We are in Western Fairfax County and we had a wave of car larcenies.
Weekends, during the week, but always at night, and late at night.

We have N. Watch, but no luck.

Fuckers hit the same streets over and over again.
GPS get take, ipods, even spare change.

Probably a half a dozen cases on one street only!

Has anyone else experienced something similar in your neighborhood recently?

Any ideas on how to catch whoever is doing it?

Late night patrols? Cameras?

Open carry neighborhood watch.

i used to leave my spare change in a cupholder. No more

Maybe if people weren't dumbasses and didn't leave their valuables like GPS systems, iPods, etc in their vehicles, the thieves would move elsewhere?

nakedshoplifter Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Open carry neighborhood watch.


I second that notion.

Well, FCPD discourages open carry n. watch =)

Just last week we had tires slashed on 4 different cars.

Its getting a little annoying.

What neighborhood are we talking about here?

last year there was a mobile electronic sign on ffx county parkway warning people not to leave their GPS in their cars. im sure much of this can be avoided by at least taking the device off of your windshield so its not so easy to spot.

j Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> last year there was a mobile electronic sign on
> ffx county parkway warning people not to leave
> their GPS in their cars. im sure much of this can
> be avoided by at least taking the device off of
> your windshield so its not so easy to spot.

And don't forget to clean off the suction cup mark. Brigands know you have one by looking for that, too.

--------------------------------------------------------------
13 4826 0948 82695 25847. Yes.

Dude, no one is leaving anything in their cars anymore in our area.
But these fuckers pop 'em anyways.
Go thru glove boxes, slash tires.
Tires slashed on a SUV/Van is easy a $500+ job to replace, and thats on the cheap side.

Area I am referring to is Kingston Chase in Herndon, which is on the edge of Fairfax County. It borders Sterling, VA.

Its a large neighborhood, about 500 households, all single family houses.
A lot of people are angry.

You can go to Radio Shack and buy a red LED that flashes, and a watch battery, drill a small hole in a blank switch panel or some other spot on your dashboard, and it will look like you have a security system in your car. Add a switch of some sort and it will still cost you less than $5 to deter these little kids who break into cars for whatever they can grab.

Cheap deterrent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You can go to Radio Shack and buy a red LED that
> flashes, and a watch battery, drill a small hole
> in a blank switch panel or some other spot on your
> dashboard, and it will look like you have a
> security system in your car. Add a switch of some
> sort and it will still cost you less than $5 to
> deter these little kids who break into cars for
> whatever they can grab.

OOOORRRR.... just get a real alarm

Why? Wanna stalk me? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> OOOORRRR.... just get a real alarm


Why bother spending a hundred or two hundred bucks on an alarm that is just going to false alarm every time the wind blows, annoying your neighbors, when for $5 or less you can get the same benefit?

The only thing about a car alarm that prevents theft is the flashing red LED. Everything else is just the after-effect of a break-in -- by that, I mean, the siren and ignition kill do not prevent car break ins, it is the thief seeing the LED.

I've done this on every car I've owned since 1986 and have never had my car broken into. Even with $5,000 in stereo equipment, a simple 50 cent LED and a two dollar battery is all I've ever needed.

Can't carry if you're on the neighborhood watch. I used to run the Watch in my neighborhood, but had to give it up for other priorities in my life. Thought about joining again, but won't for the simple fact that you're not allowed to carry while on Watch.

Watch out if you've had your gps stolen. I've heard a lot of stuff lately about people who have their gps stolen from them just to come home one day and find the house cleaned out as well. so perhaps just take your home address out of the gps.

Can you carry for N-watch if you have a CWP?

Don't think so. I think the rule is that no weapons allowed, whether you've got a permit or not. The neighborhood watch is there to watch, not to take action. Now, I agree with that, but what happens when I stumble across something and the people come after me? That's when not having a form of defense will get you in trouble.

However, I suppose that if your friends were on the Watch doing their turn and you, as a private citizen wanted to tag along with them to stretch your legs, get exercise, whatever, there's nothing stopping you from doing that while armed....



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/03/2009 04:40PM by Merritt.

no shit, people don't want gun-toting yahoos walking around their neighborhood LOOKING for an incident. what gets people in trouble is when what would have been a broken nose turns into a fatality.


