Tweeters,

This is most unfortunate not only for the loss of personal items but for the sheer inconvenience. I too have seen broken windshield glass in various parking lots and it does raise a cause for concern. We added glass coverage to our policy with a $100 deductible in some cases there may be no deductible. It was not that costly and might be worth looking into.

A few notes worth considering especially if you have a propensity to leave any gear behind in your vehicle:

1-See if your camera allows for user data to be added as EXIF data. (what is EXIF data > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exif) On every image I snap, copyright data and my web site is embedded into the image. Sure its removable but thieves may not be that savvy. This will aid if the thief (or party your camera is sold to) uploads images to flickr or similar. Your personal info can be easily searched and possibly tracked as this actually happened to a another photographer: https://petapixel.com/2015/07/09/photographer-recovers-15k-in-stolen-gear-thanks-to-exif-copyright-info/
2-keep track of your gears' serial numbers - then go here if your gear is stolen: http://www.stolencamerafinder.com/ . Many cameras embed also the serial number of the lens used in the EXIF data of your camera. If your camera has GPS, make sure its on this would be far easier to track using GPS coordinates. If you take pictures at home and upload, turn the feature off temporarily
3-the best deterrent is to make the thieves looks elsewhere. A good quality (thick) car cover would be a good discouragement factor. Sure it will take a few minutes to assemble but also be a complete hassle for the would be thieves. With some car covers you can lock them down so they can't be removed with cables that wrap under the chassis
4-leave nothing visible in view if possible.
5-another deterrent is: Scotchshield Security Series of protective window films
6-look for remnants of auto window broken glass in the area you're parking. It's a good indicator this area is under wrongful surveillance.
7-Glass-break sensors engage when they "hear" a window getting smashed, unlike stock car alarms, which often rely upon a door being opened.
8-always keep your personal information, garage openers locked in your glove box. Stop thieves from knowing your identity and going one step further.
9-lastly, I know of a couple that was followed to a hardware store from their birding location. They left their gear in the car once they arrived at the hardware store. They were than likely observed by thieves from a distance. The couple was followed from the birding location to the hardware store and lost over $10,000 worth of scopes, lenses and camera gear.

I surely hope some of these ideas aid in thwarting would be thieves.

Anthony


-----Original Message-----
From: Carol Riddell [mailto:cariddellwa at gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2018 12:49 PM
To: Tweeters
Subject: [Tweeters] More on Car Break-ins - Spencer Island

Hi Tweeters,

I'm very sorry to hear that Penny has experienced two recent car break-ins. They are on the rise everywhere and we are always at risk, good stuff in the vehicle or not. Even just dealing with replacing broken windows is a hassle. I hope Penny at least gets her pack returned.

A hot spot for break-ins in Snohomish County is the small Spencer Island parking lot adjacent to one of the Everett Water Treatment aeration ponds. There are always nuggets of glass there from broken windows. Everett Parks knows of the problem but posts no signs or security camera. I pulled in there one day recently to see both driver-side windows broken out of a late model Subaru Forester. I opted to scope the lagoon pond from near my car. I was still there when the two couples who had been enjoying a hike returned to the Forester. It was their first visit to Spencer Island and had no knowledge of the high break-in rate at that parking lot. I decided that from now on I will park my car outside the gate, along the road, where a break-in would be much more visible and more risky for a thief. I have been walking back in with my scope. It does not guarantee I won't be broken into, but I think I increase my odds for a pleasant bird outing by parking outside the gate and walking in.

Carol Riddell
Edmonds, WA