Just a note that a group of Birders’ vehicles were vandalized and prowled in broad daylight at the parking lot of the North Mason Schools’ Mary E. Theler Early Learning Center in Belfair. This is the main access for the Theler Wetlands nature trails, and the bi-monthly bird walks hosted by John Riegsecker and Faye McAdams Hands.
Apparently, these Vandals (a terrible adjective for these low-lives: the epithet derives from the nice peoples of antiquity . . . just because they sacked Rome in 455 A.D.) were after spare change and possibly personal identification papers - insurance and registration, etc. - rather than stuff they could pawn. A few people had optics and other items in the vehicle that were not taken.
My passenger side window was broken out and the glove boxes rifled through. I keep no money, not even change, in my car, so didn’t suffer any theft. But the perpetrators caused thousands of dollars’ worth of damage to 9 vehicles for likely less than $10 worth of “take”.
In my area, the parking lots at Nisqually Refuge get hit periodically as well.
Just a reminder for us to not leave valuables in our cars while birding, and to ensure our car alarm is activated. Or, as one of our company did - leave a large dog in the front seat!
Safe Birding, all -
Jon. Anderson
OlyWA
festuca at comcast dot net
https://jonsperegrination.blogspot.com/