Stolen Beach Chairs

**liz0305** · 03-10-2012, 08:47 AM

We have been coming to 30-a for 30 years and have never had any problem. We bring our own beach chairs. We do not leave them on the beach but prop them against the stairway going down to the beach. Last night they were stolen. It is sad that in this day and age everything must be locked up.

**Gulf Riders Bikes** · 03-10-2012, 02:12 PM

That sucks

. If it was at a public access code enforcement may have disposed of them.

**Bellasmomma33** · 03-10-2012, 04:36 PM

They usually clear the beaches every night of anything left behind. There is a dumpster off HWY 83 where they bring all of the beach chairs. Sadly, lots of people buy beach chairs and just leave them behind with all their other trash and the county has to pick up after them. Unfortunately for you the clean-up crew can't differentiate between what's trash and what's not. Best rule of thumb is to bring your chairs back to your house/condo rental for safe keeping:)

**liz0305** · 03-10-2012, 06:15 PM

Not at a public access but at Beachcrest Condos. We have been leaving them under the steps leading down to the beach for years and it was never a problem. Funny thing is that one was left. Probably just some kids. One good thing it did not ruin our day at the beach........what a beautiful day!!!

**ray** · 03-10-2012, 07:45 PM

im sorry for your lose but what if the thousands of tourists all left there chairs there. its would look like a south korean beach.or if you can leave your chairs why can't i leave my tent up on the beach

**Andy A** · 03-11-2012, 06:30 AM

The prevailing rule is if you leave them under a walkover, they will not be bothered by county pick-up. The best thing to do as stated earlier is to take them up to the condo.

**NotDeadYet** · 03-11-2012, 07:10 AM

Rule is, or used to be, don't know if it has changed, that you could leave stuff under a private walkover, but not a public one. Beachcrest is a private walkover, but I think this rule only leads to confusion. Someone using a public walkover sees someone leaving stuff under a private walkover and thinks leaving stuff is okay. Really, everything just needs to come off the beach at night.

**liz0305** · 03-11-2012, 08:46 PM

Just trying to make it easy........Alot of times it is just me and my 75 year old mother and it is alot easier just to leave them under the steps than to bring them up every day.

**Andy A** · 03-12-2012, 08:19 AM

It does apply only to Private walkovers as I understand it. A little common sense has to be used as well. IMO, that would include NOT leaving anything at a public access.

**Zebraspots** · 03-12-2012, 11:46 AM

I don't understand why picking up after yourself every day is so difficult.

My beach always has at least one item that has been blown or washed in from somewhere else in addition to items we are not sure are abandoned or just left by people too lazy to carry them.

And if you are elderly or infirm, I and many others would be happy to carry a chair or bag up the stairs for you.

**hippiechick** · 03-12-2012, 03:24 PM

I agree, really how hard is it bring your beach chair to your condo? Private resort or not. If everyone at your resort left their chairs where you did it would look awful. Anytime you leave your personal belongings outside you risk loosing them, that goes for here or anywhere. Guess you had to learn the hard way to be responsible?

**Beach Runner** · 03-12-2012, 04:27 PM

For many people it is difficult or impossible to carry chairs back and forth to the beach, especially when they are at a place where there is a steep walkover. Some examples -- people with diseases such as heart conditions, degenerative disc disease, recovery from back surgery, hernias, knee problems, etc. Their pain or disabilities might not be obvious by looking at them. Should they wear signs that say "I have degenerative disc disease so please understand if I'm unable to carry a chair up and down 35 stairsteps every time I go to the beach." Not everyone can afford to hire a beach chair service to set up chairs for them every day.

**justhavinfun** · 03-12-2012, 08:17 PM

I think we all agree that there may be issue with some people appropriating chairs , bikes and other items that may not belong to them. I think we can all agree that the beach ordinances about leaving items on the beach were designed for safety and or to help the turtle nesting . That being the case, I think most locals do not have an issue with carrying chairs back and forth each day to the beach - I live here, am over 55 and fit into all these scenarios with Bad Knees, Back pain etc etc etc etc - I always told my kids that success in life falls into the "CANS and CAN NOTS!! So if locals can carry chairs back and forth. I'm sorry the nice folks who have come here to enjoy the beach the last 30 years had their chairs taken but the reality is this is not 1982! If someone can not carry and item on and off the beach, please dont carry it down!!

