I would caution everyone to not leave any valuables concealed or not inside
the passenger compartment of your vehicles while leaving them parked in some
of these more secluded areas.  In addition to Ms. Lovelett's theft from auto
I also responded to an additional theft from auto the very next day at the
McKeldin area of the park just up the road from the Marriottsville lot.

It only takes a very few seconds for the thieves to smash out a window and
grab the valuables and be gone before anyone even knows what they are doing.
Cell phones, ipods, gps units, gold crosses hanging from mirrors, expensive
binoculars, spotting scopes, tree stands, gun cases, hunting/fishing
equipment etc. are all indicators to these violators that there could be
something of value in the vehicle.

The last one of these I investigated back in the fall at the Avalon area of
the park the victim left her purse in plain sight and even left the vehicle
unlocked.

If you see any suspicious persons or vehicles in these areas please report
them, if you should happen upon such a crime in progress you can also call
911 in addition to our dispatch as the county agencies may have a faster
response time.

Unfortunately and I can't emphasize it enough criminals also go to our parks
and natural areas and there is always a certain percentage who go there with
the intention of committing a crime.

Please secure your valuables in the trunk or take them with you.

Officer Mike Lathroum
Maryland Natural Resources Police


-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Warblerick
Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2012 1:35 PM
To: 
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Warning Parking at PVSP Marriottsville Lot

Felicia,
I feel your pain. Several years back, I had parked my van at the overflow
lot at Black Hills Regional Park in Montgomery County, very early (before
sunrise) for the Big Sit. When I came back to it later in the afternoon,
someone, in trying to break in, had sheared the side door handle completely
off. All I was left with was a stub of metal. It must have taken
monster-like strength to do this.

They were, evidently, trying to get to my GPS which was mounted on the front
window. They didn't get in, but it cost me quite a bit of time and
aggravation to get it repaired. The door would no longer open, except from
the inside. And since it's been repaired, it's never been the same.

This was back before they warned people about leaving GPS's on the window,
or even the suction cup holder (which is a dead giveaway to thieves to break
in and look for the GPS anyway). 
 
Sad to see this happening here in Carroll County (or was it Howard?) too.
You can never be too careful anymore.

Sorry for your loss; not just the monetary items, but the loss of privacy
which comes with it.

Rick Sussman
Woodbine,MD



-----Original Message-----
From: Felicia Lovelett <>
To: MDOSPREY <>
Sent: Tue, Feb 7, 2012 1:14 pm
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Warning Parking at PVSP Marriottsville Lot


Everyone should use extreme caution parking at the Patapsco Valley State
ark entrance by the tracks west of Marriottsville Road.
During the Howard County Winter Count, we usually leave one vehicle parked
n that lot for half the day, returning to retrieve it later. It has always
afe to do this for the six years that I've been doing the seasonal counts.
On Saturday, February 4th, Tom Miller and I returned to find that my car
indow had been smashed. My GPS, purse and extra binoculars (all hidden out
f sight) were stolen. My car was parked in the lot from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM.
Break-ins have been going on in this lot for over a month, according to the
atural Resources Police, but no warning sign is posted to warn patrons to
xercise extra caution. Placing my wallet, GPS and extra binoculars in my
ackpack would have saved me a lot of grief and time. I just didn't think
hat it was necessary. Live and learn.
Please use care and report any suspicious activity to the MD Natural
esorces Police 1-800-635-6124 (24 hrs) or 410-356-7060 (office).
Felicia Lovelett
ykesville, MD
############################
To unsubscribe from the MDOSPREY list:
rite to: mailto:[log in to unmask]
r click the following link:
ttp://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=MDOSPREY&A=1


############################

To unsubscribe from the MDOSPREY list:
write to: mailto:[log in to unmask]
or click the following link:
http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=MDOSPREY&A=1

############################

To unsubscribe from the MDOSPREY list:
write to: mailto:[log in to unmask]
or click the following link:
http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=MDOSPREY&A=1