To wonder why people still break into cars?

[MrsSparkles]

What do they expect to find! Someone got into my car last night -not really broke in as I forgot to lock it - obviously had a good look through but I keep nothing in there so nothing missing and lesson learned.

Are there valuable things in cars anymore?

People leave valuables in cars all the time. It doesn't take long to break in so worth trying to find out.

Actually, that sounded wrong. Criminals think it is worth trying.

I got a lift somewhere with a work colleague, and before he let us leave the car he told me to put my Primark mac-in-a-sac in the boot because, to a thief, there would be £1000 in there.

I did as I was told but was

There are a lot of thieves in this country. I notice when I go to other countries I see things lying around that would simply be gone if left here.

I know quite a few people who've had laptops stolen from cars.

You need to think like the thieves to understand it.

Chance of getting something vs chance of getting caught and likely consequences even if caught. Add in desperation feeding a drugs habit (not excusing just saying) and similar issues.

We seem to have accepted a certain level of thieving as a culture in a way other countries don't.

I did as I was told but was
Why? A thief sees a coat or a bag that may only be worth a quid or two, but the thief doesn't know that. Easy pickings. I never leave anything in sight in my car, no matter what the actual or perceived cost.

Why? Because some people are arseholes

Because some people have fuck all. A bit of spare change in a car might mean they get to eat or maybe some are just arseholes

There's no hiding place in my car. The battered faded pram in the boot means I haven't been able to use the parcel shelf for many years. The rest of the car is dominated by an open plan system of car seats, toys, children's jumpers, reusable bags and happy meal boxes. You'd need a sturdy immune system to take your chances investigating that lot!

My parents still put the crook lock on and take the radio out.

Car is about 1992 vintage and the radio is the original with a tape bit on. They can't understand why I fall about laughing when they do this and make comments about vintage car thieves.

Perfectly, your clarification post made me "lol"!!!

There used to be an advert by the police about hiding things in your car - it said something about £1 or £2 left on the dashboard - all they had to do was pick up a brick and smash the window - if they want money they'd be willing to do anything for it and it doesn't matter how small the amount.

Witch .

Actually, I know someone who had the front seat nicked from their micra outside their house. It must have been stolen for parts. Even she was a bit about it.

Phones, sat navs, purses, tools... I am guilty of leaving all those in the car ..

Car is about 1992 vintage and the radio is the original with a tape bit on. They can't understand why I fall about laughing when they do this and make comments about vintage car thieves. grin

why do you mock them? they're right? there's a whole niche in vintage car accessories like tape decks and they're often stolen to order. That's why you should never join "car own club" mailing lists and stick to forums where your location is vague, and be wary of people at vintage car gatherings who take a lot of detailed photographs.

Vintage cars and car parts and accessories that are stolen are rarely recovered as they're re-comissioned and sold all over the country or abroad so it won't turn up in your local cash-converters.

Speaking of which, I think a lot of people leave their sat-navs in their glove compartments judging by the massive range of them in my local cash converters - I don't think that many genuine owners happen to have such regular sat-nav clear-outs !

Add in desperation feeding a drugs habit
It doesn't take much to get £10 together and for a heroin addict that can stave off WD for a while.

Addicts often swap quite valuable but hard to get rid quickly stuff with their dealers just for a £10 bag or two.

All true. I was remembering in the past sat navs and the like and thinking people didn't use them anymore.

Was assuming drugs as they ignored the 2 baby carriers and pushchair in there but took the trolley pound!

I had the back wheel taken off my car when it was parked overnight. The car was balanc d on a piece of asphalt.

Luckily for me the car park attendant had noticed it and warned me, or I would have got in the car and drove off and caused loads of damage to the car.

This was in Manchester City centre.

A local car was broken into a couple of days ago because there was £3 left on display

My spare wheel was stolen by cutting through the carrier. I don't know exactly when or where.

My car is sold in many countries - in many others the spare wheels aren't stolen, in the UK they go missing so often there is a bloke selling an additional security device to prevent it.

Why have we got so many thieves here?

Why have we got so many thieves here?
Look at the "In The Courts" section in any local paper and I think that you will have your answer, because the punishments even when you are caught and prosecuted are so lame.

why do you mock them? they're right? there's a whole niche in vintage car accessories like tape decks and they're often stolen to orde

Is 1992 considered 'vintage' in a good sense?!?

I couldn't lick my passenger car door for months as it broke, no one ever got in and looked in it, I even had my stereo in the glove compartment! It must've have looked like a shit tip!

Lick!!!!!

I couldn't lick my passenger car door for months as it broke

I wouldn't advise it anyway, not very tasty.

Don't most people keep parking change somewhere in their car? I do.