My car was broken into at Tennessee Wall on Saturday January 10th, 2015

I was climbing at TWall yesterday and was having a great day until I got back to my car (champagne colored Honda CRV) to discover someone had busted out the back seat passenger side window. They grabbed my whole trad rack and all my quick draws (double set of Camalot C4's .75-#3 and 8 Black Diamond Freewire 18cm quick draws) which were stashed in a Tupperware container in the area behind the back seat. We were using my rope and my partners gear so there was no reason to carry all my gear up the hill. Unfortunately this day that was a bad plan. They also grabbed my blue Patagonia messenger bag that had a bunch of clothes, an iPod and my MacBook Pro. Two jackets were taken, a Black Diamond Men's Crag Hoody that was blue, and a grey Gap zip up winter coat. Finally they grabbed my change jar which had my Swiss army knife and my wallet. My credit cards were used to make multiple purchases in Jasoer TN and Hixson TN before I even got back to te car and discovered all this.

It was only my second time at TWall and while I knew this had been a problem there in the past I was somewhat under the impression that break ins had mostly stopped. I don't know what I could or should have done to prevent this incident other than avoid TWall comepletely.

I filed a police report and am hopeful that the people will be tracked down and caught, but in the mean time, if anyone sees any of this gear for sale in the Chattanooga area, I would really appreciate any help tracking down the thieves and getting my stuff back. Also, everyone who climbs there should be extra careful about what they leave in their cars there. None of the things listed were in plain sight. All tucked away inside of or underneath something. Car was locked and parked on the road just past the parking/camping area where my climbing partner has always parked in his years of climbing there.

This is the third theft in the last month. I really hope they catch whoever is doing it this time.

Sorry to hear about the loss and your frustration...and I hope you get your gear back! The best thing to do is to leave anything valuable at home and leave you windows down and doors unlocked. This has been occurring for well over a decade and the only way to make yourself safe is to take away the attraction and appeal to at least do damage to your car. T-Wall is too easy of a target because its out away from civilization and the meth head thieves know that they most likely wont get caught before the cops or anyone else can do something about it. This has been the unfortunate risk of climbing at T-Wall for a long time.

Just damn. That's a harsh lesson learned. I hope ya get some of your stuff back. Pawn shops in Hixson is the first place I'd look since that's where they headed.

With that out of the way, I'll second what Brad said. Never EVER leave ANYthing in a vehicle at the T Wall. And by nothing I mean NOTHING...right down to cupholder change, floormats, chargers, and glove box and console contents. You have to GUT a vehicle before leaving it there...every time...all the time.

And leave it unlocked. These are opportunistic theives much more so than vandals. I've never heard of an empty unlocked car being vandalized...rummaged through maybe...but that's about it.

Agreed. many, many years ago, when climbing first began at Little River Canyon, it was a State Park, not a national park. It was still remote, wild and wooly back in there with very little traffic and/or ranger patrols. For many years, we just emptied our cars and rolled the windows down. Good advice for T Wall as well.

Question for the local craggers: Someone proffered their apartment for storage as a safe house, but maybe the crash pad owners would be willing to sell daily locker space for cheap?

If the local hoste, adventure center or climbing store did that for these victimized crags, it seems win-win. Thoughts from the locals or advocates like SCC and AAC?

Same experience this summer in washington, lost near $4k. Renter's insurance will often cover cars (good for the van hermits), although there is usually a dollar cut off in which you must show proof of ownership or receipt of replaced item.

The local PD options are slim. Sherriff installed game cameras and covert prosecution is the way to bag the baddies, but the likelihood of justice is slim for petty crime.

Best way forward is to post on rock forums, as you did, and ensure the community is informed (post a sign in the parking lot).

This sucks!! Sorry bro.

Any local climbers interested in parking lot sitting next weekend? It's bound to be a busy weekend at the wall-- $5/climber would get the sitter a great days pay.

So sorry to hear about this man. Thanks for posting this so the community is aware. I hope you're able to get some stuff back.

