Go to worlds and get your car broke into...
 

Well, our team has gone to Worlds twice, 2013 & 2015, and both times we were broke into; both times in the the team parking lot!

It seems that crooks have figured out a way to insert a large screwdriver or pry bar just under the plastic door handle mechanism, puncturing through the metal door skin, and then they pry upwards really hard while rocking the vehicle to get the door locking mechanism to unlock. This happened on Friday with both of my two daughter's taking a nap in the truck! They were awaken, startled, to the rocking of the truck; the two culprits yelled holy @#$% and ran off.

If we had not been broken into in 2013, I would never have know what to look for this time; it's barely noticeable when you walk up to the door, especially at night. Walking to the dome Saturday (next) morning, I saw over 5 other vehicles with the same puncture hole right under the door handle mechanism. I ended up using a binder strap to hold the door shut when I parked the vehicle as the locking mechanism is unreliable now.

On Saturday, I caught a older gentlemen that was between a mini van and a tree. I stopped as it looked fishy. He stumbled out acting drunk and gave me the story he had just taken a wiz. I stayed back from my quest just to make sure, and he doubled back to the same area after a short time; very stechy. I could not find a security guard, so I ended up flagging down a cop car.

Worst yet, if you did see the security, they were either sitting in their cars or sitting on the hoods.

If it wasn't for the trailer, I would have parked in a gated parking lot. If we qualify for worlds next year, I may have to re-evaluate if I will be going. It's going to cost me over $500 to get the door fixed this time; we cannot afford another expense next year.

Bottom line: WATCH OUT and CHECK YOUR DOOR LOCKS FOR DAMAGE before you move your vehicle!

Re: Go to worlds and get your car broke into...
 

Yea, our RV was broken into the same method on Friday as well. They got off with all my clothes, my wife's clothes, 3 laptops, surface, ipad, couple rasberry pi's. And a big hole in the drivers side door. STL Police are following up on a lead on Craigslist for 3 macbooks that match our specs, hopefully it turns out.

If anyone has any description of the perpetrators it would be good so I can provide that information to the detective working our case.

Thanks,

Don Krtanjek
Mentor, TechFire 225

Re: Go to worlds and get your car broke into...
 

With this news and the murder that occurred at the City Museum on Friday, I'd say its about time the championships moved away from STL.

Aside from these things, I was astonished at the number of empty buildings in the downtown area. Everywhere you walked was dirty awnings and neglected buildings. It's really a shame. I wonder how STL can turn this around.

Is there hope that Houston and Detroit are better?

Re: Go to worlds and get your car broke into...
 

I've heard Detroit isn't that great either, empty buildings and all that. I haven't heard anything about Houston. I looked online and acording to this website, Detroit is the #1 most dangerous City in America, with St. Louis in second. Houston isn't even ranked.

Edit: I found another site that ranks the top 100, with Detroit in 3rd, St. Louis in 14th, and Houston 68th.

Re: Go to worlds and get your car broke into...
 

Maybe next year we should organize team patrols. Have each team volunteer a senior and a mentor to help patrol. Patrol in packs of 5-10 at a time and stick together. Most of security's job is to be seen. Let them know to observe and report.

At night we'd need cars to patrol the parking lot, but in shifts with this many teams working together shouldn't be an issue. This is becoming a serious issue, in 2013 we lost a $500 camera out of our pits. We have a nice new (ok a year old) trailer that we'd like to keep nice.

Re: Go to worlds and get your car broke into...
 

This seems like a potentially very dangerous idea.

Security and police have their jobs, the students have their job (Enjoy the event, learn, get inspired) and the mentors have theirs (Help the students, make sure the students don't get injured). Assigning students to patrol an area already known to be dangerous? Seems like a not so good idea to me.

Re: Go to worlds and get your car broke into...
 

If teams need to start doing this to keep their stuff safe there is a serious problem.

Re: Go to worlds and get your car broke into...
 

Uhmmm... the problem is already there. It is already a serious problem. Shouldn't be dangerous as long as they (and the mentors they are with) know not to confront anyone. They aren't acting as cops just neighborhood watch type stuff.

For the past several years people have been going from car to car stealing anything they wanted.

Re: Go to worlds and get your car broke into...
 

2 years ago our truck was broken into. Someone took a screwdriver to the driver door and ignition. It was parked in the approved marshaling lot. Only reason they didnt drive away with the truck and trailer is because our team has gotten in the habit of pulling the fuel or ignition relay.

Re: Go to worlds and get your car broke into...
 

How hard is it to just hire some private security to patrol the lot?

Re: Go to worlds and get your car broke into...
 

I'm pretty sure any parent you told that you were going to have their children volunteer to play watch dog in parking lots in St. Louis to keep an eye out for thieves is going to question why/if their son or daughter should be going on said trip.

This needs to be put back on FIRST. If you had something stolen/broken at the event send FIRST an email especially if there has been a long history.

Second is don't leave anything in your vehicle or unattended. I know desperate times can call for desperate measures especially while volunteering but this happens every year.

Re: Go to worlds and get your car broke into...
 

To the OP, I'm sorry this happened to you. The fact that is happening at all, never mind in the scale it is, is unacceptable.

FIRST needs to start putting pressure on it's contractors to actually start beefing up security. And if that doesn't go anywhere, then they should strongly consider hiring extra security to keep an eye on the lot.

I understand its normally park at your own risk for events like this, but it has clearly has gotten to a level beyond where that is acceptable.

Re: Go to worlds and get your car broke into...
 

For those who had break-ins or attempts, was FIRST notified. FIRST is required to file an incident report for any incident's that occur at an event. If enough of them are filed, then hopefully this will show them that something is wrong and something needs to change.

I went this year, not competing just spectating, I parked in the MAC garage each day and didn't have any issues. In 2012 I left my truck and trailer in the lot behind the dome from load in to load out and didn't have any issues.

Re: Go to worlds and get your car broke into...
 

Yes, I sent FIRST an email the night after since no body was around Sunday morning...never actually got a response tho.

Re: Go to worlds and get your car broke into...
 

Where specifically is this parking lot?