Interview with a Burglar

[patric]

'He would target cars in parking lots during the day and lurk in neighborhoods at night, even breaking into vehicles that had been parked close to the house under lights for protection.

"I went right up in their front yard with their porch light on. And got in their truck and took it. I took their box, their amp their stereo take it all." '

http://www.fox23.com/news/local/story/Through-The-Eyes-Of-A-Burglar/-h4o7BQ2L02o_F6JYd5GbQ.cspx

[Hoss]

'He would target cars in parking lots during the day and lurk in neighborhoods at night, even breaking into vehicles that had been parked close to the house under lights for protection.

"I went right up in their front yard with their porch light on. And got in their truck and took it. I took their box, their amp their stereo take it all." '

http://www.fox23.com/news/local/story/Through-The-Eyes-Of-A-Burglar/-h4o7BQ2L02o_F6JYd5GbQ.cspx

I have a sign out front of my house that reads 'This home protected by Smith and Wesson'.  I'm betting that puts pause in a few people if they had thoughts.  I've seen other homes with the same.

But I'm pretty good about locking all doors to my home.  I don't have a garage, but know my neighbors well, and we have a neighborhood watch program in place.  Plus a policeman lives around the corner.  I lock my car as soon as I'm out of it and NEVER leave anything of value in sight..well, pretty much never leave anything of value in it period.  I know too many people who've had their car windows busted out by thieves trying to just get the stereo.  The alarm on my car is pretty good, also.

[nathanm]

There is at least one significant advantage to driving a beat up old car. It's less likely to be broken into.

For a while I was trying to get rid of this half-broken ancient laptop so I left it in my car in plain sight and left the doors unlocked at all times. Despite it being there for over 6 months, nobody bothered to help themselves. I wish they would have. Now I have to dispose of it properly.

[Wilbur]

I have a sign out front of my house that reads 'This home protected by Smith and Wesson'.  I'm betting that puts pause in a few people if they had thoughts.  I've seen other homes with the same.

But I'm pretty good about locking all doors to my home.  I don't have a garage, but know my neighbors well, and we have a neighborhood watch program in place.  Plus a policeman lives around the corner.  I lock my car as soon as I'm out of it and NEVER leave anything of value in sight..well, pretty much never leave anything of value in it period.  I know too many people who've had their car windows busted out by thieves trying to just get the stereo.  The alarm on my car is pretty good, also.

Thank you!  Too many people 'allow' themselves to be victims.

Look, we all want to be able to live in that city where you don't have to lock your doors and you can leave your keys in the car.  That ain't happenin' here.

If folks would take the most simplest steps to avoid being a victim, our crime rate would drop tremendously. 

Look the doors on your house.  Lock your car.  Keep things out of sight in your car (better yet, don't keep things in your car).  Don't leave things outside in the yard (bikes, lawnmowers, ....).  Don't leave your keys in the car and, better yet, don't leave your car running at Quik Trip (we could cut auto thefts in the city by nearly 15% overnight if we would just stop this ridiculous practice).

It's not that difficult.

[cannon_fodder]

Don't leave your keys in the car and, better yet, don't leave your car running at Quik Trip . . .

Every winter I see at least one Sheriff or Police vehicle running outside of QT.  I'm no thief, but even I am tempted to take it and park it on the backside of the block.  Other vehicles running at QT when it is cold is way to common.

Valuables out when possible.  Doors locked.  Anything worth while out of sight.  I won't solve all the problems, but it will solve many.

[sauerkraut]

There is at least one significant advantage to driving a beat up old car. It's less likely to be broken into.

For a while I was trying to get rid of this half-broken ancient laptop so I left it in my car in plain sight and left the doors unlocked at all times. Despite it being there for over 6 months, nobody bothered to help themselves. I wish they would have. Now I have to dispose of it properly.

There is a ton of advantages of driving a older heap, it useually made better and has less computer junk on it and can be more dependable and is cheaper to drive if it's paid for, plus you don't have to worry about that first scratch.

[sauerkraut]

A big problem with burglars is the punishment is always so light, that guy in the story must of had many arrests for doing break-ins. The money gain is worth the slight risk of getting caught and even if caught it's a slap on the wrist and back to business. A DWI guy spends more jail time than many burglers. Burglers don't even have to pay a fine. The rewards are high, the risks are low..

