Preventing trailhead break-ins and theft is important for enjoying the outdoors and having peace of mind while on the trail.
One of my biggest fears while backpacking, hiking, and camping is leaving my car at the trailhead and coming back to a smashed window. Smash and grabs at trailheads are becoming more and more popular.
When I lived in Salt Lake City, hearing about break-ins at trailheads was common.
Most trailheads do not have security, cameras, or any other systems in place to deter theft. It’s your responsibility to take as many precautions as possible to avoid break-ins.
Are Trailhead Break Ins Increasing?
Trailhead break ins are increasing across the United States.
While there is no central database tracking break ins, some cities and counties provide their statistics in various news outlets.
Tracking over 30 police departments for activity, one person found trailhead break-ins increased 100% from 2020 to 2021.
One community even has a volunteer program for watching trailheads.
While some popular areas are installing security cameras and increasing patrol, there are only so many resources to go around.
“The problem is there are more people breaking into cars than we have folks to enforce it,” said Colton Whitworth of the Forest Service Baker-Snoqualmie unit. – April 2022
Preventing Trailhead Theft & Vehicle Break-Ins: 10+ Tips
While some of these will be common sense tips, it’s a good reminder to cover the basics.
Here are 11 tips for deterring vehicle break-ins when leaving your vehicle at trailheads.
1. Lock Your Car
Duh, thanks Wifibum!
Although, some will argue to leave your car unlocked so thieves don’t break your car window. If you do that on the west coast, there’s a good chance someone will just claim it to be theirs and be settled in by the time you get back.
In 99% of situations, I have at least something I don’t want to be stolen in my vehicle. Even if it’s a simple headlamp, I don’t want someone to simply jiggle my door handle and have it.
2. Don’t Leave Your Key in the Gas Cap or Wheel Well
While this is the method I have used a few times in my life, I would not recommend it.
Many of my trail runner friends still do this to avoid the extra weight on the trail.
Every thief knows to check the wheel areas for keys. If you want to save weight, leave your extra keys hidden in the car. Then only take your individual car key (and probably house key).
3. Keep Valuables Out of Your Car
If possible, keep your laptops, work gear, and other important and hard-to-replace items at home.
Your wallet, credit card, and other personal items should be kept on you or left at home as well. If I was running, I would sometimes leave my wallet in my car. However, I would at least take my ID, insurance card, and credit card.
Then, if the wallet gets stolen, it will be less of a hassle.
If you can’t prevent bringing valuables in your car, get a lockbox and tether it to the inside of your vehicle so it’s hard to steal. Read about the lockbox I use here.
4. Keep Unnecessary Gear At Home to Prevent Trailhead Break-Ins
If you are outdoorsy and active, it may be tempting to leave gear in your vehicle overnight or extra gear in your car “just in case.”
This is especially true when you have more than one outdoor hobby.
I know climbers that tend to leave their gear in their car at all times. Some have uncertain work schedules and want to be able to go whenever they get done with work early.
If you’re going to keep expensive gear in your car while at a trailhead, make sure it’s out of sight. In addition, you can use a security cable to loop the gear together. It can be attached to your car or it will at least make it more difficult to steal.
5. Get Window Tints or Make DIY Curtains
Preventing trailhead theft and break-ins can be as easy as keeping gear out of sight.
If you have gear that is difficult or impossible to hide, such as a mountain bike in the back of the car, I recommend getting your windows tinted or making DIY camping curtains.
While having curtains may draw attention, it’s hard to tell they are there if you already have a slight tint to your windows. In addition, it’s still better than the alternative of someone being able to see all your gear directly.
6. Take the Least Impressive Vehicle to the Trailhead
Preventing trailhead theft can be as simple as taking the least desirable vehicle to the trailhead.
If you have the option to take various vehicles because you’re carpooling or have more than one vehicle, take the least impressive vehicle.
Not only do fancy and stereotypical “nice” vehicles draw attention, but so do vehicles that are modified such as lift kits, roof racks, etc.
I also like to leave the vehicle a little messy. Anything to make it less desirable than another vehicle. Dirty clothes and wrappers can be a great anti-theft method.
Roof racks and other mounts will draw attention to your vehicle and make thieves think there is other gear inside. If possible, leave them at home.
7. Your Glove Compartment and Trunk are Not a Magical Safe Spaces
Keeping your gear out of eye sight will help deter some theft. However, most car thieves know common folks will move important items into their trunk.
All they have to do is simply smash your window and press the trunk opener.
8. Get to Know the Area and any Recent Trailhead Break-Ins
If you frequent the same area often, it’s good to join Facebook groups for the area.
For example, in Salt Lake City, there were hiking groups, trail running groups, and all sorts of groups that would use the same trails and trailheads.
It was common for people to report any sketchy activity and vehicle break-ins in these groups.
This can help you get an idea of the trailheads that are frequented by thieves or have abnormal activities at the trailhead.
9. Use a Vehicle Alarm System Sticker to Prevent Trailhead Theft
Similar to the ADT signs outside of homes, having some sort of sticker on your vehicle showing it has an anti-theft system may help in some situations.
In fact, some thieves may actually target older vehicles simply because of the lack of sophistication in their alarm systems.
10. Use Popular Trailheads During the Week
Trailheads are least likely to be used during the week which makes them easy targets for thieves compared to a busy weekend where there is a lot of activity.
If you’re going for a long hike or run during the week, try and use a popular trailhead or one that has some other sort of traffic.
In addition, sometimes there’s an opportunity to park in town and walk to a nearby trailhead instead of driving into a less-used area.
11. Hide Gear BEFORE Arriving at the Trailhead
If you have excess gear in your vehicle, hide the gear BEFORE arriving at the trailhead.
This helps avoid drawing any attention to what you’re moving around your trunk or tossing a blanket over.
Trailhead Break-ins: Keeping Valuables Safe
My goal is that if someone breaks into my vehicle, it’s going to be very, very hard to get away with anything valuable.
Because I do long camping trips from living in my SUV and/or tent, I tend to have more gear and valuables in my vehicle than the average person.
If this is the case, I would recommend a more permanent and better solution than the tips above.
Whether this is a permanent lockbox mounted to your vehicle, using GPS trackers on expensive gear, or some other DIY method, it’s an important aspect to get right as trailhead theft becomes more and more common.
Personally, I use a portable laptop-sized safety box which you can read more about here.
In addition, I have a fun article about Tent Locks and Camping Safety here.
