Miller Park lot thieves

[gypcasino]

Anyone have anything stolen out of their vehicle this year at the ballpark? A friend of mine has had stuff stolen out of her truck three different times this year. All three times in the preferred lots. Twice they took beer and food out of coolers and once they stole 7 coolers and the contents outright. She has a small pick up truck which she keeps everything in. It was never a problem in the past but this year they've really hit hard. I realize it's a risk to have everything just sitting in the truck bed. I don't really want to have a "fool me once..." debate. I was just wondering if anyone else has had a problem.

[Blancofan1]

Somewhat off topic, but I wonder if this correlates with all of the uninterrupted ticket scalping at the park this year as well. Just seems to be a general lack of interest shown by security and those responsible for patrolling the parking lots.

[Invader3K]

This is really the first I've heard about stuff being stolen in the parking lot. I mean, I'm sure it happens on occasion, but three times in one year? Ouch.

 

Your friend might consider investing in at least a vinyl truck cap if she's going to store stuff in there during games.

[chrisisoutrunning]

I had a friend who's grill was taken during a game at the beginning of the '08 season. We were in the preferred lot near the sausage house. There were about 20 other small grills sitting out in our row, but for some reason somebody wanted his $25 Target grill.

[Corn Trader]

Blancofan, what the scalpers are doing is entirely legal now. If you don't like being bothered by them, contact your local state rep so they can change the law back

[JoeHova]

A couple years ago there was a thread here about a lot of grills being stolen from the lot. I haven't heard much about it since but I've never really looked specifically for news about the MP parking lots.

 

Also, 7 coolers? Must have been quite a party.

[Teatoe993]

Someone swiped my Smoky Joe Grill during the 08 season. It was the one time I splurged for preferred parking.

[Patrick425]

We park in the Fingers (formerly Cardinals) parking lot for every game we go to (about 15-20 per year). Never had anything stolen, but we don't tailgate or have a pickup.

[zachlaka]

Someone swiped my Smoky Joe Grill during the 08 season.

My friend had his Smokey Joe stolen this year after the Arron bobblehead game we were in the Molitor General lot. We had just missed them when we got back to the car because the coals were still red and burning a little. To say my friend was pissed would be a understatement he had just bought it a week before opening day and used it twice!!

[mtrebs]

I never understood why people left their grills out during the game. To me it just seems like you are asking for someone to steal/kick/hide it. I always bring my heavy-duty grilling gloves when we tailgate and as soon as we are done eating I pick up my charcoal grill and empty it in the charcoal containers. Once the charcoal is out it cools off quickly and we can put it in the trunk of our car before heading into the game.

[Invader3K]

I just don't get who would be so desperate for a grill that they would steal it.

[Outlander]

Because people do stupid things when they are drunk.

[colbyjack]

I never understood why people left their grills out during the game. To me it just seems like you are asking for someone to steal/kick/hide it. I always bring my heavy-duty grilling gloves when we tailgate and as soon as we are done eating I pick up my charcoal grill and empty it in the charcoal containers. Once the charcoal is out it cools off quickly and we can put it in the trunk of our car before heading into the game.

 

I've had 2 smokey joe's stolen from the lot in the last 5-7 years. Now I do what mtrebs mentioned, keeping some hot pads in my trunk to dump the coals, and I also usually keep some ice on hand to dump into the grill itself to chill it off quickly before putting it in my car.

 

I know a couple of years ago there were some issues with people actually breaking into cars in the parking lot to steal stuff, but haven't heard about that since. I almost always park in the Giants/Molitor lot North of I-94.

 

I will say that people shouldn't have to put their grills back in their car. I did that for years without a problem, as to me it's one of those tailgate courtesy/unspoken rules not to mess with another man's grill.

[logan82]

colbyjack wrote:

I will say that people shouldn't have to put their grills back in their car. I did that for years without a problem, as to me it's one of those tailgate courtesy/unspoken rules not to mess with another man's grill.

They shouldn't have to but you shouldn't have to lock your house or car either.

[Patrick425]

colbyjack[/b]]I will say that people shouldn't have to put their grills back in their car. I did that for years without a problem, as to me it's one of those tailgate courtesy/unspoken rules not to mess with another man's grill.