Merritt Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Don't think so. I think the rule is that no
> weapons allowed, whether you've got a permit or
> not. The neighborhood watch is there to watch,
> not to take action. Now, I agree with that, but
> what happens when I stumble across something and
> the people come after me? That's when not having
> a form of defense will get you in trouble.

this makes absolutely NO SENSE.

Merritt Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Watch out if you've had your gps stolen. I've
> heard a lot of stuff lately about people who have
> their gps stolen from them just to come home one
> day and find the house cleaned out as well. so
> perhaps just take your home address out of the
> gps.

j Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> no shit, people don't want gun-toting yahoos
> walking around their neighborhood LOOKING for an
> incident. what gets people in trouble is when
> what would have been a broken nose turns into a
> fatality.

That's an example of what's wrong with Society today...making everything easier for criminal, and making every law-abiding person who wishes to defend himself appear to be insane.

You don't have to shoot somebody, the mere drawing and aiming of a weapon should deter any smart criminal (I know, it's an oxymoron) away.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/03/2009 05:42PM by Lawman.

Hookup some night vision cameras and hope the crooks return.

j Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> this makes absolutely NO SENSE.
>

How does it make no sense? These are navigational devices.

It's not so much the ones stolen in front of your house that you have to worry about, but if your car is broken into anywhere else, or stolen, the thief knows what kind of car you drive, and where you live if you are stupid enough to put your home address into it.


I agree that it makes no sense to put your home address into a navigation system, if that's what you mean. For many reasons. The biggest reason is, why do you need directions to where you live? Don't you already know where you live? If not, you probably can't stop drooling long enough to follow the instructions the nav system is giving you anyway. Left and right are tough to figure out when you're inherently confused.

Why dont you middle class Wussies come live near Bunnyman bridge? IM the Nieghborhood watch around there. Im packing heat and NOBODY steals in my neck of the woods BEOTCHES!

what is it about having a gps in your lousy car (because its not a nice enough car to have one built into the dash) that makes your house particularly more attractive to burgling than some other house? i dont see the connection.

GPS is a navigational device Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> j Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > this makes absolutely NO SENSE.
> >
>
> How does it make no sense? These are navigational
> devices.
>
> It's not so much the ones stolen in front of your
> house that you have to worry about, but if your
> car is broken into anywhere else, or stolen, the
> thief knows what kind of car you drive, and where
> you live if you are stupid enough to put your home
> address into it.
>
>
> I agree that it makes no sense to put your home
> address into a navigation system, if that's what
> you mean. For many reasons. The biggest reason
> is, why do you need directions to where you live?
> Don't you already know where you live? If not,
> you probably can't stop drooling long enough to
> follow the instructions the nav system is giving
> you anyway. Left and right are tough to figure
> out when you're inherently confused.

nice username, cowboy. there is a HUGE difference between the type of criminal that slashes tires and the type that assaults strangers walking down the street. besides, you should never draw a weapon on someone unless you are ready to use it. typical tough-guy stuff that never does anyone any good.

Lawman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You don't have to shoot somebody, the mere drawing
> and aiming of a weapon should deter any smart
> criminal (I know, it's an oxymoron) away.

j Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> nice username, cowboy. there is a HUGE difference
> between the type of criminal that slashes tires
> and the type that assaults strangers walking down
> the street. besides, you should never draw a
> weapon on someone unless you are ready to use it.
> typical tough-guy stuff that never does anyone any
> good.
>
> Lawman Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > You don't have to shoot somebody, the mere
> drawing
> > and aiming of a weapon should deter any smart
> > criminal (I know, it's an oxymoron) away.

I think the word you were looking for was "Sheriff", not Cowboy...either way, get out of the 1800's man. Guns aren't used in huge firefights over a poker game anymore. Besides, what Kind of username is "J"? Yes, you should be ready to use it if you draw, but you don't HAVE to use it. If I were to come up to somebody with malicious intent, I'd turn right around if the person drew a weapon and pointed it at me. No need to shoot or kill anybody. Look up concealed carry stories on google, you'll find a lot of them.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/03/2009 06:46PM by Lawman.

but we are talking about petty larceny and vandalism. the fact (evidenced by the course of this thread) that these scenarios escalate in the minds of gun-toting suburbanites scares the wrong people.

