Guests at a popular family resort in Northern California had their Thanksgiving spoiled after discovering their vehicles had been ransacked overnight.
The parking lot at the Great Wolf Lodge, a sprawling indoor water park in Manteca, was glistening with broken glass from 48 shattered windshields.
Multiple rows of cars had their windows and windshields smashed and their belongings tossed across the pavement.
The thieves got away with electronics, financial documents, money, and in at least one case, a hand gun. The vandals entered the gated parking lot by jumping a parking barrier. The resort requires drivers to pull a ticket to enter the parking lot and there is usually on-site security. The authorities said it was unclear whether guards were patrolling the lot when the break-ins took place.
The lodge purportedly operates surveillance cameras and told detectives that they were compiling the video before handing it over. Detectives still had not received the video by Friday afternoon.
“Unfortunately, especially around the holidays, when people are expecting that there will be presents and other valuables in vehicles, it is always best to not leave items in your vehicle that can be taken,” Sgt. Steven Beermann of the Manteca Police Department told KCRA 3, which first reported the story.
Great Wolf Lodge said in a statement that “safety is always our primary focus, and we utilize a variety of security measures in our parking facilities including gates, video surveillance, and routine patrols.”
“Despite these measures, some vehicles in our parking lot were vandalized this morning, and we are working closely with law enforcement to assist in their investigation as well as assisting those guests who were affected,” the resort added.
Beermann stressed there’s no threat to the public, but urged residents to be aware.
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“If you see people climbing fences into a place like Great Wolf, that’s not a normal way to get in, or you see them going around the security measures, such as their gated entrance, it would be good to give us a call,” he added.
The Great Wolf Lodge is North America’s largest group of indoor water park resorts. There are currently more than 20 lodges in operation, stretching coast-to-coast with more expected to be built in the coming years.