Car Break-Ins - common sense (Houston: crime, house, neighborhood)

[texas7]

Whenever there is a rash of auto break-ins in one particular neighborhood (like 15-20 cars over a weekend, etc.), it turns out that usually the majority of cars were unlocked on the driveway with purses, laptops, etc. lying on the front seat.

Who does this in Houston? And then act shocked that the car was "broken" into. They didn't have to break-in - they were allowed in by leaving the door unlocked and valuables on the seats.

Please lock your cars if you don't have a garage you can use. And, take your purses in the house and your laptops and computers. Don't allow yourself to become a victim of a crime of opportunity. Houston and its suburbs are huge with a big population - use your common sense.

[Schumacher713]

Cars get broken in all over the place. In poor areas and rich. I have had mine broken into while at a bar. I also had mine stolen when I decided I should take a cab over driving from a bar. This is not just a Houston problem. You will find it in any decent size city. Buy an alarm.

[elnina]

That's a common sense, however pretty rare nowadays...

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?se...cal&id=9058278

[Pinkmani]

Can't you get a ticket for leaving valuables in the car? Or is that only in New York (native NYer here).

And maybe this is because I'm a millennial, but I wouldn't ever leave my iPad, iPhone, or purse in my car because I'm constantly using them.

[cheryjohns]

Originally Posted by Pinkmani

Can't you get a ticket for leaving valuables in the car? Or is that only in New York (native NYer here).

And maybe this is because I'm a millennial, but I wouldn't ever leave my iPad, iPhone, or purse in my car because I'm constantly using them.

You should be ticketed, I agree with that. It would be a Stupid Tax. You would be amazed at the number of people shocked - shocked, I tell you, when they leave valuables out in sight, and are amazed at having them stolen. Then, going on a forum and talking about how bad crime is in Houston.

It is the equivalent of slathering yourself down with honey, sitting on a sidewalk, and then talking about how bad Houston is with their ant problem.

[texas7]

Originally Posted by Schumacher713

Cars get broken in all over the place. In poor areas and rich. I have had mine broken into while at a bar. I also had mine stolen when I decided I should take a cab over driving from a bar. This is not just a Houston problem. You will find it in any decent size city. Buy an alarm.

The point wasn't about it being a Houston problem. The point was a great deal of these occur from people leaving their stuff open and unlocked with purses, briefcases, computer bags in plain sight. Kind of a note to say - you are in Houston, a big city so its time to roll out some common sense if you have moved here from a small town where "maybe" you could do that stuff with no issues. A downtown parking garage was on the news a couple of weeks ago with like 10 cars broken into -- they said broken into but all were unlocked with stuff (including purses and wallets) on the seats. I don't consider it a break-in if they just opened and closed your door. It is a theft but not a break-in.

[elnina]

Originally Posted by cheryjohns

You should be ticketed, I agree with that. It would be a Stupid Tax. You would be amazed at the number of people shocked - shocked, I tell you, when they leave valuables out in sight, and are amazed at having them stolen. Then, going on a forum and talking about how bad crime is in Houston.

It is the equivalent of slathering yourself down with honey, sitting on a sidewalk, and then talking about how bad Houston is with their ant problem.

What a splendid idea!! If we could TAX STUPID, we would get rid of our debts in no time!

Back to OP: no this is not a Houston phenomenon. It happens everywhere. I guess STUPID is spread evenly.

[texas7]

I have a new neighbor that recently moved here from Iowa. She leaves her garage door up all the time with all sorts of goodies visible from the road. I suggested she close it and she was grateful but commented that she is used to leaving it open pretty much 24/7 where she was from. I told her it can't work that way in Houston.

[GTRdad]

This weird. Stuff like these don't even happen in my 'ghetto'

[glorplaxy]

A girl at my job left her purse in plain view on her backseat and had her window smashed so that thieves could steal it. She was bawling. I thought she was an idiot for leaving her purse. My car is much nicer than hers but nothing of value is ever visible inside of it.