So much importance on nothing

[drunkenwildmage]

My Mom used to work for as a dispatcher for a Police Department in a fairly well off suburb, and she told me that one of the most common calls she would get would be for Cellphones, GPS, Computers or any other random Electronic items stolen out of cars that where left in plain sight.

[bunrotha]

"You left your keys in it" is a common insurance exclusion these days. Knowing this, SCs at my last job would turn in their spare key, and claim it was the only one they got with the car. So, this 200,000 mile beater, you expect me to believe this unworn, as new key is the one and only key you ever use with it? Yeah, right.

[sms001]

It's actually illegal (for obvious reasons) to leave your unattended car running in Chicago. Officer friend of mine used to take great delight in grabbing a cup of coffee and hanging out near the door of the c-store. He'd see someone jump out "just for a minute" and while they were in the store, he'd go out and turn off their car and come back with the keys. Cue custy finishing up their transaction, going out, then coming back in frantic, wherein they would receive "The Talk" (but no ticket). Probably saved some of them a lot of hassle with the insurance company.

[AccountingDrone]

"You left your keys in it" is a common insurance exclusion these days. Knowing this, SCs at my last job would turn in their spare key, and claim it was the only one they got with the car. So, this 200,000 mile beater, you expect me to believe this unworn, as new key is the one and only key you ever use with it? Yeah, right.

With my old scout that is sort of what happened - we had a newish key we had made, lost the old one but it didn't matter as the ignition and lock were so worn to start the car you sort of turned the whole thing without the key in it and it worked just fine. Though why anybody would want to steal a fairly rusty hulk of an ancient 79 scout ... Looked clapped out but was mechanically quite sound - Rob loves tinkering with cars.

[mathnerd]

"You left your keys in it" is a common insurance exclusion these days. Knowing this, SCs at my last job would turn in their spare key, and claim it was the only one they got with the car. So, this 200,000 mile beater, you expect me to believe this unworn, as new key is the one and only key you ever use with it? Yeah, right.

It's possible. I just had to get a new key cut for my old beater because the only key I had finally wore down to the point where it no longer worked.

[Catwoman2965]

I've never understood people who leave valuable stuff IN their car first of all, but then don't LOCK it. If you're dumb enough to do that, well then, I don't ahve any sympathy for you when your stuff is stolen.

A few years back, someone locally had their purse, and a number of pricy electroics stolen out of their UNLOCKED luxery car. Sorry, but your own fault. I think she was at the gym or something.

[Argabarga]

Locks Schmocks, it takes about 10 seconds to smash a window with a brick/crowbar and run.

Glass is NOT going to keep valuables from a determined thief, so don't tempt them.

Having towed quite a few cars, it's amazing what people will leave in plain sight under the assumption (I guess) that their car is a secure little world that nobody but them may enter.

Cash, wallets, purses, phones, laptops on up to jewelry and in one case, two loaded handguns.....

No sympathy if your stuff gets taken

[Snowbird]

My old beater got broken into, and we knew who did it, that was the worst part. They stole the radio, but they also went through my coin cup, took all of the quarters, dimes, and nickels... and left all of the pennies. Really, who does that? Pennies are money too! At least I got a good laugh out of that.

[wolfie]

BTW, a hint for anyone buying a car (admittedly it's cheaper for people buying beaters with purely mechanical keys than it is for newer cars with transponder keys). Set aside one of they keys you get, either the one in best condition (used car) or any of the "regular" (i.e. non-valet) keys (new car). This key is to be used ONLY for making copies. Key blanks are made of brass (chrome plated - and "factory" keys are usually plated after cutting), and the lock tumblers are made of steel. Naturally the key will wear faster than the lock. By keeping a "pattern" key, all your "everyday" keys will be cut based on an unworn key.

For transponder keys, if you want to save a few bucks (I would only consider this if I were getting a NEW car, so there'd be no wear on the key), you can get a "regular" key cut (no chip, so it can't be used to start the car) to use as a pattern, then get your subsequent "everyday" keys cut from it. Of course, this means that all subsequent "everyday" keys will be 2nd generation copies, rather than 1st generation copies that you'd get if you saved a "chip" key as your pattern key.

[EricKei]

Locks Schmocks, it takes about 10 seconds to smash a window with a brick/crowbar and run.

Glass is NOT going to keep valuables from a determined thief, so don't tempt them.

Exactly. This is why mine stays locked -- I'm happy with running off the 90% of would-be thieves who aren't so determined If someone who really really wants to get in comes along, they'll figure out a way.

[JarethsPet]

My car is immaculate, it's an 01 mazda but still inside is clean. Anything I leave in there is hidden like mad crazy.

Plus I would never leave my keys either in my car. well....unless I locked them in like a moron.

[infinitemonkies]

A friend and former coworker of mine has TWICE has his window broken by thieves who took nothing but the plastic dashboard MOUNT for his gps, which he keeps in his pocket. To make matters worse, both times the door was unlocked...

[Trixie]

There was a story on the news here about a legal enforcement type (not sure what the guy's exact job was but safe to say someone who should know better) left his car unlocked. They got away with quite a bit of stuff including a laptop with information on it that probably shouldn't be left in the open and I think some guns. I also had a lady the other day say that out of her unlocked car her phone charger was stolen.

Now I grew up in the city and always locked my doors. Though on the last I car I didn't bother. The driver's side door lock was broke and I had to open it from the inside. I don't leave it running or leave things in it even if I'm doing something quick. It's just as easy to lock it and take my stuff with me.

[mathnerd]

BTW, a hint for anyone buying a car (admittedly it's cheaper for people buying beaters with purely mechanical keys than it is for newer cars with transponder keys). Set aside one of they keys you get, either the one in best condition (used car) or any of the "regular" (i.e. non-valet) keys (new car). This key is to be used ONLY for making copies. Key blanks are made of brass (chrome plated - and "factory" keys are usually plated after cutting), and the lock tumblers are made of steel. Naturally the key will wear faster than the lock. By keeping a "pattern" key, all your "everyday" keys will be cut based on an unworn key.

For transponder keys, if you want to save a few bucks (I would only consider this if I were getting a NEW car, so there'd be no wear on the key), you can get a "regular" key cut (no chip, so it can't be used to start the car) to use as a pattern, then get your subsequent "everyday" keys cut from it. Of course, this means that all subsequent "everyday" keys will be 2nd generation copies, rather than 1st generation copies that you'd get if you saved a "chip" key as your pattern key.

I used to have a spare key, but I'd given that one to my dad for safe keeping. This should have been a safe choice, as I can easily find in his home keys to vehicles he hasn't owned since the 1960's. The one car key he's ever lost? My spare.

Honestly, it wasn't all that bad to have a new key cut. I drive an older car, so no chip. It cost 6 bucks for the dealership to cut a new key, instead of the 2 bucks a copy would have cost, and it took roughly the same amount of time. All in all, it wasn't a terrible experience.

[Shangri-laschild]

It's amazing what people leave unsecured. We have students who come up to our desk saying they've lost their backpacks and they want us to help. The reason they lost it? Because they left it sitting in a lounge. And then they complain about how they can't believe someone took it and now they don't have their expensive textbooks/laptop/etc. It happens all the time.