Another American River Break In

[Bob Laskodi]

Seems these messages are becoming far too frequent.
Our car got it's window bashed in this afternoon at Upper Sunrise. The #$%^* really got a haul out of our car, an old pair of eyeglasses, a couple of CD's, and a Nissan Rogue owners manual. Total value to the thief of $10, tops. And I got a $300 repair bill for the new window. The #$%^&&*'s were quite active today, hitting some other cars down the road at Sunrise. One unfortunate fellow had his wallet (with credit cards) stolen from the glove box. This has been said before, but I'll say it again- Don't leave any thing valuable in your car while fishing. As long as these @#$%^^ get a haul from someone they will continue hitting cars. And I'm getting tired of it being mine even though they never get any thing from it!

[wjorg]

maybe the cops are underpaid and know how easy it is to get away with theft.....


did you leave the little baggie full of draino near your car? no, dammit........

[Pez]

That's why I stopped fishing the american. Not to say it will not happen somewhere else but.... after so many years I also got my car's window busted over a year ago....also at upper sunrise. You just have to see all the broken glass in the parking lot. It's up to the police to come up with a plan to solve to problem....and until they do Sacramento will get 0 dollar from me.

[Dabalone]

Its not a problem which has recently appeared. In the early eighties I stopped off at Discovery Park one afternoon to use the bow range. The little parking lot for the bow range is out there by itself and no other vehicles were there that day, since I had a limited time I got out with my hands full of gear and without thinking dropped my keys in a corner of the bed of my pint sized truck freeing up my fingers. Grabbed my stuff and headed into the range, inadvertently leaving my keys where I dropped them. Got back and someone had stolen my truck, my bad I guess, but leaving your keys to something you own is not carte blanche for someone to help themself. Anyway within an hr of reporting it missing Sac city police notified me they had my truck and the thief, it was a 13 year old who already had a record of theft and seems could not drive a stick shift, his having trouble shifting got him noticed. Anyways I bring this up because I remember the park ranger I talked to told me they were having problems with break ins along the parkway, this is over twenty years ago.

[Bob Laskodi]

Carl, you're not being a smart a$$ with your suggestion. Chris and I have often talked about leaving the car unlocked since there really isn't anything of value inside the car. But then, they just might steal the car! We've even actually thought about taping a note to the window telling the #$%^& (rhymes with other trucker!) telling them the car is unlocked and please don't break the window. But we figure, they might get pissed and just break the window any ways. Interesting side note: we've been fishing the A a lot lately, and have been seeing an increased presence from the Park Rangers patrolling as we've seen them a lot (yaaaaay, finally!). But on the day we got hit we didn't see a single Ranger. These #$%^& are pro's and know what they're doing. As a last side note, I'm not parking on the Rancho Cordova side of the river any more. I'm also writing a note to the local Chamber of Commerce letting them know that I'm staying away from that side of the river, which means I will no longer be supporting businesses with my $$$$. And since Chris has now graduated from Davis, that means we're now classified as "out-of-towners" and spending money in the local economy that's going to go away if my car keeps getting broken into. And I'm getting tired of replacing windows and picking glass splinters out of my butt! BTW, my insurance deductible is $500, so I'm hosed there as well!

[mikel]

it's easy to say don't leave anything in your vehicle if you're a local...but for those of us who would like to fish the AR but have to drive hours to get there it's not that easy...I don't fish there because of this stuff and my dollars are going to fly shops and restaurants and hotels where I think I can be safe. It's a shame. I'm fishing the Kings and spending $$ at Herb Bauer's instead of Kienes...-mike

[590Mike]

Pez
thats exactaly what we need in this area. Motivation to fix the issue.... dollars

If you would send me a PM explaining why you won't come up here. I will forward it to the F.O Chamber of Commerce and the Rancho Cordova C.C. Along with a couple other letters from sportsmen/women.

A little pressure from the local businesses might just be the ticket.

[mikel]

Mike...pm sent.

[amoeba]

What our local politicians think we need are billion dollar airport terminal expansions that are fine as they are, $500 million arena for the kings to replace the one that is half full, and indian casinos.

Maybe they think criminals will be so excited about basketball, gambling, and/or air travel that they won't break into cars. Personally, I don't see the relationship, or the priority that way.

[David Lee]

What our local politicians think we need are billion dollar airport terminal expansions that are fine as they are, $500 million arena for the kings to replace the one that is half full, and indian casinos.


100% correct , Amoeba .

