Unfortunate incident at Orange Grove

[aquadog196]

This past week a locked car was broken into at Orange Grove and items grabbed from the back seat. The divers were doing the Grand Traverse and the car was left unattended for some time. It's the real world even down here in rural Florida.

[LakeCityDiver]

Thats a bummer. I feel pretty safe at diver exclusive parks. I guess it time to treat every dive site like your in the ghetto, "Lock it up and hide it"

[Trey R]

Wow, Yeah that is unfortunate. Its a real shame that people are so quick to steal what someone has worked so hard to get.

[Xenia]

Yes that is quite sad. We heard about the incident while we were visiting. I used to leave my purse right under the seat but it could be seen if you looked hard. Now I hide it even better.

I have never heard about stealing incidents in an organized setting such as a park. Old timers say that there used to be some stealing around there especially when your car was not in a park. After the Peacock park was built, this had not happened for a while.

[amphipod06]

It certainly is a shame. It is unlikely (I hope so at least) that it was another diver. More like a non-diving visitor, IMO.

There is less presence at the park by park rangers. Last couple of times I have been there I have not seen Richard or the lady ranger there.

Used to see them at least once every time we went there. I wonder if it has to do with budget cuts.....

Dive safe,

Celia

[TONY CHANEY]

It certainly is a shame. It is unlikely (I hope so at least) that it was another diver. More like a non-diving visitor, IMO.

There is less presence at the park by park rangers. Last couple of times I have been there I have not seen Richard or the lady ranger there.

Used to see them at least once every time we went there. I wonder if it has to do with budget cuts.....

Dive safe,

Celia

Same here. I would usually see them but this last time I only saw her once in 3 days. I have considered this site to be the most trusted against getting things stolen. Oh well. OBTW, I really do not believe it the economy / budget cuts. I just don't see someone paying $4.00 to enter the park in hopes of finding a car to break into while no one is around. Not very good odds compared to a mall with 500+ cars.

[whodunit68]

Not very good odds compared to a mall with 500+ cars.

I'm not about to do the math but the mall with 500+ cars has at least 500+ people driving those cars + employees + security (maybe take buses or get rides to work) walking in and out. The odds of a car being alone with no one around are much less.
This is terribly unfortunate and I'm afraid that having no presence invites the likes of whomever did this.

[Tegg]

I just don't see someone paying $4.00 to enter the park in hopes of finding a car to break into while no one is around. Not very good odds compared to a mall with 500+ cars.

What makes you think they pay to do the "rounds"? If they know a ranger is not present in the park often, it's easy to use the "oh, I didn't understand" line...

[stairman]

Rangers seem to be scarce around there more than they used to be, but I dont see them as a deterent for a thief. Ive left more crap out than Id like to admit mainly at Peacock though. There is a gentlemans agreement among cavers not to mess with others stuff and Im sure these were no cavers. OG being closer to the exit and less crowded would be targeted more for sure. It is sad indeed.

[a64pilot]

That trailer is starting to look better every day. Now if I could somehow slip it by the wife?