure.  If it's not right, start remembering (or better yet writing down) everything you can.  Use the cell phone to call the police immediately.  Getting a description of a suspect's car without license plates os pretty much worthless unless the name of the suspect is written on the side of the vehicle.  Direction of travel when the suspects leave will help other Officers who may be nearby.  Finally, back to something I already said, your life as a witness is not worth any property in anyone's car.  Don't get yourself into a situation you aren't prepared for or can't handle.

If something gets stolen and you couldn't live without it, leave it at home.  Sorry for the bad luck, but kudos for making the trip anyway.  Your kids may be a little scare now, but as they grow up, they'll not only remember how bad the trip started, but how well it ended.

travis

[Camping Coxes]

Kim --

Being from Whittier I don't want to get too specific on the internet, but were you guys by chance at the Wienerschnitzel at a major intersection in Whittier, next to Big Lots?
 
The only reason I ask is a few months back we had this happen to three of our cars at our church on a Sunday morning (in uptown Whittier).  They smashed the passenger windows and got silly stuff like a tote bag with a notebook, a make-up bag, etc.  The stuff you leave lying in the car as you get out.  The police said this has been happening a lot in this area.  We've had to assign an usher to periodically walk the parking lot -- how sad is that?
 
Maybe some Whittier thieves have a fetish for ladies' personal items.  Odd things to steal.

[esclark]

The important thing is that nobody was hurt looking at the big picture.  That being said, what happened is so unfortunate.  There are a lot of troubled people out there that are looking for fast money to feed whatever habit they have.