Nine Springs/Madison: A recent post to the Wisconsin Birding Network reported a thief breaking into a car by smashing a window, then stealing a binocular and camera from the front passenger side seat. I doubt this sort of thing comes as a surprise to you. I hear a lot of customer stories, almost weekly, of stolen high-end binoculars and spotting scopes. Never leave your cherished optics in your car! At Nine Springs, birders can be seen carrying expensive optical equipment from the parking lot to the ponds throughout the day. This is typical of a lot of popular birding locations. It's only a matter of time before an observant and opportunistic thief catches on.