Family Car Burglarized In MK Parking Lot

[Polynesian Dweller]

Thefts from cars are crimes of opportunity. The thief sees something and grabs it. I once had a police officer friend demonstrate what is often used and how fast it happens. He had a ball bearing on rubber band. Pull it back a couple of inches and bang out goes a window. A thief can be in and out in under 15 seconds. Very hard to see happen. They also use escape hammers.

More sophisticated ones use lock pick tools and other devices. One of our maintenance guys had the tools because of work needs. He could get in and out of things in no time at all.

The point is, even with all the security in the world you may not see it in a parking lot. Your best defense is leave nothing visible.

[WDWdreamer87]

(1) Security officers on Segways (surely WDW can get some of these outfitted for Security in the parking lots) with lights on them?

It's pretty dangerous to be driving a segway in a packed parking lot, lights or no lights. And I'd rather see security be patrolling for safety of guests, not cars.

(2) Add a few more of the Security "Crow's Nest" type of outposts in various areas of the parking lots (have seen these at Downtown Disney, Studios, etc.).

Have you ever tried parking at Downtown Disney with those crows nests? they take up way too many parking spots.

(3) Eventually add security cameras in parking lots with high visibility signs as you enter the parking lot areas and additional signs within the parking lot areas.

Not exactly rocket science....

The ticket you receive indicates clearly that you should hide any personal items from sight. If you'd hide it at home, you should hide it as a guest. People know tourists don't think about these things, so it's an easy target. Security cameras won't catch a thief, only locate them. Prevent the action by hiding your possessions!

[Dixie Springs]

We had a video camera stolen while in the Expedition Everest shop. Disney was not very helpful. Acted like it happens a lot, etc. I asked about security cameras, and they said they had none. I wanted to perform an experimental shop-lifting to test that assertion.

It wasn't so much the camera, the creep could not have gotten much for it (maybe a half-day's worth of meth). It was the family video that we lost. Was not a 'magical' day for us...

[Sweetpea29488]

So true. I work at a public university, and cars are routinely broken into if so much as a handful of change is visible.

I lock EVERYTHING of value in my trunk and cross-lock it so they can't open my doors and pop the trunk. I guess they COULD cut through the back seat and get my stuff, but that's more work than most thieves want.

So sorry to hear about the family's loss, but NO PLACE is safe.

How do you cross lock the trunk? Sorry if I sound stupid but not sure on how you do this. Thanks

[Tekneek]

It wasn't so much the camera, the creep could not have gotten much for it (maybe a half-day's worth of meth). It was the family video that we lost. Was not a 'magical' day for us...

I agree completely. We replaced my wife's camera, even upgraded from what was stolen, but we could never get the photos back. It happened at Buzz Lightyear and the castmembers were slightly compassionate, but not too interested in helping out.

The treatment we got from Disney Security and then Orange County led to us bailing on our vacation early that year. We got to experience the cold and ruthless side of Disney that most guests rarely get to experience.

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

I'm surprised this doesn't happen more. A ton of cars with people in "vacation mode" means a lot of potential targets.

When we checked into POFQ a few years ago, our room wasn't ready and we talked about just driving over to MK instead of taking the bus while we waited. A CM overheard us, and cautioned us NOT to do that with a car full of luggage, and offered to store anything valuable at the hotel if we still decided to go ahead with it.

[figgie]

So sad that people expect Disney to be any better than the rest of the world. As we were having a snack at WDW on Saturday, we were so surprised to see how many people leaving their strollers in the stroller parking area for HM also left backpacks, carry bags, food and other stuff right in the seats of their strollers. This always surprises me. We are always worried about the stroller being stollen and ending up on Craig's List or Ebay and these people were leaving their stuff in them also. No surprise that things are stollen from cars, rooms or bags, it happens everywhere!

[BigRedDad]

I have illegal tint for a reason: so people can't see in my car. I have not had any issue with it, I am a law abiding citizen (not sure if I am with my tint). If I am pulled over, all my windows are down before he gets out of his car.

I think WDW lets us put our guard down, maybe too much. Part of the reason PI went under was because of the local crime gangs. Easy pickings when people think everything is safe.

If you want to see how difficult it is to steal something at WDW, look at the stroller parking lots. People store purses, backpacks, camera bags, etc on a stroller. They go on the attraction. All someone has to do is grab the stroller, walk off with it, take what they want, and park it back at the stroller lot. CMs will never notice it. Next time you see a stroller lot, just look at how hard it would be.

[DisneyGiant]

I'm surprised that its legal to leave a firearm unattended like that. I know that no weapons are allowed in the park, I wonder if WDW should rent a secure location to store items like that?

[magicofdisney]

I'm surprised that its legal to leave a firearm unattended like that. I know that no weapons are allowed in the park, I wonder if WDW should rent a secure location to store items like that?

Are there signs stating this?

[1DisneyNut]

I'm surprised that its legal to leave a firearm unattended like that.?

It is not just unattended, it is inside a locked vehicle inside the glove compartment. The only way someone would even know it was there would be if they illegally broke into the car as happened in this case. Applying your logic, it should be illegal to leave any dangerous instrument unattended anywhere such as a knife in your home. What if someone illegally broke into your home, stole one of your knives and then proceeded to kill your neighbor with it? Should you be arrested for leaving your knife unattended?