I would agree. Kind of like the unwritten rule that you can leave your golf clubs unattended while you go into the clubhouse after a round to get a bite to eat. I have never heard of anyone getting their clubs ripped off at a golf course....but I'm sure it has happened.

 

[JoeHova]

I just don't get who would be so desperate for a grill that they would steal it.

I assume they are either just messing around and plan on throwing them off an overpass or something or they're selling them for scrap. Weber lists the Smokey Joe as weighing about 9 pounds and being made of steel and aluminum. Scrap prices for those metals appear to be approximately 40¢ per pound, which means that if somebody stole 5 little grills, they could make almost $20.

[dadofandrew]

We had the driver's side mirrors damaged twice in the late 90's, but never anything stolen.

[AdvantageSchneider]

This is an interesting topic. I've never had a grill stolen at Miller Park or County Stadium, but I generally had a pretty old grill that was really rusty. I wonder how many complaints the brewers or the police get about theft.

 

There are a lot of grills left out during the games so I wouldn't be surprised if one a game was taken.

[Invader3K]

This is an interesting topic. I've never had a grill stolen at Miller Park or County Stadium, but I generally had a pretty old grill that was really rusty. I wonder how many complaints the brewers or the police get about theft.

 

There are a lot of grills left out during the games so I wouldn't be surprised if one a game was taken.

Yeah, this is why the wife and I bring a cheap portable one. I think we got it for less than $20 at Walmart. It's a nice little collapsible unit, but if someone stole it I wouldn't really care.

 

Slightly off-topic, but have any of you tried using FlameDiscs in your portable grills? We found out about them last year when the company was handing out freebies in the parking lot. They work really well...though the last one we used didn't light up well at all, probably because it was stored in our garage for about a year (I assume the chemical compounds break down over time). The nice thing about them is they don't make a mess, and once they burn out, are cold to the touch. You just throw them in the garbage can and you're done.

[Bikeage77]

I wonder how often the bike cops ride through the lot after the first couple innings? That's something you could address to Miller Park. I can't say I ever see them after the games. I haven't tailgated or parked in the lot this year except for opening day.

 

Flosses Like Flossas and I used to tailgate a lot, and would leave sausages in our beer bath so we'd have something to eat after the game. This was when parking was still 4 or 5 bucks though. (Meaning 4 or 5 years ago).

[BREWCREW5]

I had a grill stolen as well, probably in 2002.

[AdvantageSchneider]

Yeah, this is why the wife and I bring a cheap portable one. I think we got it for less than $20 at Walmart. It's a nice little collapsible unit, but if someone stole it I wouldn't really care.

 

Slightly off-topic, but have any of you tried using FlameDiscs in your portable grills? We found out about them last year when the company was handing out freebies in the parking lot. They work really well...though the last one we used didn't light up well at all, probably because it was stored in our garage for about a year (I assume the chemical compounds break down over time). The nice thing about them is they don't make a mess, and once they burn out, are cold to the touch. You just throw them in the garbage can and you're done.

I suppose that is the solution to having your grill stolen, bring a cheap one that you don't care if it gets stolen. Or bring one so big that it can't be carried off. I think I see people bringing in the big ones more often then I remember. I wonder if that is part of the reason. Can't just walk off with a full sized grill.

 

I have not tried the flamediscs. How are they price wise to charcoal?

 

 

[burniebrewer]

I have not tried the flamediscs. How are they price wise to charcoal?

On average, about $4. Quite often they have a $1 off coupon stuck on the box.

 

I usually buy the Kingsford BBQ bag (you light the whole bag) and that costs about $3, so the cost is similar.

[bigredrobbo]

I don't usually leave things out when I tailgate, but one of the last games I went to (of course we lost!), I left my car at Slim's on Bluemound and some pond scum keyed it.Why my Honda Element deserved that, I'm not sure, but I'd take the loss of a $25 grill over the $800 body shop repair any day...

[Invader3K]

Did you have it parked across multiple spaces?

 

Slightly off topic, but I was at a restaurant last week and someone had a beautiful vintage Pontiac GTO parked diagonally across four spaces. To be fair, they were parked toward the back of the lot, but I think that just begs for someone to vandalize your car even more.