Post Falls, Idaho - Car Break-In (Our Car)

[Faust Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Faust]

We pulled into Post Falls in Idaho (a resort town) July 30th. I had been driving all day and I was tired. We checked into a motel called Sleep Inn around 8pm. I grabbed our bags that had our clothing and went to our room.


Our video bag with all my camera equipment was already in the trunk. I was too tired to go back to the car and I thought it would be safe in the trunk of the car so I just left it there. I LET MY GUARD DOWN.

The next morning Josie went to the car to get something and came back to the room telling me many cars were broken in to and ours was one of them.

They took our video camera with all our videos (3 of them) of our trip and our CDs.

The thieves had some type of device that would open the trunks and doors of the cars they decided to break in to, without leaving a mark on the cars. They broke into 3 cars and another (a Suburban) was stolen (his golf clubs were in the car, too) from the lot.

The good thing is they stayed to the pattern of what they knew. I own a convertible and they did not cut up the top of my car to break in so my loss was not as bad as the family who had their car stolen.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

Bummer ! I may be paranoid, but I always try to haul in everything I have of value when we stop for the night on a trip. It does make the small rooms pretty crowded, particularly on long trips when we are toting coolers. I wind down before hitting the hay by walking around the parking lot, smoking either a pipe or cigar- which may discourage some potential thieves.

[Bill4728 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Bill4728]

Sorry to hear about the break-in. I'd likely be a target too since I leave stuff in my car too.

[jackio Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close jackio]

Sorry this happened to you. I also leave stuff in the trunk, thinking it is safe there. I will have to change this pattern and lug stuff in.

[Denise Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Denise]

Sorry to hear about the theft !

I worry about leaving our car in our driveway. Our neighbors had their window broken and a cell phone stolen a few years back.

Did you have to buy replacement equipment to photograph the rest of your trip?

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

Such a bummer

Dang people with no respect.

Sorry this happens. At least they have a system which keeps them from cutting convertable tops. And their system will get them caught.

One note on the positive side: You hadn't taken pictures of the whole vacation.

Enjoy your journey.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Well this just sucks.

In Idaho of all places. We expect things like this in the larger cities like where you and I live but Idaho???

I'm so sorry this happened t o you.

I hope you can regroup and not let this spoil your trip.

[Faust Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Faust]

I did bring everything that was a value to us in to our room every night, except that night.
I was bringing in the video camera bags to recharge the batteries every night. That day I ran out of film, so I put the camera bags in the trunk earlier that day so I did not have to be lifting up the up the top every time we stop.

Josie did ask if I was going to back to the car that night to bring in the camera bags I told her no, there in the trunk they will be OK. I am kicking my self in the butt for not listening to her.

By the end of the night the motel (Sleep Inn) had a no vacancy sign so that meant there must have been 50 cars or more on the lot and the thieves pick 4 cars one of them was mine.

I am just glad it was not as bad as I alleys imagine it was going to be. Cutting the top would have a lot worst for me to handle.

We had filmed the Grate Salt Flats Desert, Yellow Stone, Glacier National Park and every thing in-between on video.

Now the good news Josie was in charge of the digital still camera and she took that camera in to the room that night. She has taking over 928 pitchers of the trip.

Through all our travels in many countries nothing bad has every happen. This was the first.

Lesson will learned.


We made it home this morning with no other problems.

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

Welcome back. Can't wait to see all your pictures!! What a bummer to loose your camera. Why do people have to be so mean.!!! shaggy

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

We pulled into Post Falls in Idaho (a resort town) July 30th. I had been driving all day and I was tired. We checked into a motel called Sleep Inn around 8pm. I grabbed our bags that had our clothing and went to our room.


Our video bag with all my camera equipment was already in the trunk. I was too tired to go back to the car and I thought it would be safe in the trunk of the car so I just left it there. I LET MY GUARD DOWN.

The next morning Josie went to the car to get something and came back to the room telling me many cars were broken in to and ours was one of them.

They took our video camera with all our videos (3 of them) of our trip and our CDs.

The thieves had some type of device that would open the trunks and doors of the cars they decided to break in to, without leaving a mark on the cars. They broke into 3 cars and another (a Suburban) was stolen (his golf clubs were in the car, too) from the lot.

The good thing is they stayed to the pattern of what they knew. I own a convertible and they did not cut up the top of my car to break in so my loss was not as bad as the family who had their car stolen.

How awful to read this. It is a lesson for everyone to take the stuff out of your car always even when you are tired from driving and it doesn't matter where you are.

We got broken into in Maui when we were busy snorkeling. We left our camera at home but lost other valuable stuff and there was no sign of entry either. We now drive around with nothing at all (no cc either or money) when we know that we are leaving our car somewhere unattended to go to the beach for snorkeling or swimming at some of the most remote beaches or even in Wailea, in Maui, or anywhere else. We learned our lesson too.

You live and you learn but always after the fact and it is still so sad to lose all your equipment and your memories too that you were trying to take home from your trip. I really feel bad for you, Ken.

[kapish Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close kapish]

Sorry to hear about your ordeal, Ken. I also felt it would be safe to leave valuables in trunk, out of sight ...

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

She has taking over 928 pitchers of the trip.

That's a lot of beer!

[grest Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close grest]

Yikes! Sorry you had to experience this...I frequently leave stuff in the trunk that I guess I shouldn't...I definitely will rethink that.
Connie

[Faust Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Faust]

As a reminder to everyone

The police officers told us that a lot of stolen merchandise ends up in pawn shops.

The officers told us that if people would engrave or take their merchandise to a shop that has an engraving gun and put their driving license # near the id # of their merchandise they value, they would have more evidence and be able to prosecute more criminals. They also told us they would be able to return more merchandise to the rightful owners.

Just some thing I thought I would pass on.

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

I'm a DAH

...We had filmed the Grate Salt Flats Desert, Yellow Stone, Glacier National Park and every thing in-between on video.
...
We made it home this morning with no other problems.

I apologize for not researching the location of Post Falls prior to making my comment, “One note on the positive side: You hadn't taken pictures of the whole vacation.”

I was taking your original story as you were going up through Idaho, just starting your trip. Sorry for being such a DAH.
To lose all you video, WOW man, what a loss that would be.

I do hope your journey went swell. What did you think of Going to the Sun Road?

Is it possible for members to contribute video to help you regain some of the keepsake? Surely others have been through Yellowstone at least.

I have plenty of digital shots but no video. Not the same, I know.