SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. — As we head into Memorial Day weekend, thousands of people will hike trails across western Washington, and crooks know cars get left in trailhead parking lots for hours.
Snohomish County says Lake 22 is one of the worst for car prowls because of its close proximity to the highway, but they're taking steps to prevent those break-ins and others at trailheads; at least anecdotally they say their efforts are working.
"Smashed a window, smash and grab. Took an ice chest, shoes, telephone,” says Steve Prokopovich of a break-in on his vehicle at Lake 22. That was three years ago in the same lot where we met him Thursday after he’d completed a hike.
Prokopovich says he learned his lesson and came to the trail Thursday wearing the only stuff worth stealing.
"Emptied the glove box, the console, had jumper cables and stuff like that—took everything out,” he tells us, showing us the inside of his SUV.
Others we ran into weren't as vigilant but say they're always thinking about it.
"Every time I see these signs I get worried,” says Kim Myron, hiking with her kids. She’s referring to signs at the entrance of the parking lot warning of "high-property" crime.
"I asked when I parked over there, 'Shouldn't I be out front where people can easily see anybody trying to break into my car?'” hiker Sallie Adams says.
Snohomish County knows car break-ins at trailheads are a huge issue, and there's one officer with the Forest Service to respond to all crimes on the county's more than 100 miles of trail. So deputies are contracting with the Forest Service to provide extra patrols, but the county couldn't say how many.
There used to be cameras, but the county says they needed them elsewhere, so now nearly a dozen deputies rotate spending entire shifts focused on trail patrol. Still, Prokopovich is making sure he doesn't need them,.
"It's difficult to patrol and be effective. A smash and grab takes about 30 seconds,” he says.
KIRO
