Thieves have been preying on the sitting duck cars for years because most of the entry points are so remote. One vehicle broken into this summer was a school bus that was a jackpot for the thieves. It was the first year the scout leader had given in to the boys requests to bring their Gameboys and stereos with them. To defend campers from theft the permit stations have begun to warn people about leaving property and money in their vehicles. High capacity vehicles are more likely to be broken into because there may be duffel bags and belongings of four to five different people.
Many people think their wallets are safer in their vehicles.
In 1994, a few youths were apprehended for a Burntside cabin burglary, and they also had merchandise from the entry point thefts. The late summer '94 string included around 40 break-ins. The suspects were finally caught in September, and they were both over age 40, shattering the theory that the entry point thieves are generally local youth. Prevention is once again the best medicine, says Hoberg, so take your belongings with you or leave them at home, not in your car.