*** Did anyone else on the Sept. 24th cruise from N.O. to Cozumel have any issues with their vehicles parked @ the N.O. port terminal? We had our GPS with case and plug taken out of our glove box compartment - thankfully they left my husband's house keys in the pouch - hope copies weren't made. There was no sign of "forced entry" and signs are everywhere that the port is not "responsible" for stolen items. Locking our car doors is as "automatic" for hubby and me as turning off the ignition. In the excitement of taking stuff out of van "maybe" it got overlooked but I'm almost 100% sure I locked the glove box after putting the GPS in it. We did neglect to take the GPS mount off the dashboard so that made it easy for thieves to know which car to target.................. Hope everyone else had all their belongings intact after the cruise. Silly part is - had about $25. in cash (for toll roads), a CB radio, basket of music cassettes (probably not their kinda music and plenty of other stuff they could have taken but NOPE - just the GPS. Our Garmin is a model where you set up a 4 digit code and the device is worthless unless they "crack" the code so maybe it will end up in a trash can somewhere................Have read on the internet recently to always lock car doors from inside instead of with your car key as there is a device now that thieves can read the key code (maybe from as little as 30 ft. away).
If this saves anyone else any hassle in the future it is worth the time. We told the port employees before driving out of the garage of our "stolen item" and they said the port gates are locked at all times (maybe an "inside" job - you think?)

As always the cruise was a blast and we will still go out of N.O. in Dec. and next April.  Won't leave any valuables in the car on future cruises - that's for sure!!!!!!!!!   By hey, this could happen at Walmart or any other parking place.........................

cajungranny:

... and signs are everywhere that the port is not "responsible" for stolen items.

Wow, real sorry to read about this.

Here is what Carnival says about NO parking  (note the 4th bullet item)...

Parking Information: $14.00 per day (Rates subject to change by the Port Authority)

• 6-story building; garage on floors 3-6; 1000 parking spaces.
• Full payment due upon entering the parking garage.
• Accepted forms of payment: U.S Dollars; Credit Cards
• The garage is secure, lighted and patrolled.
• Handicap Parking available with proof of valid permit.
• No advance reservations required.

Walt:

The garage is secure, lighted and patrolled.

Hey Walt,

Replied to your post last night.  Don't know if it went to "moderation" and will appear later but we took Carnival's word about the N.O. port being secure, lighted and patrolled.....

Also, the parking fee is now $16. per day.  

We have 2 cruises scheduled out of N.O. (Dec. '09 & Apr. 2010) and will just be extra careful in the future not to leave items visible in the car while it is parked at the terminal (or anywhere else for that matter).........

I was logging in to post a warning that says the exact same thing.  We returned from the 10/8-10/12 Cozumel cruise to find a missing TomTom and laptop.  Neither were in plain view and there was no sign of forced entry.  In fact, we didn't realize anything was missing until we were already on our way home and started looking for the GPS.  I think there's likely a theft ring.  They know exactly where you are and when you'll return, so there's no worry about being surprised by your return.  They're probably careful to leave most things undisturbed, hoping you'll be on your way and not in a position to file a report.  If they really have locked gates then the perpetrators identity is fairly obvious.

On the bright side, the cruise was great.  Debarkation was amazing.  We were on the road by 8am.  This was our third cruise and a definite record.

oubobcat:

I was logging in to post a warning that says the exact same thing.  We returned from the 10/8-10/12 Cozumel cruise to find a missing TomTom and laptop.  Neither were in plain view and there was no sign of forced entry.  In fact, we didn't realize anything was missing until we were already on our way home and started looking for the GPS.  I think there's likely a theft ring.  They know exactly where you are and when you'll return, so there's no worry about being surprised by your return.  They're probably careful to leave most things undisturbed, hoping you'll be on your way and not in a position to file a report.  If they really have locked gates then the perpetrators identity is fairly obvious.

On the bright side, the cruise was great.  Debarkation was amazing.  We were on the road by 8am.  This was our third cruise and a definite record.

Hey Oubobcat,

Just catching up to your post of Oct. 12th about your GPS and laptop being stolen.  Sorry this happened to you..............  On the one hand - it makes me believe that we did in fact lock our doors but it also gives me great pause since we cruise again out of N.O. on the Truimph in Dec.   Like you - seems to me that it is suspect that with gates locked at all times then who has access to our vehicles while we cruise????  My plan is to not have anything valuable in the car during our cruise but still.............it is unsettling!

 wernt there cameras? there everywhere else now a days...

korndawg:

 wernt there cameras? there everywhere else now a days...

That's a very interesting thought -are there cameras.  Wish I had thought to ask that as we talked to the terminal employees as we left the garage.  I'll have to see if I spot any in December...........

 I forwarded a link to the thread to the Director and Deputy Director. It wouldn't hurt for those affected to follow up with phone calls during normal business hours. It probably won't get your stuff back, but may help them prioritize things.

http://www.portno.com/pno_pages/cruises_key_contacts.htm