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

[BrendanB]

Originally Posted by hardcopi

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.

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

[hardcopi]

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.

[Andrew Y.]

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.

[MrTechCenter]

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

[dag0620]

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.

[Jimmy Nichols]

Originally Posted by dag0620

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.

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.

[Andrew Y.]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Nichols

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.

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

[BrendanB]

Originally Posted by hardcopi

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.

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.

[Ozuru]

Originally Posted by hardcopi

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.

Not sure if trolling...

I don't think many parents would be happy to find out that their child was apart of this hunger-games-esque wolf-pack and was consequently endangered.

[rsegrest]

Originally Posted by Ozuru

Not sure if trolling...

*smacks forehead* Early morning thunderstorms and 1/2 our teachers out with no subs has impacted my Potential BS detector...

[waialua359]

Originally Posted by weberr

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!

Where specifically is this parking lot?

[rsegrest]

Originally Posted by hardcopi

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.

Very bad idea. I note that you are mentor and that your team is associated with multiple high schools. Whether or not you are a teacher as well I do not know. I am and can tell you that my district would forbid us from going before letting us participate in any form of patrol of this nature.

It's like the old quote from MiB, "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky animals." Teenagers are the same way. One or two kiddos with an adult can be smart, multiple teenagers who may or may not stay with the adult to whom they are assigned...well let's just say that it would be too easy to mistake them for the wrong person under the right conditions.

Just my two-cents.

[cgmv123]

Originally Posted by waialua359

Where specifically is this parking lot?

I'm assuming it's the one north of the Dome indicated here: http://www.usfirst.org/sites/default...d-In%20Map.pdf

[waialua359]

Originally Posted by cgmv123

I'm assuming it's the one north of the Dome indicated here: http://www.usfirst.org/sites/default...d-In%20Map.pdf

That area looks sketchy to begin with. We never park there.
Sorry to hear about the breakins of FRC teams.
First it was computers being stolen from pits and now this.

[hardcopi]

Nope not trolling. I figured a few mentors and kids driving around the parking lot is not that dangerous.

If it is truly that dangerous then why on earth are we having the event there in the first place?

This place you are saying is dangerous is the same place the kids go all day long. I don't think we should have to monitor it. If First hires a couple security guards to do driving patrols that should be sufficient.

The truth is that having that many kids with that much money in equipment is just asking for trouble. Security should have been everywhere in that place. I saw some, but not nearly enough.