**Beach Runner** · 03-12-2012, 10:35 PM

Clearly there is no sympathy for the elderly or people with physical problems. So how about if a person with a handicapped sticker for his/her transportation is allowed to get a handicapped beach permit for his/her beach chair just like dog owners get beach permits from the county for their dogs? I have bad knees and hubby also has orthopaedic problems. We don't bite, and in the future if we get to the point where we have uncontrollable urges to poop, we'll wear Depends to the beach.

**Zebraspots** · 03-13-2012, 05:40 PM

Our community has spent a great deal of money providing beach accesses with ramps, accessible bathrooms, accessible parking, and free beach wheel chairs because we want everyone to be able to enjoy the beach.

I am glad to help anyone get a bag or chair up and down the stairs. That's just good manners.

But lazy is not a disability.

**bluecat** · 03-13-2012, 06:41 PM

BR handicapped stickers is a great idea.I'm not considered physically handicapped and it is hard for me to wag things back and forth to the beach. That's why I travel light, also, I have a sweet son who lives there who is so happy to see his Mom carries my beach gear.

**Beach Runner** · 03-13-2012, 09:04 PM

Originally Posted by Zebraspots

Our community has spent a great deal of money providing beach accesses with ramps, accessible bathrooms, accessible parking, and free beach wheel chairs because we want everyone to be able to enjoy the beach.

I am glad to help anyone get a bag or chair up and down the stairs. That's just good manners.

But lazy is not a disability.

Our neighborhood is so secluded that if I waited for someone to come along to give me help with my chair, I might have an hour wait.

We paid a premium to own a home that is a one-minute walk to the beach. We pay a premium for a private walkover. We never dreamed we'd have the physical problems that we now have at such an early age. So now we're being called lazy?

I hope you live long enough and/or remain healthy enough to understand our situation and the situation of those more physically challenged than we are. Lazy, we are not.

**deborsk** · 03-13-2012, 09:10 PM

If you cannot carry your chairs back to your house/condo, then how do you get them to the beach in the first place. Our walkover has steep steps, and I have knee issues--two total replacements. I always have someone with me to do the lugging. Beach chairs under the crossover steps interfere with the moving sand.
Best thing to do is take everything that you bring to the beach back home with you. There is too much junk left on the beaches.

**Beach Runner** · 03-13-2012, 09:22 PM

Originally Posted by deborsk

If you cannot carry your chairs back to your house/condo, then how do you get them to the beach in the first place. Our walkover has steep steps, and I have knee issues--two total replacements. I always have someone with me to do the lugging. Beach chairs under the crossover steps interfere with the moving sand.
Best thing to do is take everything that you bring to the beach back home with you. There is too much junk left on the beaches.

Gravity. It's easier to carry chairs down the stairs than to bring them up the stairs. We personally pay someone to dispose of chairs that I notice have been left under the private walkover by renters for more than 5 days. I also personally clean up the trash on the beach in front of our neighborhood's beach. It's just the stairs that give me problems.

Really it's none of your business how I manage this all of this. In summary, if I can't do it myself, I pay to have it done. I am a good citizen and very cognizant of sustainability issues.

**SouthernBelle** · 03-14-2012, 10:12 AM

Clearly I missed something because I did not see where anyone called any type of handicapped person being lazy.

The simple logic is that if you cannot retrieve belongings you should not carry them to begin with. You really do HAVE to learn to travel light. If you look around there are a lot of older and disabled people. Most people accept their disability and learn how to manuver life around it. There are a few that think everyone on the planet should cater to their problems. That goes on the same line of bannning everone from eating sugar because some people can't. I do not understand the entitlement era. Once upon a time people knew how to take care of their selves. Now people just whine until someone else does things for them.

If every single person put on their 'pity me because' hat we would not be able to see the water because of everyone's crap piled up.

