More evidence of weak security at GA airports

From AV Web:
"Seneca Stripped While Parked

By Russ Niles
Newswriter, Editor

A Cedar Falls, Iowa, man who local media reports say is an officer of his
local EAA chapter has been charged with systematically stripping parts from
a disabled Piper Seneca to be used in his own homebuilt project. John M.
Norcero was arrested last Tuesday and charged with first-degree theft. The
Seneca, owned by Jerry Dwyer, of Clear Lake, has been sitting at the
Waterloo Airport since it landed there after an engine failure about five
years ago. Dwyer told the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier he noticed an
engine and prop missing in August of 2004. Now, both engines, the landing
gear, instrument panel, autopilot and seats are gone. "It's just sitting
there on the ground ... flat on its belly," Dwyer said. Dwyer, who owns an
aircraft sales company, said he left the plane in Waterloo because he was
having a hard time finding a replacement engine. Even with the blown
engine, he estimated the plane to be worth $100,000 and he figures it will
cost at least $50,000 to reinstall the missing parts and fix damage caused
during their removal. "[The thief] chopped a hole in the side of the damn
thing to get the autopilot out," he said. Norcero was booked at the local
jail and then set free on a pre-trial release a few hours later."

At least they caught the thief/pilot. How can this type of stuff keep
happening? The lack of security at most GA airports is really apalling.
Its pilots like the above mentioned clown, the morons who ignore noise
abatement, who (attempt) to take off from freeways after running the tanks
down to fumes, etc. that are gonna ruin it.

It really is amazing. Mostly all of the bad press GA gets is SELF
INFLICTED by the few cowboys who refuse to abide by any rules of law or
common courtesy.