Should I leave my car unlock next year? VOTE

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around whether to leave a car unlocked while parked, particularly in a college environment. Participants share personal experiences and opinions regarding the safety and potential consequences of leaving a car unlocked, including concerns about theft, vandalism, and the presence of homeless individuals.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest leaving the car unlocked and empty to avoid damage from break-ins, citing personal anecdotes and advice from family members.
  • Others argue that leaving a car unlocked is unwise, as it could invite theft or vandalism, regardless of the car's value.
  • A participant mentions a company policy of leaving cars unlocked as a safety measure, questioning the effectiveness of this approach.
  • Concerns are raised about the potential for homeless individuals to use unlocked cars as shelter, leading to damage or unpleasant odors.
  • Some participants highlight the importance of locking the car to protect against theft and to comply with insurance policies, while others challenge the validity of insurance claims related to unlocked vehicles.
  • There are references to cultural differences in car security practices, particularly in Japan, with mixed opinions on the applicability of those practices to the current situation.
  • Several participants share personal stories about theft and security measures, emphasizing the unpredictability of theft regardless of precautions taken.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no consensus among participants. Some advocate for leaving the car unlocked, while others firmly believe that locking it is the only sensible option. The discussion reflects a range of opinions and experiences regarding car security.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the implications of leaving a car unlocked on insurance coverage and the effectiveness of various security measures. There are also differing views on the safety of specific neighborhoods and the behavior of potential thieves.

Should I leave my car unlocked?

  • YES - Leave it unlocked

    Votes: 5 18.5%

  • NO - Lock it up

    Votes: 22 81.5%
  • Total voters
    27
  • #31
I own a Jeep with a soft top. Half the time in the summer, I have no doors to lock. Even with the doors on and the top up, I leave the Jeep unlocked. The smart thief would unzip the windows, which can't be locked. The stupid thief would cut through the top with a knife, running up far more money in damages than just a broken window.

Yes, my Jeep has been broken into. In fact, the glove box doesn't lock any more because of the damage done breaking into it. Aside from the damage of that break-in, there's been a couple other instances where the contents of my center console have been strewn about the interior.

All in all, my Jeep has been broken into at least 3 times (maybe 4 times, since my sunglasses finally disappeared - but I may have just misplaced them). The top and doors have been on all three times that I know the Jeep has been broken into.

If anyone has broken into my Jeep when the doors and top have been off, they've at least been neat about things and haven't left stuff strewn about.

Funny thing. I leave loose change sitting in plain site, but the change has never been stolen even during the three known break-ins.
 
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  • #32
I have kill switches installed in my cars, I often leave them unlocked and empty of anything worth stealing.
 
  • #33
Actually, I did a simple test last night that should provide some insight. I don't have any doors or windows on my Jeep right now. I left a 28" TV sitting in the back of the Jeep in plain sight. This morning, I'll see if anyone stole it.

(Oh, please, please steal that damn thing. I took it to a recycle center here in town, but they won't accept anything larger than 19". Now I have to call around and try to find someplace in town that will take this damn thing.)
 
  • #34
When we were kids, a friend and I decided to see how many cars were unlocked one night on an entire street. We walked house to house and checked every car. About half were unlocked. Many of them had keys in the ignition and valuables lying around. And no, we didn't take anything.
 
  • #35
Keep it unlocked and tell me where you've parked to, you know, guard it from those who tries to steal it.
 
  • #36
BobG said:
Actually, I did a simple test last night that should provide some insight. I don't have any doors or windows on my Jeep right now. I left a 28" TV sitting in the back of the Jeep in plain sight. This morning, I'll see if anyone stole it.

(Oh, please, please steal that damn thing. I took it to a recycle center here in town, but they won't accept anything larger than 19". Now I have to call around and try to find someplace in town that will take this damn thing.)

I don't know where you live, but that TV would be gone before you can look around where I live. For example if you ride a bicycle, it WILL be stolen within a week. Period.
 