Meanwhile I have helped many people carrying things up and down the steps because they can't do it alone. I always hope they learn from that experience but they probably just expect someone else to cater to them next time.

Just because you have a home near the beach does not mean you own the beach. There are many homes along 30A. Sit back and picture at least 2 chairs from every single home within a mile of the beach stacked along the beach. Not a pretty sight if you actually picture it- quite trashy.

If everyone lived within their means more than just the economy would be better.

**bluecat** · 03-14-2012, 01:36 PM

How much stuff does one need on the beach.Take little , leave nothing.

**Beach Runner** · 03-14-2012, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by bluecat

How much stuff does one need on the beach.Take little , leave nothing.

Just a chair and and something to drink. But people who are very tall and have knee/back problems can't get up from the light chairs like they sell at Publix. They are too low. So we have to use higher chairs that weigh a lot more. My husband doesn't even go to the beach anymore because of this. He will walk to the top of the walkover to watch the sunset, but that's it. I usually walk to the beach and sit on the bottom stairstep of our walkover to avoid the embarrassment of having to ask for assistance.

Thankfully our walkover is private, so we could leave our chairs under the stairs at night. So I am very sympathetic to those who don't have this luxury.

I don't quite understand the comment "If everyone lived within their means more than just the economy would be better." (a) We live within our means, and (b) what does this have to do with the difficulty of taking a chair to the beach when one has phyical ailments that insurance pays for but can't totally cure?

**SouthernBelle** · 03-14-2012, 04:02 PM

Beach within your means. It was not directed at you. People in general.

Speaking to you: I live with someone that has physical limitations and it is very demanding to plan around. You should not feel bad asking for help. We will all be there one day. A local will be glad to help someone with limitations clear off the beach. Part of beaching like a local is learning to leave only your footprints in the sand.

**SouthernBelle** · 03-14-2012, 04:24 PM

I had to reread my response trying to figure out where you got offended and I think it was my reference to helping people and hoping they learned for next time. I should have been much clearer. That was referring to the ones that will bring 4 radios, 2 tents, an umbrella, 3 coolers, a wagon/stroller/cart that stays at the steps after they realize sand doesn't like wheels, and several bags of only goodness knows because there is not enough hours in the day to unpack all of it. The beach generally provides its own entertainment. If you have to bring all that crap you are not beaching right!

Sorry if you thought that was aimed at you. I have a high respect for people dealing with any type of disability, helping them along in any way is what being human is all about. Hopefully someone in your neighborhood will get a heart and help you guys out.

**Beach Runner** · 03-14-2012, 06:05 PM

Thanks, SouthernBelle, I appreciate your kind comments.

**Miss Kitty** · 03-14-2012, 06:06 PM

Originally Posted by Beach Runner

Our neighborhood is so secluded that if I waited for someone to come along to give me help with my chair, I might have an hour wait.

We paid a premium to own a home that is a one-minute walk to the beach. We pay a premium for a private walkover. We never dreamed we'd have the physical problems that we now have at such an early age. So now we're being called lazy?

I hope you live long enough and/or remain healthy enough to understand our situation and the situation of those more physically challenged than we are. Lazy, we are not.

BR...why so defensive? Didn't you two just run in the Seaside 5K? All of us baby boomers have/will have aches and pains and I am guessing at that point, I will have one of the many beach services set up and take down our chairs and umbrella. IMO, the point being made here is NOTHING should be left on the beach overnight. Period. End of argument. (not trying to be harsh, just pointing out the obvious)

**Beach Runner** · 03-14-2012, 06:58 PM

Miss Kitty, I hobbled the 5K. Hubby wasn't even able to attempt it. I took me over an hour, whereas the winner did it in 17 minutes. I took pain meds in advance. I did it because I am so tired of being disabled. I am frustrated that my knees and feet are so damaged from too much running in the past. My doctor is furious at me for doing the 5K. But the course is flat, so I did it. It's the stairs that really kill my knees. I have been on crutches on and off since I did the 5K. Most mornings I have to crawl from the bedroom to the kitchen to make my coffee. I have a torn meniscus in my left knee and a bone spur the size of a marble on my right heel. The surgeon at Emory wants to delay surgery until my knee starts clicking, catching, or locking. The pain was so bad this AM in class that I thought I was going to pass out and was very nauseated. I wrote my husband's cell phone number on the board and told my students that if I passed out from the pain, please call my husband.

