just a heads up that if you're going to park here in the late afternoon into dusk I'd not bring anything of value. worse damage was the ashtray was ripped out (so probably lost a whopping $2.89 in change), everything was scattered about in small animal fashion (guessing they were in and out in 30 seconds, probably shortly before dark, as I paddled down ~5:45). i'd take bets this will happen again soon, particularly if you're the last car there, i still plan on parking there. Seems like it would be *so* easy to turn the tables on these guys...ideas?
Brett

stealing ashtrays huh? talk about hitting rock bottom... When you say turn the tables on them do you mean get physical or just watch and laugh? I mean, that just smacks of desperation, or kleptomaniacs...

Take a folding chair, a good book, a video camera, and go sit out under a tree in the brush about 60 yards away from the parking lot. Catch them red handed on Video (and hopefully get their car lic.#). The question is--- how long would one have to sit out there between break-ins?

according the rangers, it took them about ten days to catch the last set. They said the waited in the bushes for about three hours each time. The perps were parolees, so they were pretty easy to catch. But they seemed to indicate that its usually locals, and they're not organized, but responding to targets of convenience...

Two weeks ago, wilst being reprimanded for not paying, Ranger Tom informed me that two rangers were leaving the County employ and, due to budget constraints, would not be replaced. He opined that staff cuts, through attrition, could continue. Obviously that means even less enforcement. I have since bought a season pass and will continue to use the El Manto parking area. I leave my car unlocked and the most valuable thing in it is the Pass itself.

Burglars hit four cars on Sunday, 10/5, probably between 2:00 pm and 3:30 pm. Losses ranged from wallets and cell phones to a plastic bailing bucket and a mesh bag. The County Rangers were there taking reports and cleaning up broken glass when we got out at 4:00 pm.

Officer Sommerhoff says that this is the third wave; they arrested one group of three this spring and caught another solo burglar in a separate stakeout. He said that they share our frustration; he commented that the upper lot has only had a couple of burglaries over the past 20 years, while the lower El Manto lot has had a lot more.

He suggested dropping boats off at the lower lot and parking above as one alternative, but declined to offer details of how they'd respond to this latest series of breakins (so that some idiot like me couldn't post their plans on an easily accessed website).

Make a giant mouse trap disguised as a briefcase and baited with a wallet. Leave it on the front seat with a window rolled down. Video tape the action and sell it to TV.

I believe that the mouse trap is a good idea! Just take it a step further. You can always hook up a trip wire (attached to the item of "value", e.g. an ashtray) to an alarm. A car alarm, of course, is the first thought.

Perhaps a dozen party poppers set at all angles (preferably AT the theif) might be better on video.

If you really want to make a scene (and sell the video for more $$$), hook the trip wires up to one or more fire extinguishers. Aim one at your open window and rig the other to shoot straight into the air (thus alerting all nearby potential witnesses or police officers).

If you actually want to cause the burglars harm, you could set up a sound system (now your alarm) that has a woman screaming "RAPE!!!" or "HELP!!!" All real men who are nearby (who don't know what's really happening) will gladly run over and pound the offending theif into the pavement while their women cheer them on. You may encounter a bit of feedback on this idea, as the theif may use the California Civil Law against you for setting him up for a beating. You may also end up in the hospital yourself with terminal giggles from watching the action.

For those of you with McGiver tendencies, you could rig a "mousetrap" into the window. When the theif grabs the ashtray, the window rises and locks; thus trapping the theif. Be sure to have a limited amount of thrust, you don't want to cut the guy in half. Can you imagine the video on that one? The splaying of arms and legs would make the national news!

Want to take that closing window trick a little further? Ten seconds after the window closes on the theif, set the fire extinguishers to go off. Then have a stereo play the most obnoxious noise you know.

Don't forget, fire extinguishers are not the only device you can use. Perhaps some dirt cheap eu de toilet could be sprayed on the theif. Pepper spray might also be a good choice, but driving away afterwards might be a problem.

That's enough ideas from me. How 'bout your idea? Between the lot of us, we could really come up with some great ideas. At the very least, we could be the inspiration for the perfect sting (anybody out there own a bee hive?). Let's get these idiots off the street!

Don't take me too seriously regarding the above ideas. I believe that the video camera in the bushes idea would work great. It could be fun, too. Bring some beer and snacks and make a fun time of it. Good luck.

How about sniping them from the bushes with a pellet gun?

I've heard that a paintball gun hurts much worse. Especially if you use their rival gang's colors on them. Hee, hee, hee, hee, ...

how about letting you drive down to the hole?

Saw a car yesterday @ lower El Manto with a (recently) broken window, I've been parking in the upper lot with no problems (lots of bike traffic up there), it's probably an extra 5 minutes to hike at the end of the day...