Have you tried to locate your MacBook Pro using the icloud location feature?

4 things:
1-You may know this already but check with your insurance agent to see if anything is covered. My homeowner's once covered a break-in in my car where a lot of kayaking gear was stolen. Fingers crossed.
2-Definitely try the icloud feature referenced above. Fingers crossed
3-Willing to send you a set of nuts and a cam or two.
4-I have a shovel, strong back, and will make spare time......'cause as we all know....friends help you move......REAL friends help you move bodies.

Jason,

I'm sorry to hear this - for you and for T Wall. Really aggravating sh!t. Sucks to have this long a history of crime in the area and seemingly no enforcement.

'Just leave your empty car unlocked' is surely good advice for those with the option but I'm camping out of mine most of the time so there's that to consider. Thanks for posting and making us aware - will have me looking for alternatives to leaving an unattended car parked there.

Has anyone ever had their tent messed with? Not sure if its better to leave it in the car or set up.

yeah, I've had a coleman double burner, tarp, and aqua-tainer stolen from my campsite. luckily i put the bivy sack and sleeping bag in the car.

i wish i was at twall right now--- had to bail when i got word of the new thieves…..

what a shame...

Does anyone know if this is (or has been) happening in Muir Valley?

I've heard that this is a non-issue in Muir, but I don't want to take the risk if this same dude has been hitting up every decent crag in the Red.

Twall is nowhere near Muir Valley. Different state.

I'm sure the folks at the crash pad in downtown Chatt would let you leave some stuff there. If you are camping near Twall it would be a little impractical as you would need to drive back into town. The crash pad is a great option to stay also, only $30ish a night for a bunk. They are climbers.

Crash Pad is great place.

Crime kinda makes me appreciate the $5 for LRC - at least the lot is safe and sound.

Shame to hear this is an issue at the Red too - on my list this Fall....

That sucks about your stuff getting stolen. I hate theives. My girlfriend and I had $30,000 worth of stuff stolen from my house while we were in CA this summer. I had stuff stolen from a friend's car at the T Wall too the one time I left stuff in the car. I knew better but I didn't have time to take it home before climbing. You can't leave anything, NOTHING whatsoever in the car like Paul said. Not even a cassette tape. That's really difficult (essentially impossible) for traveling climbers. Anyway.. sorry that happened to you, it sucks hard core. well keep an eye out for your stuff. They *may* have sold it,er some of it, at a flea market. Where exactly in Hixson were the purchases on your card made?

In the past locals have hid out in the bushes trying to catch/identify the theives. A State Detective also staked out the parking lot for weeks for us and finally busted the last scum bag. There weren't any break-ins at the T-Wall for a good while after that. The scum bag before that was busted in GA (I think); he was also breaking into cars at Rocktown (I think).

this is really useful information. thanks everyone. i'm going to try and store all of my shit at the crash pad or something for the week that i am in town. i'm moving across the country and dirtbagging out of my subaru and i'm pretty bummed to hear about this kind of thing. guess i'll have to work around it? how safe are other areas like rocktown and the obed?

Hey Kirk,

We met this last Fall climbing at Leda; you and your girlfriend were climbing together, my partner and I were to your right - don’t recall the routes we were on. You shared the story of your loss at the house - including a euro dirt bike (Berg?) and a kayak as red as a…. There was another GA boy (you seemed to know) there guiding a first time climber. Remember the day?

Not for nothing but I use the word ‘seems’ when I’m interpreting information second or third hand. It’s often effective in bringing forth additional background as you provided. To a T-Wall noob ‘3 times in the last month’ (Blum’s post) is a steady trend of thievery indicative of ripe targets and easy getaways: no disrespect intended - I assure you. Excellent to hear the detective busted someone and things turned around - probably got a new repeat offender working T-Wall. I’d be happy to burn some time and gas, sit in the woods with you for a shot at nabbing sticky fingers - maybe we’d get another respite from crime.