| To the person(s) who stole the fishing gear from my | | | | catches their eye. |
| garage on July 17, 2010: May you rot in hell. Strong | | | | - Be sure to keep all outside light bulbs replaced and |
| words, aren't they? I have no tolerance for thieves, | | | | leave them on at night. Well lit property is less |
| and would like to have used much more graphic | | | | appealing to a criminal. |
| language. Several explicit examples of improper | | | | - Keep vehicles locked, and don't ever leave valuable |
| grammar come to mind. | | | | items in them at night. |
| Last Friday, my garage was broken into. The thieves | | | | - If you have a toolbox on your truck, keep it locked at |
| picked the low hanging fruit; they took a couple of | | | | all times. |
| backpacks left sitting on the toolbox of our ATV trailer. | | | | - Always remove receiver hitches when not in use. |
| Within those packs was 15 years of accumulated | | | | - When you get home late at night from the day trip to |
| fishing and outdoor gear. When we began to calculate | | | | the local lake, take the time to unpack your gear. |
| the cost to replace the missing items, we were | | | | Fishing poles, tackle boxes, and coolers left in the back |
| dumbfounded. It is amazing how much we spend on | | | | of a pickup are irresistible bait for dishonest |
| outdoor gear. Typically, quality outdoor equipment is | | | | pedestrians. |
| amassed over a long period of time. A lure here, a lure | | | | - Boats are magnets for thieves. Unless yours is |
| there, it is tough to walk out of a sporting goods store | | | | secured in a garage or shop, store all contents indoors. |
| without dropping at least $20. And when travelling, the | | | | - Use locking wheel chocks or other locking |
| savvy angler will always browse the local sporting | | | | mechanisms for boats and trailers stored outdoors. |
| goods vendor for specific lures indigenous to the area. | | | | - Do not leave garage door openers in vehicles parked |
| The problem is, many of the items in our packs were | | | | outside of your garage. If you park outside, take them |
| not replaceable. Like my dad's fishing lures or my | | | | in with you every night. |
| grandfather's hand tied flies. Or the anniversary | | | | - When you travel out of town, ask a friend or |
| addition Leatherman I received as a gift several years | | | | neighbor to pick of your mail and paper and check on |
| ago. And then there's the Florida Gators sweatshirt I | | | | your property every day. |
| bought during our anniversary vacation last spring. | | | | - If you go on vacation in the winter, be sure to make |
| Outrageously expensive - no. Priceless sentimental | | | | arrangements to have your driveway and walk |
| value - absolutely. I wonder if the people that stole our | | | | shoveled every time it snows. A foot and a half of |
| property gave it a second thought. Do they feel bad? | | | | accumulated snow with no footprints or tire tracks is a |
| Do they steal because they are poverty-stricken | | | | sure indicator of a vacant home. |
| fishermen? I don't think so. Chances are, the knives & | | | | - Do not leave hide-a-keys in obvious locations on your |
| multi-tools will be pawned and everything else will be | | | | vehicles or around your home. Would-be thieves will |
| thrown away. So in the end, it is likely that they stole | | | | likely search for your extra key under the bumper of |
| over $1,500 of outdoor gear to net $100 at the pawn | | | | your car, inside the bed rail of your truck, under the |
| shop. | | | | doormat, on the porch light, inside the BBQ grill, and |
| Aside from the outright anger associated with the | | | | under the little frog on your front doorstep. |
| crime, we are concerned that the thieves will return. | | | | - Get in the habit of conducting a security check every |
| Our garage is packed full of outdoor equipment. A | | | | night before you go to bed. Ensure windows and |
| canoe, kayak, 2 pontoon tubes, a trolling motor, an | | | | doors are locked, garage doors are closed, vehicles |
| ATV trailer, 2 motorcycles, 2 4-wheelers, tents, | | | | are locked without valuables left inside, and outside |
| sleeping bags, life jackets, lanterns, tools, and countless | | | | lights are on. |
| other outdoor treasures are stuffed into our 2-car | | | | - Keep your homeowners or renters insurance current |
| garage. My wife's fishing license was tucked into the | | | | and ensure the limits are sufficient to cover the |
| pocket of her backpack. Listed on the fishing license is | | | | contents of your home and garage. |
| our address, her date of birth and driver's license | | | | - Install an alarm system if you can afford it. |
| number. This makes identity theft a realistic concern. | | | | Common sense, consistency, and diligence are the |
| We live in a middle class neighborhood in a small town. | | | | most effective methods of keeping your property |
| I can remember growing up on the farm. We didn't | | | | secure. Why was my garage broken into? Because I |
| lock our home or cars, and the keys were left in the | | | | was complacent and let down my guard. One of our |
| ignition most of the time. Much has changed since then, | | | | vehicle doors was left unlocked, and the thieves used |
| and I fear we have not seen the worst. The | | | | the garage door opener attached to the visor. The |
| methamphetamine epidemic that plagues the nation | | | | day before the burglary, our garage door was left |
| combined with rising unemployment and the worst | | | | open most of the day as we lazily prepared for a |
| economy in my lifetime creates a recipe for increased | | | | weekend fishing trip. Prior to the break in, my family |
| crime in every area of the country. Here are some tips | | | | had been diligent in keeping vehicles locked and |
| to help keep your hard-earned property safe and | | | | property secure. But it only takes once. Don't let it |
| secure: | | | | happen to you - quality outdoor equipment should be |
| - Only open your garage door when absolutely | | | | passed down through posterity as family heirlooms; not |
| necessary, and don't leave it open any longer than | | | | stolen and pawned by thieves lacking morals and |
| required. This will prevent would-be thieves from | | | | values, devoid of the pride and integrity that is inherent |
| inventorying your equipment and seeing something that | | | | in most outdoorsmen and women. |