Lawman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
If I
> were to come up to somebody with malicious intent,
> I'd turn right around if the person drew a weapon
> and pointed it at me. No need to shoot or kill
> anybody. Look up concealed carry stories on
> google, you'll find a lot of them.

j Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> but we are talking about petty larceny and
> vandalism. the fact (evidenced by the course of
> this thread) that these scenarios escalate in the
> minds of gun-toting suburbanites scares the wrong
> people.
>
> Lawman Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> If I
> > were to come up to somebody with malicious
> intent,
> > I'd turn right around if the person drew a
> weapon
> > and pointed it at me. No need to shoot or kill
> > anybody. Look up concealed carry stories on
> > google, you'll find a lot of them.

Still. None of it would happen if somebody wasn't doing something destructive or illegal in the first place. Let's just leave it at that, we've got better things to do with our time than argue on a forum. :P



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/03/2009 09:03PM by Lawman.

of course im against crime and believe it or not, i believe in citizens right to bear arms but im not ready to have armed citizens out literally LOOKING for trouble. active neighborhood watch in and of itself is enough of a deterrent without the guns. any actual 'lawman' would most certainly agree.

Lawman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Still. None of it would happen if somebody wasn't
> doing something destructive or illegal in the
> first place. You sound like you're in defense of
> the thugs who go around busting in cars.

j Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> of course im against crime and believe it or not,
> i believe in citizens right to bear arms but im
> not ready to have armed citizens out literally
> LOOKING for trouble. active neighborhood watch in
> and of itself is enough of a deterrent without the
> guns. any actual 'lawman' would most certainly
> agree.
>
> Lawman Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Still. None of it would happen if somebody
> wasn't
> > doing something destructive or illegal in the
> > first place. You sound like you're in defense
> of
> > the thugs who go around busting in cars.


I do agree actually, I didn't see that as the point you were trying to get across, thanks for explaining! Nobody should go out just looking for trouble. If anything, that's how people get hurt, by being vigilantes. Glad we found an understanding!

MrMephisto Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> j Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------

>
> And don't forget to clean off the suction cup
> mark. Brigands know you have one by looking for
> that, too.

You are assuming that the OP actually took the GPS off his windshield. I've seen so many people leave their GPS stuck on their cars while parked, just BEGGING for someone to take it. If people will break in to take your Sony X-Plod cd player, what makes you think that they won't steal a hot item?

Those people are double stupid if they leave them in their cars overnight.

Thanks for the tips everyone.

Cheap deterrent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You can go to Radio Shack and buy a red LED that
> flashes, and a watch battery, drill a small hole
> in a blank switch panel or some other spot on your
> dashboard, and it will look like you have a
> security system in your car. Add a switch of some
> sort and it will still cost you less than $5 to
> deter these little kids who break into cars for
> whatever they can grab.


Sleep in your car with a blanket over you - when the F'ers smash your window - fend up and blow their brains out

And looks like whoever is doing it, shifted to morning-day schedule:


CASE NUMBER2009064002826
INCIDENT TYPEDestruction
TIME3/5/2009 7:05:07 PM
STREET1700 Blk BUILDERS CT

CASE NUMBER2009064002770
INCIDENT TYPEVehicle Tampering
TIME3/5/2009 6:42:53 PM
STREET12600 Blk FANTASIA DR
DISTRICT STATIONReston

Another suggestion, don't live in Herndon.

496 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Another suggestion, don't live in Herndon.


you think this problem is isolated to Herndon.

its FUCKING ALL OVER THE COUNTY.

In areas you would never think it would happen too, BTW.

The geographic area really has little to do with it. There is one common thread in all of these, however. It's the fact that some DUMBASS left valuable shit in his or her car to begin with! Don't leave shit in your car and it won't get stolen!

We already covered the GPS part.

People now break into cars and go thru glove compartment looking for spare change.

well..
3 more incidents over the weekend.
Not GPS, but tires got slashed this time.

Fairfax City has its problems too. Its all over the County. I also
read a couple of days ago that Arlington Cty has had a 57% spike
in shoplifting incidents recently.

http://www.fairfaxva.gov/Police/CBReport.asp?2202

Definitely bored teenagers having fun. Solitary tire slashings are most likely the result of a cheating significant other. Numerous onging tire slashings are bored teenagers. I talk from experience, as I have done both way back in the day. Sounds like they are slashing on their way to school in the morning. Seems like later school start times might be a good idea in Herndon!

