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I meet with people on regular occasion at Houston's Terry Hershey Park to participate in photography events.

Today and also back in January, 2011, the events were marred by car break-ins.

Each was in a different section of the park with the common denominator being rainy weather and a nearly empty lots. In fact, today was chosen to coincide with the Superbowl so as to take advantage of smaller crowds. Both locations have been used many other times throughout the week and year without incident.

Is there a relationship between these crimes and rainy weather, or was it just a coincidence?

Seems suspicious that one would expect less pedestrian traffic in rainy weather and thus less potential witnesses.

Jumping Frog wrote:Seems suspicious that one would expect less pedestrian traffic in rainy weather and thus less potential witnesses.

Makes sense now, but it's one of those things I never thought about before. Perhaps crowds and full lots aren't so bad after all.

During thunderstorms car burglary's happen, because rarely does one pays attention to alarms during storms.

Great lesson learned today.

fishman wrote:During thunderstorms car burglary's happen, because rarely does one pays attention to alarms during storms.

I didn't think anyone ever paid attention to car alarms.

jmra wrote:

fishman wrote:During thunderstorms car burglary's happen, because rarely does one pays attention to alarms during storms.

I didn't think anyone ever paid attention to car alarms.

Yeah, I guess that's my point.

fishman wrote:During thunderstorms car burglary's happen, because rarely does one pays attention to alarms during storms.

Bet this one would get someone's attention
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=OmpBYcM06Sk[/youtube]

fishman wrote:

jmra wrote:

fishman wrote:During thunderstorms car burglary's happen, because rarely does one pays attention to alarms during storms.

I didn't think anyone ever paid attention to car alarms.

Yeah, I guess that's my point.

Rain or shine, nobody pays attention to car alarms.

All I can say about car break-ins and I work in insurance and a very large majority, like 99% of the vehicles broken in to once I asked the insured if anything was stolen and where was it located inside the vehicle they all tell me in some form or fashion "they took my bag, laptop, suitcase, briefcase, etc that was on my seat or in the back seat." The key being visible from the window. Now items do get stolen from the center console or glove box, but that's once they're in by seeing what is available at plain sight already. In 8 years of claims have I rarely heard of a car that was broken into to just check the unseen places. Something that catches they're eyes always triggers the break-in.

This may be paranoia, but I never leave anything in plain sight and whatever I intend to put in the trunk or center console, I do it before I get to the parking lot of where I intend to leave my vehicle unattended.

I tell my wife the same and practices the same.

Also as much of a pain in the a@@ it may be if you need to leave something, lets say your pistol locked in the car, leave with something else in your hand. Prying eyes will think you just forget to get something as opposed to put up something. I leave a motorcycle magazine in the truck to retrieve.

Ok, just asking.

I tend to photograph in the hour before during and after sunrise and sunset on very blue sky days. Completely clear days are good but a few clouds on the horizon are preferred.

I generally do not shoot BW, so the color of the light is important.

Overcast sky's are too blue, I hate flash, warming filters can only do so much. The only advantage would be lack of shadows for portraits.

But in the rain no thanks.

So have I been doing it all wrong?

I agree. The vehicle break ins that I have heard of specifically had to do with objects visible from outside. I remember my Dad's truck getting broken into to steal a phone that was on the dashboard. They broke through the windshield (with difficulty). They didn't bother to find the tools and such he had in the truck, just took what was visible.

philip964 wrote: But in the rain no thanks.

So have I been doing it all wrong?

These were group model/photographer events planned weeks in advance with no knowledge of the ultimate weather (especially this time of year). If weather truly ends up bad, the event is cancelled or rescheduled, but sometimes we make the best of it.

Also, these particular locations are "rainproof" in that large areas are covered by highway overpasses.

i once had a car broken into either before or after it had rained (i forget which). the responding officer told me that he couldn't check for fingerprints because of all the moisture. still not sure if that's actually true or not.

spolct wrote:i once had a car broken into either before or after it had rained (i forget which). the responding officer told me that he couldn't check for fingerprints because of all the moisture. still not sure if that's actually true or not.

not true fingerprints are oil based. Oil and water doesn't mix. BUT the officer would've had to dry the car with a blowdryer in a garage before dusting for prints and THAT would've been too much work! Unless it is a murder case or you're a VIP, i guarantee you that would be too much work for any officer.

Also, they might have to use cyanoacrylate fumes to recover the prints. Again, too much work.