  • #37
Lock it. There are vandals who will just wander about parking lots occasionally giving a car door handle a pull. If an alarm goes off or it's locked, they keep walking. If the door opens, they've just found a car to take on a joyride. Even if you keep nothing valuable in the car, the car itself is valuable. If you keep nothing of value in sight, vandals have less reason to want to risk being noticed breaking into your car compared to one with a fancy stereo or other valuables left out on the seat, but if you don't bother locking it, even the crappy factory-installed radio is worth something to them when it's easy pickings.

The exception is if you have a vehicle that's super-easy to break into anyway...like a canvas-topped convertible or a jeep with the plastic windows they'll just slash through with a knife without anyone hearing a thing. Shattering glass gets people's attention, however.
 
  • #38
BobG said:
Actually, I did a simple test last night that should provide some insight. I don't have any doors or windows on my Jeep right now. I left a 28" TV sitting in the back of the Jeep in plain sight. This morning, I'll see if anyone stole it.

(Oh, please, please steal that damn thing. I took it to a recycle center here in town, but they won't accept anything larger than 19". Now I have to call around and try to find someplace in town that will take this damn thing.)

:smile: It sucks when you can't even get someone to steal a TV. Same for when you have an old car that costs more in repair bills every month and the car dealer just laughs when you inquire about a trade-in. THAT is when you want to leave the car unlocked and don't even bother reporting it to your insurance if it's stolen.
 
  • #39
Hey Moonbear, are you back?

Start a thread and tell us all about your trip. :-p
 
  • #40
No one fell for it and my TV was still sitting in the back of the Jeep this morning. Do you think it's too obvious?
 
  • #42
Stick it out at the curb the night before trash collection with a sign that says "free" on it. I've gotten rid of all sorts of stuff that the trash collectors would have refused to haul away without paying extra. There are plenty of garage sale junkies who can't resist something sitting out for free.
 
  • #43
It would be fun to install a hidden GPS transmitter inside the car and then let it be stolen. Then you track the car to see where it ends up.
 
  • #44
Up here, the police plant 'bait' cars in parking lots and on the street. They're the kinds most likely to be broken into and/or stolen, such as Mercedes or high-ticket rice rockets. Then they set up surveillance teams in the area. The cars are equipped with both tracking devices and remote control engine disablers. You wouldn't believe how many idiots they catch with those things.
 
  • #45
I think that could be considered entrapment in the U.S.
 
  • #46
Why don't you just go to a police station and ask them this question... :rolleyes:

I mean, really. I think they might be able to help you out here better than any of us can.
 
  • #47
Redbelly98 said:
I think that could be considered entrapment in the U.S.

I'm not all that up on US law, but I doubt that. I think that in order for 'entrapment' to be implemented, one has to actively entice the target to perform a criminal act.
 
  • #48
Count Iblis said:
It would be fun to install a hidden GPS transmitter inside the car and then let it be stolen. Then you track the car to see where it ends up.

It's called low jack. The police helicopters can follow your stolen car if it has it.
 
  • #49
is it a big deal to lock your tank …uh I mean car:biggrin:
 
  • #50
If that last question was directed at me, I don't have even a latch, never mind a lock, on the rear window of my topper. You just lift it up, pop the main latch, and drop the tailgate. There's nothing in there to steal, though, and no access to the cab other than through the slider. I also keep the thing in low-range when parked, so anybody who manages to overcome the standard GM steering column lock to steal the thing can't drive over 30 mph. It wouldn't take long to catch them. Besides, this is Danny Danger's car. They know that if I catch them, I'll make them wish that they were dead.
 
  • #51
sorry Danger, I meant the OP, I should’ve quoted it
 
  • #52
No problem; I do that all of the time as well. That's why I have to do so much editing afterward.
The only reason that I suspected that you might be asking me was because of the term 'tank'. My cousin's son didn't know about my vehicle (he was in his mid 30's at the time), and I showed up at her place for a holiday supper. He announced that I was there as soon as I pulled into the driveway. She asked him how he could possibly know that it was me, and he responded that it was either me or Mad Max, and I'm not fictional. :biggrin:

Here is a copy of a previous post that points out the reasoning behind his conclusion.

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=121506&highlight=el+camino"
 
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