Damn. A few months ago I got 2 windows in my van busted out and my tools stolen.

I've got several ideas to use in the future. Like how about a bit of a mechanical frame inside a fursuit? One that randomly turns the head a bit? Just the illusion that perhaps someone is there could be enough to frighten off these smash and grab thieves. Or these cel-phone cameras are dirt cheap and can be patched into a tiny LCD monitor to let would-be thieves know that they're identity is not anonymous. Having a back seat, locking cabinet certainly sounds appealing. I was also thinking of having a packing cabinet that could be wheeled into the room would be great. One thing I'm certainly thinking, though, is a few linked bicycle chains. That one might be the easiest to pull off.

Being that things were stolen from the dealers den as well, I'd say it was local thugs that have developed a taste for stealing from convention goers when they least expect it.

Very likely. I heard about a whole mascot head being stolen during that con and that other cars have been broken into at that convention center. Security is a bit of a joke and anyone can just walk in from the street by going up the ramp or coming through the convention doors at any hour. This took place in the AM hours, after most had already left. It also doesn't help on what I've seen San Jose's overall condition being.

At least, there are things that are looking up. A) The car was a rental. It was a major downer to deal with it. Alas, the rental agencies are all over the place and an exchange wasn't as big of a deal as it could have been. It would have been a whole lot more of a problem, had it been my personal ride. B) The hip side MP3 player radio is cheap. I've already e-bay ordered 3 replacements, as it's useful at work for a dirt cheap distraction. Now, there's just the wait time. C) The GPS units were old. Talking 10 year and such. Pawn shops don't want them. And, I've already replaced it with a super discount Wally World one for $30. Hopefully, that one won't wear the battery out with barely 30 minutes of unplugged use. D) The camera does hurt. But, it's non-essential. And old-ish. If I ever really get around to doing serious YouTube, I'd need an HD camera. Unfortunately, it still can fetch a worthwhile price for the thief, unlike the other stuff. A pawn check stated it would still have a value of over a hundred. Because I would love to laugh at the crook personally for trading priceless freedom for maybe $30 or less worth of cheap electronics. E) There were other things in there that were not touched, as the thief wanted to dash away. I was packed to leave and decided at the last second to stay one more night. That's why the targeted stuff was even visible. Else, the camera would have been more secured, and probably brought back up to the room for transfer of the final bit of footage, along with the computer. F) In the future, I've got some thinking to do. Maybe like building an eye catching 'UFO' that is motion detection activated and warns that images are captured and wirelessly sent to the user's smartphone. Might also be tempted to stuff an old suit as a kind of Scare-Thief and prop it up in a seat. Alas, that grabs the wrong kind of attention. Like security/police. Also must practice hiding anything that looks tempting.

You'll be surprised what a cheap thief would be willing to settle for. $30 taken is still an easy $30 not earned. As far as anyone could say, $30 is enough to get high for a day, which pretty much means the world to a drug addicted cheap thief. Sorry you had to experience that... but one thing I learned is MOST HUMANS ARE STUPID.

Sadly, yes.

And...sadly, yes.