Krazee,

when you were doing it, what time did you do it at?

2am? 6am?

Before school starts is an interesting idea........

Who has told you that you can't carry while on NW? It isn't a state law, it isn't a county law, it's not a city law. So, it has to be an HOA reg, right?

So, your HOA has a reg against carrying while on NW... what's more important, having the means of self defense..., or complying with a silly, unenforcable, noncriminal HOA rule? I mean, what is the HOA gonna do if they catch you concealing a firearm while on NW, fire you?

Naked -

Listen, we do not want to hurt anyone, no tire or gps is worth someones life.
Our goal is to report whoever is doing this to the police, and prevent further problems.

What I am doing here is gathering ideas on how to do it best.

Dude Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Naked -
>
> Listen, we do not want to hurt anyone, no tire or
> gps is worth someones life.
> Our goal is to report whoever is doing this to the
> police, and prevent further problems.
>
> What I am doing here is gathering ideas on how to
> do it best.


What if the person you are reporting sees you on the job, and wants to hurt YOU?

Lawman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Dude Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Naked -
> >
> > Listen, we do not want to hurt anyone, no tire
> or
> > gps is worth someones life.
> > Our goal is to report whoever is doing this to
> the
> > police, and prevent further problems.
> >
> > What I am doing here is gathering ideas on how
> to
> > do it best.
>
>
> What if the person you are reporting sees you on
> the job, and wants to hurt YOU?


teens with screwdrivers? get real.

its probably not an issue so long as there is never an incident. the problem is avoiding a manslaughter charge when you are armed and LITERALLY LOOKING FOR TROUBLE in one of the safest places in the entire united states.

if you don't have the stones to keep a watchful eye on your neighborhood without carrying a weapon, don't do it. the chances of actually witnessing a crime in progress are so slim. if you do happen across something that looks suspicious, its probably someone locked out of their own house/car. if not that, chances are its going to be nothing more than delinquent children or at the worst, unarmed petty thieves, none of whom are going to be seeking confrontation.

its a recipe for disaster and you don't understand that, you shouldn't have a gun at all.

nakedshoplifter Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Who has told you that you can't carry while on NW?
> It isn't a state law, it isn't a county law, it's
> not a city law. So, it has to be an HOA reg,
> right?
>
> So, your HOA has a reg against carrying while on
> NW... what's more important, having the means of
> self defense..., or complying with a silly,
> unenforcable, noncriminal HOA rule? I mean, what
> is the HOA gonna do if they catch you concealing a
> firearm while on NW, fire you?

"Krazee,

when you were doing it, what time did you do it at?

2am? 6am?

Before school starts is an interesting idea........"

Always late at night on the weekends, after much alcohol consumption. I can tell you we targeted cars that were in the darker spots. I would never slash tires on a car sitting under a street light. I mentioned maybe they are doing it on the way to school because the crime reports were early morning. But that is probably when the car owners came outside and noticed it.

kUGC6 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Lawman Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Dude Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Naked -
> > >
> > > Listen, we do not want to hurt anyone, no
> tire
> > or
> > > gps is worth someones life.
> > > Our goal is to report whoever is doing this
> to
> > the
> > > police, and prevent further problems.
> > >
> > > What I am doing here is gathering ideas on
> how
> > to
> > > do it best.
> >
> >
> > What if the person you are reporting sees you
> on
> > the job, and wants to hurt YOU?
>
>
> teens with screwdrivers? get real.

Could be burglars. You don't KNOW if someone is armed or not. Why look for trouble as a Neighborhood Watch guy when you're unarmed? I'm not saying they need to carry, I'm just saying it shouldn't be disallowed by the HOA.

The HOA can't stop you from open carrying. I say, go ahead and open carry, for you're own defense. But holding someone at gunpoint for breaking into something is unreasonable. Only use your gun if they are trying to kill you. The purpose of the gun is to kill. Don't point it at something you don't plan on killing.

namwaL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The HOA can't stop you from open carrying. I say,
> go ahead and open carry, for you're own defense.
> But holding someone at gunpoint for breaking into
> something is unreasonable. Only use your gun if
> they are trying to kill you. The purpose of the
> gun is to kill. Don't point it at something you
> don't plan on killing.


Of course, I agree with you.