Trailhead parking sadness

[AlanLichty]

A sight I would rather not see but this was visible in one of the Sweet Creek trailhead parking areas last Thursday. Not from my truck but a good reminder if why there are signs everywhere saying to not leave valuables in your vehicle. I have seen some overnighters in that parking area before that didn't look like recreational hikers or photographers but this was the first time I have seen evidence of car prowls. Isolated and certainly nowhere near the issues we see in the Gorge trailheads but sad to know the problems exist in the Siuslaw Forest. This is 16 miles from the Eugene-Mapleton highway so not a high traffic area for smash and grab like Eagle Creek (by far the worst place in the Gorge).

As a side note this is also a good display of alder leaves at their fall color finest when they change from green to dead

 

[Ben Egbert]

Some people are no damn good and theirs too many of them.

 

[JimFox]

The leaves look great.... the people? Not so much.

It's funny how for as proud as the Oregonians are about their state and their rather odd lifestyles, the state has the worst car break ins at parks that I have seen anywhere in the country. I don't know how you make your vehicle safe? Of course it's not leaving valuables in the open, but that doesn't always help. Anyone traveling is going to have bags, etc, in their vehicles, these low class people who break into vehicles don't always care I think.

And on another note, in Oregon this is nothing new. So I don't know why they don't install trailcams or some other security cameras to monitor at leasst the vehicles going in and out. If there is a rash of break-ins, at least someone can look through the video and narrow down the idiots.

 

[Kyle Jones]

In SF people leave their windows rolled down and trunks open in particularly bad spots. Sigh.

 

[JimFox]

In SF people leave their windows rolled down and trunks open in particularly bad spots. Sigh.

That's true, I have seen some stories about SF being the worst it seems. People driving down the street and stopping at a red light and people come up and smash and grab while the owners are still in the car!

 

[AlanLichty]

In SF people leave their windows rolled down and trunks open in particularly bad spots. Sigh.

I have heard multiple tales of folks who tried this at the Eagle Creek trailhead. The thieves got frustrated that nothing was left around for them so they just smashed up the car with their crowbars anyway. I will not park one of my own vehicles at Eagle Creek. Nice trail but not worth it IMHO. The bad side to the Gorge trailheads is their proximity to the freeway so a rapid getaway is simple.

That's true, I have seen some stories about SF being the worst it seems. People driving down the street and stopping at a red light and people come up and smash and grab while the owners are still in the car!

Smash and grab at a stoplight? That's definitely the worst I have heard of.....