Hello all - last month there was a report of a smash and grab near the boat
launch near Smith Lake. Today, I had a similar situation
happen sometime between 7:30 and 8:30 am. My friend parked his pick-up
near the boat launch and we walked down to bird around Smith Lake. It was
a quiet morning and we did not see or hear anyone else around. We came back
about an hour later and found that someone had cleared out everything they
could find within the car. I'm talking jumper cables, driver's manual, a
bag full of food for the day, and CDs. Nothing of real value was stolen,
but the experience was still rather violating. I share this cautionary
tale to urge folks who intend to bird around the boat launch to perhaps
think twice about parking ones car near the end of the road, as it seems
someone is still actively breaking into cars at that particular spot.
Best,
-Nick Mrvelj
On Thursday, September 8, 2016, Philip Kline <pgeorgekline@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Please be careful when visiting Smith & Bybee Lakes, I learned a hard
lesson today. I parked my vehicle near the boat launch area this morning.
I wasn't sure of the lake level and whether it was really worth taking a
closer look, so I walked down the trail with my binoculars about 50 yards
while leaving my spotting scope in my truck. I never usually leave optics
in my car, but figured I wasn't going far and there was nobody in sight.
Shortly after, I heard a strange banging sound (there was a train on the
tracks close by so I didn't think much of it). I made my way back to my
truck about 30 seconds later and when I got to it the passenger window was
broken and my scope and tripod and backpack (hidden behind the seats) were
all gone. There was nobody in sight and I never heard a car arrive or
leave. Please be more careful out there than I was.
