Then anglers would b***ch about paying higher ramp fees, like $10-$20 instead of $3.

Businesses around the lake have a hard enough time staying in business. Hiring extra security is probably cost prohibitive for them. Then folks will say "fine, then what if we all quit using that business?" I have news for you, you use the businesses at Fork because of their location, their service, their food, etc.

Now if a vehicle was broken into every day at business xyz, then that could hurt their income in the long run. But one here and one there is not out of the ordinary in this day and age.

Bottom line, YOU are responsible for securing your property.

I deal in Loss Prevention. Even with cameras everywhere, and security devices, they will steal anyway. 1 guy with a flashlight will not prevent it.

Best advice is give them nothing to steal. Good luck.

As our toys get more and more expensive, the thieves stand to make more profit. If you drove a truck that was worth about $600 the thief would probably pass you by in search of something worth while. Personally my old boat don't look like much but it still gets me there and back and I don't think that anyone would try to steal anything out of it.

I would sure think that security during the daylight (most active hours at a ramp) is not important. I don't think many of the thefts are happening in the broad daylight. Yes, it has happened, but I sure don't think it's a major problem. Darkness is what brings out the thieves. Generally speaking, during the dark hours, our boats and trucks are parked at the motels. With that said, it looks like the motels and parks should be the ones concerned with night time security. I honestly think a hotel could easily get away with raising their rates $5-10/night to pay for a security guard to ride around for 8-10 hours a night on the busy weekends. These motels that choose to do this need to be sure they let everyone know they are paying extra and what it's for. It could very likely be used as a way to promote their business.

I just wonder if one ramp started charging $10 to launch and provided a security person, would enough people support it? I think a few people are saying they would, but when it come down to it, would they actually pay to launch there? The only way to find out is for someone to try it. The security person could also serve as the one that collects the fee.

The idea of hiring off duty officers is not that far fetched guys and gals. I believe it to be the responsibility of the TD to hire that security and fund it. You can't guarantee anything. But police officers being visual is a great deterrent, period. 24/7 Thursday-Sun. Why not try it? Cost? Please.... Take the money out of the entry fees. Or don't do it all since that's been working so good.

Ok...it's easy to throw ideas and numbers out there, but let's really take a look at it now.

1) How many ramps do you provide security for?
2) You said have them out 24/7. They are only needed at the ramp for about 10 hours (5am - 3pm). Where you going to put them for the other 14 hours? I assume you're going to say move them to the motels. Which motels you going to assign them to?

You're going to have to pay $30/hr for this security. They will be needed from 7pm on Thursday to 5pm on Sunday (I assume you want to keep you're weigh in area secure also). That is a total of 70 hours. That is $2100 per security person. I would guess you would say there are 8 ramps that would need the security? That is a total of $16,800 for security that someone has to foot the bill for.

I think 8 guys can cover the ramps pretty good. Now what 8 motels are you going to station them out? There are well more than 8 motels. How are you going to explain why you're leaving some of the motels without a security person. This is definitely going to sway people to stay at one motel over the others. So you're hurting some motels.

How are you to fund this extra expense? Common sense tells me the TD is simply going to pass it on to us anglers as a $5-10 fee. Is this fair to YOU who lives at Lake Fork and is going to launch at your neighborhood ramp that isn't even going to get security? What about at night? You will be paying for the security and there's no security guard watching your garage or boat house.

I know you're going to say "Sealy makes plenty of money, he can just pay it out his pocket". Come on...really? You really think any business man is going to shell out $20k for something that is only going to push the thieves to the ramps/motels/boat houses without added security? It is clearly Wood County's responsibility to protect an industry that obviously is a major part of their revenue. I don't have the answer the to problem facing Wood County authorities, but it certainly isn't asking the promoter to foot the bill for what THEY are NOT doing.

So in the above excerpt, it was the hotels, marinas and ramps' responsibility. Now it is Wood County's responsibility? Make up your mind YHRF.

I can tell you this. Since Sheriff Brown was elected in Wood County, I have seen a greater presence of the WCSO around and on the lake than ever before. These deputies are trying their best to curb crime around the lake. But they cannot be everywhere all the time.

The county has a limited budget.

Motels responsibility at their respective properties.

Wood County at public ramps.

Price of a new 998, $2,000. 8 ramps. Or 8 motels it doesn't matter. 8x2 is 16 which makes it 16 grand if one person is at every ramp or motel.

1198 = $2500? X 8 and you're looking at $20,000.

Do we want to try and prevent thefts or let them continue to happen? Sure we can say lock your stuff up all day long. How well has that worked in the past? Wasn't it last year someone had their stuff stolen at the weigh in at LFM? So, sure just staff it for the night time hours. Thieves can adapt well. Even methheads. Again, nothing is a guarantee, but I can guarantee the thievery will continue.

And trust me, cops don't care who pays them as long as they get paid. It has been my experience that I get paid by a company, not an individual, depending on the event I am working. Football games, the school pays. Music event, the bar pays. HS graduations, the school pays. And $30 per hour would be bare minimum...

I guess I'm missing your point here. Are you saying that if 8 graphs get stolen then it's equal to what the security would cost?

My point is simple. Money can either be spent to try and prevent theft or money can be spent to insurance companies. One thing will remain the same. Theft will continue. What needs to be figured out is who pays. I believe the person holding the event should be responsible. If not 100%, then 50%. I think the person taking peoples money to come to this location to participate in an event has a responsibility to the patrons to at the very least attempt to provide a safe and secure environment for the patrons. Maybe the TD and the motels should all split the cost. I don't have the correct answer either but not doing anything about is not the answer. JMO.

Oh heck..you could solve all this by just having "Valet" parking (only)for the boats that want it.

You pull up to the public ramp, fisherman get in the boat, valet put's you in the water,gives you a ticket..parks your rig.. you call valet when your ready to get out.

Valet's are on site the whole time..you then pay them.

Problem solved.

LOL......I expect to see this in the not too distant future

How about this...

When caught stealing it is an automatic 100 years in the BIG HOUSE. For each offense you confess to and $repay$ in full, we knock off a couple of years of your sentence.

No confession...No pay back...throw away the key.

I HATE A THIEF!!!!!!!

lol! Ostrich syndrome. Stick my head in the sand, if I don't see it,it doesn't exist