Lets not lose sight of the fact that the focus should be on the criminal breaking in, not the law abiding citizen who had a licensed weapon hidden within their vehicle.

As far as firearms not being allowed in the parks, I believe it is posted on the signs at security check, in the list of items not permitted. It is their private property so they can disallow whatever items they wish just like they could deny you entrance just because they didn't like your hair style if they wanted. However, it is not illegal for you to have your gun if you have a concealed weapons permit but if they discover you have one, you can be escorted to the exit and asked to leave. You will not be arrested if you have a concealed weapons permit as you have not broken any laws. I actually forgot to remove mine once and wore it all day long in the Magic Kingdom.

[magicofdisney]

It is not just unattended, it is inside a locked vehicle inside the glove compartment. The only way someone would even know it was there would be if they illegally broke into the car as happened in this case. Applying your logic, it should be illegal to leave any dangerous instrument unattended anywhere such as a knife in your home. What if someone illegally broke into your home, stole one of your knives and then proceeded to kill your neighbor with it? Should you be arrested for leaving your knife unattended?

Lets not lose sight of the fact that the focus should be on the criminal breaking in, not the law abiding citizen who had a licensed weapon hidden within their vehicle.

As far as firearms not being allowed in the parks, I believe it is posted on the signs at security check, in the list of items not permitted. It is their private property so they can disallow whatever items they wish just like they could deny you entrance just because they didn't like your hair style if they wanted. However, it is not illegal for you to have your gun if you have a concealed weapons permit but if they discover you have one, you can be escorted to the exit and asked to leave. You will not be arrested if you have a concealed weapons permit as you have not broken any laws. I actually forgot to remove mine once and wore it all day long in the Magic Kingdom.

I've never seen the signs stating no firearms allowed, however I wasn't looking. I too have a permit, so that's why I asked.

[Buttercup]

How do you cross lock the trunk? Sorry if I sound stupid but not sure on how you do this. Thanks

Most trunks, when you close them shut, they aren't actually locked. You have to stick your key in the keyhole and turn it (the opposite way you would turn it to open the trunk) and then it's officially locked.

[Buttercup]

So sad that people expect Disney to be any better than the rest of the world. As we were having a snack at WDW on Saturday, we were so surprised to see how many people leaving their strollers in the stroller parking area for HM also left backpacks, carry bags, food and other stuff right in the seats of their strollers. This always surprises me. We are always worried about the stroller being stollen and ending up on Craig's List or Ebay and these people were leaving their stuff in them also. No surprise that things are stollen from cars, rooms or bags, it happens everywhere!

We only leave stuff in our stroller if its of no real value; a backpack full of diapers for example. Never anything like a purse with money or a video camera.

[1DisneyNut]

Most trunks, when you close them shut, they aren't actually locked. You have to stick your key in the keyhole and turn it (the opposite way you would turn it to open the trunk) and then it's officially locked.

I have never had a car like this, when you close the trunk it is locked, no key necessary on mine. I have had some where I could make the electric popper inoperable by flipping a switch next to the locking mechanism inside the trunk though. What kind of car do you have that you have to lock the trunk with a key?

[Altair]

What kind of car do you have that you have to lock the trunk with a key?

It' called a valet lock. When you use valet parking you turn the key horizontal then give the valet a different key that will not open the trunk with the lock in that position. The trunk will always lock without a key.

[1DisneyNut]

It' called a valet lock. When you use valet parking you turn the key horizontal then give the valet a different key that will not open the trunk with the lock in that position. The trunk will always lock without a key.

I knew about the valet lock, buttercup was talking as if her trunk doesn't lock unless you turn the key. That must be what she was referring to but a thief could care less what method you use to lock the car, they don't use keys. lol

[SandmanGStefani24]

I absolutely hate to see anything like this happen in WDW. I always like to think that the best of people is all that comes out there, but times are changing, and sometimes the real world sneaks in. That being said, I have a few things I can't shake after reading that.

1. Why in the world would you ever leave a computer in a car, much less in plain view? The heat can and will damage any electronics, let alone a computer. The GPS is one thing, but really?

2. The loaded gun. I have a CHL and carry as well almost all the time. Thing is, they stated it was their "grandfather's gun" was it? Why in the world would you carry around a gun that is pretty much an antique in your car? When I carry I use a modern firearm that I am sure will work, not an older presumeably more valuable, or also presumeably less reliable weapon. Doesn't make sense.

3. Basic streetsmarts here. I always rent a car when travelling, but only because I am much further away so there is little to nothing of value in my rental for very long. If so, I LEAVE IT AT THE HOTEL. I know many families drive to save cash, and could get carried away and want to go straight to the parks and not the hotel to drop things off. (which really is the smart thing to do) But even so, if you had a computer and CHRISTMAS GIFTS in your car, why not PUT THEM IN THE TRUNK?

These people might have been born at night, but it couldn't have been last night. So many basic mistakes made here that still have me shaking my head. Hopefully people can learn from this and prevent it from happening again.