…for every time I received an I, Anonymous submission about something being stolen from a car, I could be typing this in a mink Snuggie.
Over the years, I’ve heard various friends hold forth on their methods of countering car break-ins, from strategic purchasing (“No one wants to break into an old crappy car,” swears one friend) to strategic unlocking (fearing broken windows more than actual theft, another friend always leaves his car unlocked, no matter where it is). Now, with the global economic downturn inspiring greater theft while weakening law enforcement, I turn to you, Slog readers.
What is your preferred method of protecting your car and its contents?
Flip up the hood and unplug the lead distributor wire. Thieves can’t steal the car AGAIN! Minor inconvenience considering the hassle of a stolen car.
Schmader I thought of you last night when this Get Jesse package aired about a local 90 year old couple getting bombarded with Snuggies…..they’re not even wearing them right.
http://www.king5.com/localnews/getjesse/…
JJJJJESSE JONES!
shoot the junkies and crackheads between the eyes until they are dead
Car has been smashed into twice in the last year, both times in underground parking in my condo. I just leave a window open at my condo now; there’s nothing in there worth anything, and replacing windows is annoying (and expensive). The first time they took some gum, $5 sunglasses and some old cds; the second time they didn’t take anything!
Old, crappy cars are actually the preferred types for many car thieves (those who aren’t at all interested in “chopping” them at any rate) precisely BECAUSE they’re old and crappy and therefore easy to break into, easy to start without a key, generally nondescript, and easy to abandon. Plus, there’s the added knowledge on their part that the already overworked SPD probably isn’t going to expend much energy trying to track down a 1989 Toyota Celica, whereas they might actually put in some effort on a 2007 BMW 335i.
And an empty car is no guarantee they’ll leave yours alone: if it has an in-dash stereo, a trunk, or a glove box, that in itself may offer sufficient temptation for a perp to bash in a window, since checking those spaces for hidden valuables only takes a few seconds at most.
About the only thing I’ve found that has kept the prowlers at-bay is visible evidence of a car alarm system – both stickers on the windows AND the little flashing LED – which seems to be enough to make them think twice, particularly when there are easier pickings nearby.
My 30+ year old car hasn’t so much as been touched since I installed an alarm about three years ago, whereas before it would be broken into at least once a year.
I just hope I’m not jinxing myself…
THE CLUB
Jesus, there are a ton of idiots voting. Locking your doors in the city proper == broken windows.
Within the first year of living in First Hill, both of our cars’ windows were smashed in multiple times – with no valuables contained within. That was four years ago. Got rid of the smash-magnets and been peddin’ it ever since.
I checked the first option, but I don’t always remove valuables- I conceal them.
Back in the late 90’s when I lived in Washington DC I went through three driver side windows. I learned pretty fast to take everything of value out of the truck and leave the doors unlocked.
Worst thing that happened is having to call the cops to remove a crackhead from sleeping in the cab. (& getting the stench out…seriously…the smell, ugh)
i’ve had my car broken into 3 times in 2 years. never complained. and then someone kicked my damn door in in broad fucking daylight and stole a bunch of stuff on monday. i’m tempted to burn the whole neighborhood to the ground.
that is, my front door. to my house.
Park next to a better car than mine.
Not owning one. (Yeah, I had to go for the useless urbanist-snob comment.)
We just park our car in one of our 5 garages.
Smashed windows are rare but if you leave your car unlocked a bare-assed homeless guy can open your door and sit in your seat and drink out of your travel mug. No foolin. It happened to me in San Francisco.
How about declaring the drug war a complete failure?
@15-you’re kidding right? smashed windows are not at all rare, and if you leave your car unlocked some junkie will brown star the steering wheel. We are screwed either way.
1) Park in alley
2) Nothing visible except two blinking security lights (dash, and radio/nav)
3) Minimal possessions in the car to begin with (there’s a few CDs and an audio cable in the center console)
4) Immobilization system
Who the fuck in their right mind would want a Snuggie?
1 – Buy foreclosed house with garage
2 – Stake pit-bull rescued from shelter next to garage
3 – This will keep away both thieves and Dan Savage, a 2-for-1 deal!
Leave the doors unlocked. You people grow up in the woods?
Although the problem with leaving the window open is you might found a hobo sleeping in the car. My wife found a guy spread out in the back of her Volvo. Scared the shit out of her.
@21 – no, they’re Canadians.
My girlfriend lives in NYC, about an hour away from me, and I go to her place 1-2 times a week.
I had my car broken into once when I left the GPS suctioned onto the windshield (idiotic mistake and I deserved it). Front driver-side window, that time.
I had it broken into again a few weeks later because someone saw the box the GPS came in still sitting on the floor of the back seat (slightly less idiotic mistake, I guess I still deserved it). Rear passenger-side fixed window, that time.
Now I take the train to visit my girlfriend 95% of the time, and park in a garage the other 5%. One window cost me $600, the garage costs me $20/night … I know which way I’ll play it.
@21: My friend’s car had its windows smashed multiple times even though there was nothing in the car. Smash first, ask questions later.
Here’s the trick. Drive a Saab. There’s zero aftermarket for any of it’s parts and it has the loudest alarm in the world. Other than that you’re screwed. Buy a bike or get a garage.
I have to add – DON’T JUST REMOVE VALUABLES. Remove ANYTHING that is visible in the front of the car. Yes, this means EMPTY bags, bags of CRAP you don’t care about, that old news paper from last week, etc. If you read some of the car theft anecdotes of late, you’ll hear of people breaking in, and running off with bags of CRAP because they were visible. Thieves know that you just might be covering up something valuable with those that old newspaper, towels and blankets, etc. you have in the backseat, or maybe you have some hidden treasure in that old PCC bag.
I know someone who used to live in Baltimore, which is not a crime-free city by any means. His SO-at-the-time’s car was broken into more than a few times; his car was NEVER broken into, despite being in the same areas. He’s always had a policy of NEVER having anything visible unless the trunk was absolutely packed, and never leaving a vehicle parked with anything visible for more than a very short period of time (under an hour).
I removed all valuables, locked my doors, and kept my Saturn full of garbage (old newspapers, cups). They stole the damn thing.
Ensure that nothing of value is visible through the windows, install a steering wheel lock (a The Club), and lock the doors. This says, I’m aware that you might be trying to steal my car or belongings, and I have the sense to do something about it. Break into the car next to mine instead; it will be easier, and its owner doesn’t seem to have taken such precautions.
Don’t own a car. It’s extremely effective. Seattle is very walkable in spite of what guilty-conscience local environmentalist car owners say. walking is also healthier.
@27: Sounds like you’ve seen my homeless neighbors. Apparently, the first item you lose is your glasses. Seriously, I’ve never seen street people here in Seattle wearing specs. Also, walking down the street, if I wear red I get wolf whistles from the guys lying on the sidewalk, but if I wear a straw hat and a miniskirt they say, “Spare change, sir?” (Take that any way you like, commenters.)
I used to drive. I had my car broken into three times (twice on the same weekend), actually four times if you count my old car. It isn’t just enough to hide valuables or lock them in your trunk–I did that and someone broke the lock on my trunk and stole all my stuff, inlcuding things like my journal and my sketchbook. Now I just don’t have a car, but if I got one again I would never leave anything in it.
I make sure there’s no quarters or penny’s on the seats, take out anything valuable or leave it in the trunk and put a lock on the clutch. It would be less time consuming to weld off the clutch than to break off the lock, so I feel pretty good. I also have locks on my tires, so those can’t get stolen anymore either.