hey guys, lots of tourneys coming up, just wanted everyone to be aware.. this sux.
(JesseAdamsFishing.com)

Fishing thieves get away with $35,000 catch

By ASHLEY COOK, The Lufkin Daily News

Tuesday, March 29, 2005

More than $35,000 in fishing equipment was stolen from several participants attending a southern Angelina County bass tournament, a sheriff's office spokesman said Monday.

Guests at four motels off state Highway 147 near Lake Sam Rayburn reported 15 separate burglaries of rods, reels, tackle boxes and other fishing equpiment, according to Lt. Pete Cooper. The thefts took place Friday night.

A thief or thieves hit boats at the Lakeview, Backlash, Shady Acres and Mattie's Place motels, with single losses in the thousands of dollars. One victim reported losing more than $7,000 in equipment, Cooper said.

Many of the stolen items had not been properly locked away, Cooper said.

"That's an opportunity for a thief," he said.

Cooper advised anyone fishing in the area to be sure to stow equipment and lock it up, especially overnight.

Anyone with information on the thefts can call the Angelina County Sheriff's Office at (936) 634-3332 or another local law enforcement agency.

I think the next time I'm down there, Ill tarp up my boat make me a bed on the floor and just dare anyone to try a steal my fishing stuff. That's why I bought a loc-r-bar for that very reason.Guys take an inventory of all your tackle take video or pics of your stuff. I made a list of every rod and reel as well as lures that I have. Time consuming but if you ever need it you got it. Every new purchase jot it down. I guess noe days you can never be to safe.

I was at lakeview that night and had 18 rods stolen.All castaways with curado super free's and calcutta's on them.They just twisted my locks till they broke.Haven't added for a exact total yet but i got an idea how much they got from me.My rods will never sleep in the boat again which is a crying shame.

See my post on Bass Fishing Topics. It is widely known that there are a bunch of crack heads living in the vicinity of all those thefts. Several of the local business owners have reported these people to the Angelina County Sheriffs department with no action taken. If the Sheriff would raid every one of the known crack head's houses, I'll bet they would find every one of the stolen rods, reels, and tackle.

I would check pawn shops in the area, this stuff will probably start showing up.

I'd check pawn shops EVERYWHERE. I'm sure their not stupid enough to pawn them in the same area. But then again, if their dumb enough to use crack.....

I know it's a "pain in the butt', but i always unload all my gear and store it in the motel room at the tournaments after each day of fishing, sometime i leave the storage/rod boxes unlocked!

AND, you know, you'll never see that equipment again. All you will ever get from law enforcement is "well, we didn't catch them in the act, so there's not much we can do" :p It's all a bunch of horse hockey. They tell you, "well, you should have secured it better" like it was your fault that it got stolen. Hogwash. Thieves are one of the lowest forms of life and don't deserve the air they breathe. We don't need them, they serve no purpose, and should be eliminated. Tell that to your local authorities and see how far you get.....nowhere! Shoot them yourself and end up in jail. It's not right! (Whew! Got that out again...)

I hear ya. A customer of mine and me caught someone stealing (2 guys) out of the back of the customers work truck one time. They were walking off loaded down with all kinds of tools, shovels, etc. When we confronted them, their comment was, "Well, it wasn't locked up so it's there for the takin'". WHAT?? Where did they grow up?? That's not what my Mom and Dad taught me (nor the Bible for that matter). I just told them to drop it and go on their way and we'd let it slide. One of them threatened to shoot me (reached for his pocket and sort of jiggled it) but for some reason I felt he was bluffing. As I approached him, they dropped the stuff and ran like cowards. I wasn't really wanting an altercation (since it wasn't my property) but also didn't want them to get away with it so I was willing to do what was needed in order to stop the theft. Now, if it had been MY fishing tackle, I would probably be writing this message from Huntsville.

bump

I wonder, wouldn't it put the thieves out of business if there wasn't such a ready and willing market amongst honest folk for the stolen merchandise? I wonder if there is an additional $35 K of equipment available at First Monday in Canton this weekend, or on E-bay? I wonder if most of the victims overestimated their loss so their insurance provider would cover more of the loss? I wonder, doesn't that make another group of thieves after the original fact? I was just sitting here wondering again, like us old folks do.

my thoughts also on Canton.between fork and rayburn they should have a pretty nice booth.some real low lifes.It is a shame we bust our butts to buy things for enjoyment and these 'things'come past and take with out a thought you they are hurting.myself I don't leave any thing in the boat.if I fish a tourney I put every thing in the truck the night before.If I stay some where I bring it the room.

It's a pain in the butt, but I unload my stuff and keep it in the room with me. After 30 years as a cop I know for a fact those little locks on the boat compartments are only to keep the honest folks out. As far as raiding the crack heads houses,the days of getting a judge to sign a search warrant based on a hunch are long gone.

I've been talking to some of my buddies, and we are going to operate a little sting operation ourselves. It's the best thing that we can do and get the results needed. Places and times are still in the works at this time.

In Texas, under the right to carry a concealed handgun, you have the right to use deadly force to protect your life and property. Sounds simple to me! Go get your license, purchase yourself a nice pistol, and then use it to protect your life and/or property as you see fit. It is your right to do so in Texas. OR.....you can sit around and whine about the law not doing anything about some nasty person stealing your stuff. Personally, I can't afford to buy it but once.
It's in your hands, so stand up or shut up!!