[BierGarten]

I always have and always will leave my car running when going in a gas station for whatever.  If someone steals it right in front of me at least I will have a story to tell and an insurance check in my pocket.

[Conan71]

I always have and always will leave my car running when going in a gas station for whatever.  If someone steals it right in front of me at least I will have a story to tell and an insurance check in my pocket.

You might have a good fight on your hands getting that check from the insurance company when the clerk says in the police report that you were a moron and left your car running with the keys in it.  You obviously have not clued into the idea it's people like you that help keep auto insurance rates higher than necessary.

[Conan71]

I have a sign out front of my house that reads 'This home protected by Smith and Wesson'.  I'm betting that puts pause in a few people if they had thoughts.  I've seen other homes with the same.

But I'm pretty good about locking all doors to my home.  I don't have a garage, but know my neighbors well, and we have a neighborhood watch program in place.  Plus a policeman lives around the corner.  I lock my car as soon as I'm out of it and NEVER leave anything of value in sight..well, pretty much never leave anything of value in it period.  I know too many people who've had their car windows busted out by thieves trying to just get the stereo.  The alarm on my car is pretty good, also.

My new house has one of the latest and greatest ADT systems, but Mr. Colt will still sleep near my bed, just in case that or my viscious Yorkie yapping is not enough of a deterrent.   

I've never been one to upgrade car stereos, one reason being I'm incredibly low-tech on most things, the other is, I've got an aversion to replacing car glass.  I'm with you, don't leave anything worth value in sight and people will move along.  I'm still amazed at how many people will leave a laptop sitting in the front seat of their car.  That's what a trunk is for. 

I've had only had one rear window on a car broken either by vandals or accident in 27 years of driving.

[BierGarten]

You might have a good fight on your hands getting that check from the insurance company when the clerk says in the police report that you were a moron and left your car running with the keys in it.  You obviously have not clued into the idea it's people like you that help keep auto insurance rates higher than necessary.

I find this to be an absolutely ridiculous argument.  It is not people like me that has anything to do with high insurance rates.  It has everything to do with the actual person that steals the car.  Let's say, for the sake of argument, that no one, not one person, ever left their car running at a gas station.  Would car thief "x" find another way to steal a car? Yes.

And for what it is worth, I don't pay a lot for car insurance?  Do you?  Perhaps you have a bad driving record or should switch insurance companies...

[nathanm]

And for what it is worth, I don't pay a lot for car insurance?  Do you?  Perhaps you have a bad driving record or should switch insurance companies...

You'll be paying more when your car is stolen, even though you won't get a check from the insurance company. They don't cover intentionally stupid, at least none of mine ever have.

You probably should read your policy to make sure you have the coverage against theft when your negligence was at fault that you think you do.

[Hoss]

I find this to be an absolutely ridiculous argument.  It is not people like me that has anything to do with high insurance rates.  It has everything to do with the actual person that steals the car.  Let's say, for the sake of argument, that no one, not one person, ever left their car running at a gas station.  Would car thief "x" find another way to steal a car? Yes.

And for what it is worth, I don't pay a lot for car insurance?  Do you?  Perhaps you have a bad driving record or should switch insurance companies...

I wonder if you'll have the same opinion when someone steals your car due to your negligence and stupidity.  Or maybe you want them to steal it.

It's doubtful you'd get a check for being less than smart when it comes to theft of your own vehicle.

[BierGarten]

You'll be paying more when your car is stolen, even though you won't get a check from the insurance company. They don't cover intentionally stupid, at least none of mine ever have.

You probably should read your policy to make sure you have the coverage against theft when your negligence was at fault that you think you do.

Well, you are probably right about paying higher rates after the car is stolen.  I disagree, however, that it is negligent to leave a car running within view.  That would be like saying it is negligent to leave your front door unlocked whilst working in the front yard or that it is negligent to leave your baby with strangers at your church's nursery...

[rwarn17588]

Look, we all want to be able to live in that city where you don't have to lock your doors and you can leave your keys in the car.  That ain't happenin' here.

That ain't happenin' anywhere. That sort of dumb mentality died in the 1950s and '60s, when thieves took advantage of that sort of naivete.