What do you do with your pack when u go into town to resupply?Do u walk into Walmart with it on your back?Seems like it would not be there if u left it outside when u got back.I will be hiking alone so nobody will be there to watch the stuff.If u stay in town u can leave it at the hotel but just for the resupply and get back to the trail I am Puzzled on what to do with my pack!Restaraunts are the same problem!!
Snowbird
If you are a NOBO you will seldom be alone. We always asked to set them inside and nobody ever turned us down. They smell real bad so they usually want them away from traffic. It was never a problem for us. I only remember on problem with a pack and it was at a hostel.
Papa Smurf
Papa Smurf is right… if you’re Northbound and in one of the “major” stops, there will always be other hikers around. We would shop in shifts so someone was there to watch packs. In resturants, you can also place the packs under a window. Then asked to be seated where you can watch the window. You’ll find some hikers who will leave their pack just about anywhere and not worry about it. Not me!!! I watched mine like a hawk.
Moose
The places I left my pack varied with the clientel. In very public places like Bear Mountain, I kept a close eye on it.
But in most small towns renew your faith in human nature. Many times I left my pack outside near the door and it was never touched. Trust your instincts.
Peaks
I put mine outside places all of the time and never had it touched. As far as stores there always seemed to be another hiker around.
Two Sccops
I have always been lucky but when I go in a place I always sit where I can keep my eye on it. If I’m going in the grocery I put it in my cart. Some places will put it behind a counter for you. In 2001 my friend VB places his on the front porch of a small store/pizza place just north of Harpers Ferry. He was in the place for approximately 5 minutes. (He placed an order and went back outside to wait.) His entire pack was gone!!!:mad
Through great outfitters, other hikers and some of his own resources he was able to get fully re-equiped in Harpers Ferry. The things he could not replace, his hand written journal and his Springer pebble. 
Most places are safe but always use caution and good sense.
Hammock Hanger
Hammock Hanger
I would leave mine outside in the heap of packs . If I was alone I would come into the store and go to someone right away and tell them of my intentions instead of just plopping my stuff down. But you will be able to tell by a survey of the establishment . Sometimes I would leave the pack in the breezway between the doors.But with all the terrorist activity you really need to be carefull about were you set an unattended pack. If someone wanted to they could plant something in your pack or the authorities could detain and search you.
Virginian
There were times when I was hiking that I wished someone would take my pack so I wouldn’t have to carry it any more.
No one ever did.
It wasn’t until I was moving out to Colorado that my pack was stolen. I was in Pittsburgh visiting a friend before I moved to boulder when someone broke into my car and stole my pack, during the day no less. I never did like the city. :mad
Leif
There’s a laugh out loud answer Leif!! No kidding…
but seriously I echo everyone else, I never heard of a theft like what HH reports, that sucks. I left my pack everywhere unattended I will say, in grocery stores in the water fountain/customer service areas, at hostels, outside of restaurants lined up with the rest, in the Parks, at Bear Mountain in the foyer of the Inn. No problems. I couldn’t imagine that anyone outside of a thru-hiker (who wouldn’t steal something from another) would be remotely interested in the contents. Now I assume we’re all saying that we had our money wallets on us during these times, right?? That came out of the pack as soon as I hit towns/delis/whatever. I bought one of the silnylon types at Trail Days last year from Big John from Hiker’s Welcome HOstel in Glencliff-wonderful little product. Were my life so easy out here that that is all I needed. I have come to loathe carrying a purse now.
Bluebearee
And to also echo the others, even at the back of the 2002 pack like I was this year, I was rarely in towns alone. Starting this hike alone, does not mean you’re going to be alone. Waynesboro was my only exception to that, and BOY was that town hiker friendly. Rides EVERYwhere (in fact I deliberately took my stripped down pack with me as I headed to the outfitters hoping it would help get me a ride - it sure did!! there and back and here and there…crazy)
Bluebearee