Stop and think about it -

What OTHER city in California (heck , the whole U.S. ?) has a shallow , clear , cool River that supports runs of Salmon (used to , anyways ...) , Steelhead , Striped Bass , and Shad running through it ? How many other Rivers have a greenbelt on both sides ?

The leaders of the city of Sacramento should hang their heads in SHAME - there is NO civic pride here .

David

[Don Powell]

The only one I can think of is the one that caught on fire some years ago, the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio. (otherwise known as the "mistake by the lake")
Civic pride caused the people of Cleveland to take measures that "cleaned-up" all the offending wastes and effluents that were being discharged into the river, such that it was actually "flammable". They succeeded such that now, steelhead, introduced from the West Coast, now grow far larger than any that remain to be found in their native waters, pretty damn sad, if you ask me!
Ahhhh...they're just a bunch of old fashioned mid-Westerners who would rather fight for a worthy cause...we're Californians- we prefer to "go to rehab" or "work out our conflicts" and remain "totally non-confrontational". Or, do we?

[Darian]

Maybe we should be thinking about what the impact of extending Light Rail out to Folsom has had on the increase in property crimes along the watershed. This is probably politically incorrect but.... :confused:

In Sacramento, light rail runs through some high crime areas and along the American River Watershed (within walking distance).... Due to budget constraints, security is light on Light Rail. This situation amounts to a rail line for criminal elements from South Sacramento, Del Paso Heights and homeless encampments near services (behind Blue Diamond, near the Mission and Loaves and Fishes) to move freely along the south side of the entire watershed.... :\\

Sacramento estimates it's homeless population at around 2,500. Currently, the largest portion of those people are on the street. Obviously, among that population are a number of substance abusers, etc. Add those to the Gangsta element and you've got some potential criminal activities and health problems to deal with. As a long time rider of Light Rail and resident of Mid-Town, I've witnessed some property crimes and a whole bunch of strange behavior.... :rolleyes:

Not sure I have a solution to this (even the City government doesn't know what to do). This is certainly a source of people who commit property crimes along the American River. The City/County of Sacramento are debating this issue right now. Maybe we could make our concerns known there.... :question: Other cities would probably follow Sacramento's lead. :cool:

[Phil Synhorst]

Maybe we should be thinking about what the impact of extending Light Rail out to Folsom has had on the increase in property crimes along the watershed. This is probably politically incorrect but.... :confused:

You are spot on Darian. Light Rail does give easy access, at least in part. My car was vandalized by 3 kids that used the train. I won't say what neighborhood they were from(it's not a good one). Anyhow, they got on the train with their bikes, came out to Goethe Park, and decided it would be fun to break ALL the windows in someones car.

Fortunately, a passerby saw what was happening and called the Park Rangers. They caught the kids waiting at the L.R. station to go back home. Unfortunately the District Attorney was not able to get a conviction.

[Greg F]

I haven't fished the A, but two groups of my fishing buddies have and will never go again. One got broken into, and the other group was just too turned off by the crackheads and bums along the river. I have thought of getting a white trash looking car for fishing and leaving the windows down but that is going too far.

[Charlie Gonzales]

I am not good at the letter writing thing, but with a new Mayor who is still full steam maybe this is the direction we should be looking into?

[Darian]

Charlie (and others),.... Never thought about it 'til now but local guides are really impacted by this if potential clients are not inclined to fish the American....

If you're considering writing to the politico's, try all of the County Council, the Mayor and City Council members and the general manager of Light Rail. Their mailing addresses are on their respective websites. I suppose you could send them all an e-mail. Since they're taking up the homeless issue, now.

I've met and worked with the general manager and found him to be a rare type. He actually does listen and is a great guy. Altho, he probably knows Light Rail needs increased security on the trains, it never hurts to remind/reinforce your ideas. I've talked to him, personally, about it.

[590Mike]

Ok
Another reminder I am collecting letters to hand to The Chamber of commerce on each side of the American river. They in turn will contact the Board of Supervisors.
If anyone PM's me I will copy and hand it to the Pres of each chamber.

[Darrin.Deel]

While I was down there on saturday swinging leeches (and getting skunded) I noticed some serious scumbags. I think that is the first and last trip to the american for me. I really don't care for the dudes walking across the redds either.

[Randy B]

I don't want to appear argumentative, and I would like to think the more beaten paths would prevent break-ins, but I had my truck broken into while shad fishing last summer at the unimproved parking lot at Watt Ave. Had some very nice folks chase away low-lifes from my truck a couple days before that.

We are just easy picken's when the low-lifes can watch you launch and leave the sight of your vehicle.

Maybe video survielance and turn it over to the cops would help the situation?