Druggies are stealing catalytic convertors in Sacramento in the parks along the American river during the daylight hours in a supposedly patroled/protected park. If they have the tools to quickly slice off a catalytic convertor, they can cut any chain/cable. It is the hassle of doing so that might prevent them.
A little over a decade ago, we were going through a California recession where people were leaving the state in droves. Thefts and other problems were happening in the good neighborhoods. We had a couple of events/close calls, and I called the cops. A great officer came out and reexplained the Willie Sutton principle.
He suggested that I start a neighborhood watch program for our cul de sac. I did and had the meeting with an officer and neighbors in our home. One couple laughed and said there was no need. That couple stopped laughing a week later when their home was broken into on the day after Christmas and most of their family's Christmas gifts were stolen.
So we put up signs and became watchful neighbors, and I got several culdesacs around us to set up Neighborhood watches. We had a couple of close calls in the neighborhood, and the bad events were aborted due to people being more aware. Then, I got a call from a dear 80 year old lady on the block. She suspected her grandson. I told her I would call the cops, and she said she would do it. She turned him into the cops, and they found a smorgasboard of stolen goods in his apartment. He was responsible for the breakins in our area and apparently masterminded home invasion robberies around town.
With the new photo phones, most of us have cameras ready, when we go out for walks/runs or to ask strangers if we can help them when they are parking in areas where invited visitors don't park. We ask drivers, we don't know when they appear to scanning the neighborhood if we can help them. If they act hostile or weird, pictures are taken and sent to friends/relatives. It is amazing how many young "visitors" say they are looking for their lost cat or dog. Most of us reply, "You really need a new story, that one is very old." When the camera phones are broken out, they leave our area to look for their pets elsewhere. Our newest neighbors got into the program after having both their cars broken into in their driveway during daylight hours.
A neighboring and similiar cul de sac to the East of here had some heavy hitting elite power, people living on the sac. After some brazen daylight car robberies and daylight home invasions/robberies, they got with the program. The criminal actions have stopped there, too.
The cul de sac to the east of them has a retired cop who teaches other cops how to use firearms, and has a couple of young Marine reservists with tours in Iraq and the ghanistans. Most of the homes have NRA stickers, and so far they have been left alone.
What tool do you recommend for etching my driver's license # on our yaks?
Thanks
Trinomite wrote:
If a thief really wants your boat, or any other property you own they will get it based upon their skill and their ability to sell the goods they stole possibly on the black market. A Mirage drive may be worth $600 but who are they going to sell it to? A quick check of the local or distant Craig's list has come up with some amazing results from owners looking to get their goods back.
A good bike chain will always be a just a deterrent and hopefully have the local thief move onto easier local pickings...
I still lock up my 'outside' goods with a 'special cable' and lock. I lost a $2000 electric mountain bike in the process that was locked with a 3/4" bike cable.
I hate to consider what I would have lost if I would have just left everything lying around unlocked.
(BTW: one of the most secure, and hardest to cut 'Special cables', is the nylon coated lifeline material used on large yachts. This cable needs to be prepared by a pro to loop both ends. A company like West Marine can easily meet those needs for your kayak while keeping the weight low))
Be safe, take care friends.
Trinomite
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