A trailhead is an important place for people who love outdoor activities like hiking, biking, horseback riding, or off-road vehicle use. A modern-day trailhead often has amenities that help people with whatever they might need before, during, or after their activities.
To name a few, trailheads now have restroom facilities, maps, informative signage, brochure distribution centers providing information about the trail and its attractions, as well as parking areas for both vehicles and trailers.
Also, according to the United States Access Board, “A trailhead is defined as an outdoor space that is designated by an entity responsible for administering or maintaining a trail to serve as an access point to the trail.”
However, trailheads are often targeted by thieves.
Although trailheads are usually situated in remote areas, it’s nowhere safe from burglars. Trailhead car break-ins are becoming rampant, not only in the US but also in every part of the world. It’s actually becoming a common fear for most hikers because it somehow affects the number of hikers each year.
Just imagine coming back from an awesome outdoor adventure and then you see your car’s windows smashed into pieces. Your expensive gadgets like your mobile phone, tablet, or computer – all gone just like that.
These left and right car break-in incidents in trailhead parking areas are pretty alarming, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from their outdoor adventures.
Do you want to stop a thief from breaking into your car?
This man sure knows two simple ways to prevent a possible trailhead car break-in.
His name is Cris Hazzard and according to his website hikingguy.com, he is a “professional outdoors guide, hiking expert, outdoor technology geek, and author based in Southern California.”
He established his website to share his hiking experiences with other people (hikers or non-hikers) all around the world. What sets his website apart from the others is its provision of comprehensive directions that are accessible even to novice hikers.
Additionally, he offers insights into the effectiveness of various hiking gear, helping individuals make informed choices and avoid unnecessary expenditures.
“Dumb luck”?
Before sharing his anti-trailhead car break-in tips, Cris first made it clear that his methods have worked for him but didn’t claim his ways would always work 100%.
First Tip: “Assume that your car can be broken into.”
I think it’s safe to say this speaks true enough to almost every hiker. Why? Because everyone brings their vehicle, right? And usually, before you even start trekking, you would leave everything you don’t need inside your car.
Inside a thief’s mind, they’d assume that inside your car, there are electronic devices such as mobile phones or computers. Having that in mind makes them itching to break into your car and take every expensive stuff they’d find inside.
After assuming that there are thieves around, the second tip comes in.
Second Tip: “Make it easy to see that you know they’re looking and you’ve got nothing for them.”
How do you do that? Take everything expensive-looking out of your car or simply, don’t attract them. Before leaving home, make it a habit to unload electronic devices from your car like mobile phones or computers.
Given that you still need to bring something like an expensive pair of sunglasses or a smartwatch, you can simply put them in a small pouch and hide it somewhere safe.
Also, to make thieves realize that you know they’re peeking inside your car, just make everything inside your car visible. Do this by leaving your glove box and center console, simply show them they don’t need to break into your car anymore.
Cris also said it’s wiser to use a cheap bag instead of bringing a gym bag with you because seeing a gym bag inside your car will only attract thieves.
Prevention is always better than cure.
This rule also applies to trailhead parking lot thieves. You can turn a potential trailhead car break-in into a safe hiking experience by chasing away burglars without even touching them. Cris’s tips will also leave your car windows in one piece because you’ll make the thieves realize there’s no point in breaking into your car.
These simple but clever ways could definitely help anyone prevent a potential trailhead car break-in. So the next time you go hiking, you’ll already know what and what not to do.
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