Break in (Minneapolis: crime rates, credit card, neighborhood)

[bhdavis1978]

Hi everyone,

Our garage was broken into last night and our GPS unit was stolen from our car. We never used to leave things in our car when we lived in Vancouver (a LOT of property crime in Vancouver, but we had become a bit complacent since we moved here. I have motion activated flood lights up around the outside of the garage (The garage isn't attached to the house), but the door to the garage (not the car door) doesn't have a very good lock on it. Would it be worth putting a deadbolt in it? I'm not certain I actually locked the door last night, but I think I would be more sure with a deadbolt (I find this lock a bit persnickity)
Thanks
Brad

[kuan]

Oh man! Sorry to hear that.

A deadbolt wouldn't hurt I suppose.

[Minnehahapolitan]

I want to feel bad for you, but I really can't. I have nice shovels that I wouldn't leave in a city garage without deadbolting. Be glad this isn't Vancouver, or your car would be gone too.

[bhdavis1978]

After having lived in Vancouver for six years, I don't know anyone who locks their car at night, except for people who have recently moved to the city and don't know any better. People use the club and electronic immobilizers to prevent theft of the car (like I do). Locking your car is asking to have someone damage it when they attempt to break into it to steal its contents. Even the police will tell you privately to leave your car in a secured area, but leave the car itself unlocked otherwise they will break into the car just to see if there is anything worth stealing. Until now the only thing I had ever had taken from my car was an old Tom Cochrane with Red Rider cassette that the previous owner of the car accidentally left in it. Seriously, you don't know what your talking about when it comes to Vancouver and car theft.

Oh, and thanks for nothing.

[Clifford63]

Originally Posted by bhdavis1978

After having lived in Vancouver for six years, I don't know anyone who locks their car at night, except for people who have recently moved to the city and don't know any better. People use the club and electronic immobilizers to prevent theft of the car (like I do). Locking your car is asking to have someone damage it when they attempt to break into it to steal its contents. Even the police will tell you privately to leave your car in a secured area, but leave the car itself unlocked otherwise they will break into the car just to see if there is anything worth stealing. Until now the only thing I had ever had taken from my car was an old Tom Cochrane with Red Rider cassette that the previous owner of the car accidentally left in it. Seriously, you don't know what your talking about when it comes to Vancouver and car theft.

Oh, and thanks for nothing.

I have always left cars unlocked as well for exact reason you state. Whatever I leave in there is worth less than what it costs in time and expense to fix a broken window or worse. I have had my cars gone through periodically as a result. Several times in SW Minneapolis, and once this summer in white bear lake. Seems that typical thieves really are not too interested in CDs and stock car stereos. They are looking for cash, check books, credit cards, and other things they can sell quickly like the GPS unit, ipods etc.

I started doing this after somebody busted a window for 1/2 a roll of quarters that had sitting out for parking meters.

Sorry you had your GPS stolen. Never a pleasant thing to deal with.

Deadbolt on the garage with motion sensors are good deterents.

I left my garage door open more than once by accident, but was fortunate nothing came up missing. Easy thing to forget.

[JenLee]

I'm sorry you got robbed too.

I don't always lock my car, but it's out of stupidity rather than anything else. And that goes for my garage door too. However, my garage is full of STUFF from the revolving kids that keep moving in and out and leaving things behind; so the car isn't IN the garage. I'm embarrassed to admit that the garage door has been left open a few times here also. It's embarrassing because then the neighbors SEE the STUFF in it!

Have you reported the theft? Maybe get to know your local police and ask about the neighborhood crime rates. Do you have a Neighborhood Watch program where you live? If not, check and see if there is an interest in starting one (it's also a good way to get to know your neighbors).

[Slig]

My new strategy is to drive the most lame looking car possible and people will leave it alone, out of pity. The last car I had was a pimped out Corolla and it was broken into twice in 2 years. Now I drive a 4 door Chevy Cavalier with stock everything. Unless I leave this parked outside of a meth lab with the hood open I think I'm pretty safe.