Yes, I used poor judgement. In the future will hire a beach chair service whenever we spend more than a weekend at the beach.

Actually our beach walkover is private, so we are allowed to leave our chairs under the walkover because our small neighborhood paid for it. There are only 5 homes in the neighborhood. One of the owners doesn't rent, ansd another is a permanent resident. So even if we all took beach chairs and left them under the stairs, it wouldn't be an eyesore. And if renters leave chairs under the walkover, I pay someone to remove them because I am physically unable to do that anymore.

**Arkiehawg** · 03-15-2012, 08:54 AM

Originally Posted by Beach Runner

Our neighborhood is so secluded that if I waited for someone to come along to give me help with my chair, I might have an hour wait.

We paid a premium to own a home that is a one-minute walk to the beach. We pay a premium for a private walkover. We never dreamed we'd have the physical problems that we now have at such an early age. So now we're being called lazy?

I hope you live long enough and/or remain healthy enough to understand our situation and the situation of those more physically challenged than we are. Lazy, we are not.

If you could afford "premium" then you can afford beach set up service or at least a beach chair with backpack straps. Those chairs are lighter than the so called purses that most elderly females carry every day.

**Everytime** · 03-18-2012, 02:01 PM

I don't think it's so harmful for Beach Runner and her few neighbors to leave their chairs under the private walkover from their neighborhood which is more likely on the private portion of their beach. It sounds like someone would have to go around looking for chairs to be bothered by to even see them to be bothered by them in the first place. And many of the beach service vendors keep chairs or chair bins on the beach anyway, which are just as visible.

And since only some of liz0305's chairs were taken, I'm led to believe that it was youngsters or such who stole them rather than somebody doing it in defense of creation. Most religions, civilized societies and moral codes have some concept of "do not steal" so I find it hard to say liz0305 got what she deserved; it's not even sea turtle nesting season.

That being said, we bring all of our stuff up everyday and store it at the condo.

**STL Don** · 03-19-2012, 09:15 AM

Originally Posted by Arkiehawg

If you could afford "premium" then you can afford beach set up service or at least a beach chair with backpack straps. Those chairs are lighter than the so called purses that most elderly females carry every day.

I think the harsh nature of some of these comments is precisely why so many folks have left the SOWAL forums.

**Arkiehawg** · 03-19-2012, 04:45 PM

Did Donnie get his feelings hurt? Pahleese. Bottom line. You wouldnt leave anything in your front yard because of the possibility of theft, so you shouldn't on the beach either regardless of "premium" property or not. If you can take down to the beach then you can take it back with you. If you can't, then support the local economy and hire a setup.

**STL Don** · 03-19-2012, 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by Arkiehawg

Did Donnie get his feelings hurt? Pahleese. Bottom line. You wouldnt leave anything in your front yard because of the possibility of theft, so you shouldn't on the beach either regardless of "premium" property or not. If you can take down to the beach then you can take it back with you. If you can't, then support the local economy and hire a setup.

Quite the intelligent reply

**Arkiehawg** · 03-19-2012, 05:13 PM

Originally Posted by Arkiehawg

Did Donnie get his feelings hurt? Pahleese. Bottom line. You wouldnt leave anything in your front yard because of the possibility of theft, so you shouldn't on the beach either regardless of "premium" property or not. If you can take down to the beach then you can take it back with you. If you can't, then support the local economy and hire a setup.

My pleasure....glad you can comprehend that common sense can keep issues like those experienced by the OP from happening. Unfortunately we live in a world where folks feel privileged to take what is not theirs and that won't change soon. The best way to neutralize that urge is to secure your property or accept that it may become fair game. BTW...there are sections of our beautiful beach that don't require the use of stairs and are readily accessible for those who have climbing limitations...if they choose to utilize them.