UPDATE - - - Another Fly Fishing Victim

BoCash3 · #1 07-18-2007, 07:54 PM

We briefly enjoyed some relief from some of the vehicle break ins on the South Holston and the Watauga. This occurred for a period after some of the press we got which basically embarrassed the Johnson County Sheriff, Carter County Sheriff, and TVA Police.

Unfortunately, I just now got a call that wasn't pretty. One of my friends who lives in Lenoir, NC launched his boat from the weir parking lot on the South Holston sometime in the last two days and came back to discover his truck and trailer gone. His wife's pocketbook was in the truck.

I do not have all the details yet but I only hope that he notified all possible agencies over there.

If any of you have access to TVA or Sullivan County records, or write for a newspaper in that area, would love to hear if this came out in the news. If not, it needs to be in the news for all to see. Front page news is what prompted stepped up patrols and more enforcement action last time and it's time to keep those areas patrolled again.

Flatlander · #2 07-18-2007, 08:17 PM

Bo,
Was he in the main lot at the grates or was he parked in the new lot at the concrete ramp? The new lot makes me nervous...not enough people walking around in there. I guess the best practice is to drive down to Jack's, pick him up, drive back up and launch the boat and let him take your truck back down and look after it.

Man that stinks.

BoCash3 · #3 07-18-2007, 10:08 PM

Flatland, On the guy that was the victim, we have a mutual best friend that called me so I don't have all details yet. However, I think his truck was taken from the big parking lot, the same place where I had my break-in 8 years ago. This is the side that has the "dry launch." I use that side with my jon boat by shoving the boat straight off the trailer into the drink without putting the tires in the water.

Several of us use motor boats over there when the water is up and sulphurs are hatching so we launch from up high and return to the same spot. Therefore, our vehicles stay in that same place all day. Such was the same scenario when the scumbags cleaned out my pickup in 1999. There were a number of serious break-ins that year and the next at every access on the river all the way down to Rockhold Church. Watauga was not much better.

River Man · #4 07-18-2007, 10:39 PM

Things are really getting bad up here on the South Holston. Bo, your friend had his truck and trailer stolen from the parking lot(canoe launch) area adjacent to the fish ladder. He is currently down at Jack Praters house waiting for someone from Lenoir to come get him and his wife and son. At about the same time, a Harley Davidson motorcycle was taken from the parking lot next to the weir. Two days ago, one of our mutual friends had his Toyota Forerunner stolen from the paring lot in Bluff City. About a week ago, one of the guides had his truck broken into at this same location and lost many rods and tackle valued at $5000. In the last month, a truck was taken from a parking lot on the South Holston Lake ( two more were taken several months ago). There have also been other breakins of cars and trucks. If anyone has a Toyota, Nissan or Z series truck, use extreme caution.

River Man

Marmot · #5 07-18-2007, 11:04 PM

Man I hate to hear of this starting back up again...

Beetle · #6 07-19-2007, 09:40 AM

I think the Economic Development Commission up there needs to know that they stand to lose (or already losing) thousands of dollars in tourism, etc.

How many of you can honestly say this doesn't affect your choice of where to take your next trip? I know a lot of people have shuttles and safe parking areas- but most people like me don't and I am unlikely to risk it just to fish there.

This stinks.

UPDATE- I just sent an email to Andy Burke who is President of the EDC Alliance in NE TN and SW VA. Andy is a good man and used to be head of the Greensboro EDC. I linked this site so he could read more about it.

ebaswell · #7 07-19-2007, 10:55 AM

I am not in the area, but I sure hate to hear things like this. It sounds like it is happening often enough, for a group of people to go fishing for thugs. Just put some bait out, maybe a nice truck with plenty of gear in it. About 6 guys with camo and ax handles

(only for protection of course) hide in the woods around the parking area. When it looks like they are about to stike, jump out and open a can of whoop a$$.

Just my suggestion.

Flatlander · #8 07-19-2007, 11:01 AM

I'm sure this has been suggested before but...Given how often this occurs, it seems to me that law enforcement could fill up a truck with fly gear, park it in an obscure lot (like TVA South) and stake it out. If game wardens can stake out robotic deer, then TVA police or local cops ought to have some success with a similar scheme (does that constitute entrapment?). I realize the police have a lot on their plates, but after reading what Riverman just wrote regarding the number of vehicles being stolen, it seems like such an operation is warranted.

Beetle...nice email to Mr Burke. Hope he can look into it.

EDIT: Ebaswell...looks like you were quicker on the "send" button than me.

BoCash3 · #9 07-19-2007, 11:15 AM

Just off the phone with more info:

Stolen Wed. July 19, 07 at TVA parking lot on the South Holston River at the "metal grates":

2004 Forest Green Toyota Tacoma X-tra cab with matching Leer camper cover. Truck had trailer attached for a 16 foot jon boat. Boat and motor are still in possession of the owner.

Truck contained ladies pocketbook with cash, diamond bracelet, 3 cell phones and personal items. Truck had fly fishing gear, two sets of waders, 3 pairs of binoculars, and other items.

One of the cell phones was deeply hidden in the cab of the truck and could have been tracked immediately by Verizon using their GPS system, but a court order taking 24 hours would have had to be obtained first...................... (this is BS). These guys could have been tracked immediately if not for red tape and the "system protecting criminals." Otherwise, Verizon could have gotten immediate results.

This property was stolen from the larger parking lot at the metal grates between 2 and 4 pm. PLEASE CALL Monte Tuttle in Lenoir, NC 828-758-8712 or TVA Police 800-824-3861 and Sullivan County Sheriff's Dept. 423-279-7500 with any information you have to share.

ADDITIONALLY: on that same day, a late model Harley Davidson Electraglide was stolen at the park next to the actual weir dam. This bike had 3 locking systems on it. We are not dealing with below average scum bags. Instead, we are dealing with below average PROFESSIONAL scum bags.

On Monday, July 16th, a vehicle was also stolen from the "view" area up on the dam at the lake. No description was given.

Asking your help for the benefit of all of us who use this area on the South Holston and the Watauga: If there are board members here or friends of board members that write for any of the TN/VA area newspapers within that perimeter, please forward this information to them. We need to get this into print for all to see. Headline news is the only thing we have had in the past to get more protection for our property when we are dropping our dollars into those communities. Additionally, those of you who personally know county commissioners in the areas of Sullivan and Carter Counties, I hope you will take a moment to call them. This hurts everyone who drops recreational related dollars into those two counties when using the rivers.

** EDIT: Beetle, THANKS for sending this to Mr. Burke

River Man · #10 07-19-2007, 02:36 PM

The sports writer for the Johnsonville newspaper is fishing with a local guide today on the S. Holston. He has been brought up to date on the theft issue. We hope it will make the newspaper. The Bristol paper along with the local TV stations are also being contacted. It would help for more people to contact the media.

River Man