[HitTheTrail]

Someone I know very well had his window smashed and the vehicle burgled at the Chatter Cr. TH up the Icicle this weekend. It was mid-day with other vehicles in the parking lot.

[RichP]

I saw on peakbagger that someone had their car broken into while climbing Big Chiwaukum at the White Pine Trailhead this weekend.

[snowmonkey]

As a resident near the areas mentioned, the increase of people and crime (not just at TH’s) has noticeably increased. Just like other jurisdictions, Chelan Co Sheriff is overwhelmed trying to keep up.

[Brucester]

It seems most have no idea this even occurs. It's like people are oblivious. "Oh you say don't leave that on my front seat, why?" "Oh, I had no idea. Good point." Duh. True story.

[neek]

^ Fair - but mine's been broken into with absolutely nothing in the car. Never lock the doors anymore.

[Mountainpines]

Do you recommend unlocked doors while on trails? We are going to have a rental. The only place when we might have belongings with us is on our first day since we are on the way to our accommodations in Quinault, but we want to stop in Staircase on the way. Is Staircase heavily crowded in the parking lots? It makes it harder to plan for people out of state since they want to see things on the way before checking in for the night. Washington is the ONLY state we have to worry about such things.

[snowmonkey]

Then don’t come here- easy solution!

[Mountainpines]

We are coming to the national park this year. Hopefully in the Staircase they collect the entrance fee. Usually where the entrance fee is collected things like that don’t happen as frequently. Maybe if they will start charging some, they will have people stationed in more places. And that might divert others to go elsewhere…

[Sculpin]

Trailhead crime is no worse in Washington than anywhere else. I will point out again that while leaving your car unlocked might be a fine idea, if you file an insurance claim you will be asked whether your car was locked, and I imagine there would be no coverage if you admitted that it was not. So you would have to lie, which is insurance fraud. Just sayin'.

[Mountainpines]

It’s the worst. And we have been all over the states.

[altasnob]

While I won't guarantee you won't get your car broken into at Staircase, I think that is one of the least likely places for that to happen. It's a large parking lot, and people are coming and going at all hours. There is a patrolled ranger station a few feet away from the parking lot. And there is an extremely busy campground just across the street. If a criminal wanted to break into cars, they would pass a lot of parked cars along Lake Cushman they could break into (and save gas) without having to drive all the way to Staircase. Also working in your favor is that the State's clearing house prison is just down the road, as is the state patrol training academy. You've got to be really, really, high to break into a car at Staircase.

[altasnob]

[Mountainpines]

[Sculpin]

[Slugman]

I call BS on WA being the worst. The fact that this joker is coming here is proof he doesn’t believe it either.