High-End RVs Target for Theft Ring

Police in Florida say they believe a ring of thieves is involved in break-ins and thefts involving high-end RVs over the last several months. This doesn't mean you'll need to stand guard with the shotgun if you have an expensive motorhome: These thieves are into the "large volume discount" business--they've been breaking into RVs on dealer lots in the South. Rather than stealing the RVs themselves, the burglars are evidently interested in their contents.

The most recent breaker in the crime wave was in Clermont, a lakeside community west of Orlando, Florida. In Clermont, thieves targeted 11 high-end motorhomes, leaving over 200 other lesser-valued RVs on the same dealer lot untouched. Plasma screen televisions, GPS units, and other expensive electronic items were moved, and apparently transported by the dealership's golf-cart to a whole cut in a chain-link fence, giving the thieves entry to the dealership, Flagship RV.

Police officials are theorizing the theft ring has been working its way east after similar incidents have been reported from Louisiana, Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama. Police think that some of the goods may have been 'stolen to order,' as in one of the more recent break-ins, the burglars made off with 17" flat screen televisions, while leaving larger and more expensive models behind. For more information on this story, visit the Orlando Sentinel.

Photo: amyrod on flickr.com

Beach Campers Report Terror in Mexico

SignOnSanDiego.com, a web site of the Union Tribune newspaper reports that Americans are increasingly reporting robberies by paramilitary types along the Baja coast. While the site indicates reports are incomplete, and much of their information comes from tallies of internet sites, there are some solid reports of some scary incidents along the Mexican coastline.

In one account, the owner of a California surfer academy said his camping group was set upon by men wearing military clothing and ski masks. Pat Weber said he and his girl friend at first refused to come out of their motorhome--until shots were fired through it. Once outside he says, "They made us get down on all fours -- execution position -- and put guns to our heads." Weber's girlfriend was sexually assaulted by the gunmen, and the banditos left with $10,000 worth of high tech gear. The incident reportedly took place Cuatro Casas, 200 miles south of the US border.

The web site says many Americans say they have experienced similar situations but are afraid to report them to Mexican authorities, choosing to speak out once they get back to the states.

The owner of a tourism club in California says their organization has been calling on Baja tourism authorities to investigate and handle the situation, lest the Mexican state sees a decline in US visitors fearing they'll become crime victims. For the whole story, visit the news site.

Police Say Woman Turns Motorhome Into Murder Weapon

Portland, Oregon police have arrested and charged an Oregon woman with murder in an incident where a man was mowed over with a motorhome. The owner of the 25' Itasca was the victim.

Darlene Harding told police she was fearful for her life when she jumped behind the wheel of her estranged boyfriend's motorhome. She claims she thought the victim, Kenneth Rowley, had jumped out of the way of the big rig, but evidently he hadn't--Rowley tumbled underneath the rig and was dragged about 30 feet.

Police say the incident is just the tail end of a long line of domestic violence problems between the two. More details are available in the Oregonian.