Thief on the river

[JPSFISHY]

Heard for a Guide Buddy today. Some poor guy on the Clackamas, had his driftboat trailer stolen this weekend at Barton Park. They cut a pad lock off, and just hooked up. You know the crowds and traffic we've all had to put up with. I put this out as an awakening to all. We owe it to each other as sportsmen-sportspeople/ha to watch each others backs at all times. These low life mothas are very slippery, and their too stupid to care. I used to carry tools/parts in my rig. I can't anymore. I've been had 3x so far. Carver/Feildheimers. I wished we could set these guy's up. Their drug/low life family's/friends that live local along or close to the river. "WE" need to meet these folks. I'm open for suggestions from anybody that has an idea. I give you all my work I constantly look out. The thought of having to Pack on a fishing trip, should not be an option. Most folks I know will drive "around" from time to time to "check out" what's going on, and who's where, and what's going on. What we try to enjoy, cost a bunch. We pay through the nose. It's up to us to protect each other. Even though Clack. Co. Sheriffs probably won't appreciate calls on suspious vehicals/people, I believe the issue needs to be forced. Take a picture of a plate w/ the people in the vehicle, talk to them, call and force a report for documentation. I took a picture of some folks 5 years ago at Feildheimers. It totally messed them up. One long hair got out of the car, and then decided against it. I'm sure glad. Spot um, and confront um. EVERYTIME. They'll move on. Over and over and over. I'm sick of being afraid to park my nice 77 Ford PU at a ramp. Please help. I'm game for NO TOLLERANCE.
Maybe a meeting/BBQ with local law enforement to review a neighborhood watch kind of program for all of us. ????? I don't know.
What do you think??? J P

[Trick]

I know your pain....I've had had several break-ins myself and it really makes me mad. I can never enjoy an overnighter on the river because I spend the entire time thinking about my rig. It's sad that we have to live like this.

I don't have any good answers or solutions...if I did then maybe I'd be able to protect my own rigs. I had my car broke into and vandelized about 6 months ago which is the fourth time over the last 10 years. Had two more attempted break-ins that failed but only after they messed up my door locks.

I've lived in fairly quite areas and it doesn't seem to make a differance, there are crooks in every town.

Maybe one possible solution would be higher ramp fees to pay for a security gaurd?

[Vinny]

Trick,
Your security guard idea is a good one. Find a high crime parking area. Propose a temporary test in which higher fees were charged. Get input from those using (paying extra) the higher paid area. You could use questionaires. If people like it, you've got a solution. If not, you're stuck with thievery.

You might also consider a surveilance cameras.

Good Luck.

[Catch 22]

We've used Feldheimer's, McIver, Barton, and Carver for years and years. We have been lucky so far and have never had any problems. We never leave anything valuable in our rigs. It shouldn't be like this, but the world is full of losers.

Jimmy(JP), thanks for the use of the jumper cables yesterday. I had left my lights on during a drift on the Clack and JP happened to come back to his rig and lent me his cables. He is one of the good guys for sure.

[Pilar]

I'm sorry to say that the number of people willing to steal something seems to far exceed the number of people willing to work hard for it.

How many cars/rigs are parked where this stuff goes on?

IMHO the reason they target sportsmen is
a) remote location and
b) lack of interest by the authorities in property crimes like car theft, burglary and vandalism.

In 20 years of river ratting, I have never seen any law enforcement presence in any parking area. They will walk down to the river to check you and then leave.

You could do what I do when I park. I leave it unlocked and absolutely nothing in it. The gaping hole in the dashboard is where the stereo used to be until I got ripped off. That cost me a busted window and a stereo. I figure the hole in the dashboard is pretty good lowlife repellent.

[JPSFISHY]

Pilar, These guys are really something. They cut the lock off the guys trailer, and hooked it up during broad day light, in the middle of Barton Park, on a week end, with people all around. Nobody noticed, or cared ??? I've got it twice at Feildheimers. They broke into my canopy, got tool boxes, auto parts, camping gear, jacks, spare tire, hand towels, fish bags.... At Carver, during the middle of the day, parked in the middle of the boat ramp, with trucks all around me, they broke my license plate holders, pulled out my plates, took tin snips, and "cut" the corners out off the plates to steel my TAGS. Clackamas Co. Sheriffs told me that happens alot, and they refused to take a report. Pretty damn bad when ya can't even carry a spare tire/jack. This is broad daylight/people all around kinda stuff. I've lived in alot of places in my life, but I've never experienced being robbed untill living on the river, and fishing alot. This just really gives me a belly ache. I have a trip for tomorrow, a double, and I've been worried all day how to not have to park my rig somewhere. Do we have to pay somebody to drive our rig, and come pick us up at our takeout.??
Oh, Fishrus- Got 2, released a native, lost 1, and missed 2. JP