Thieves new way to break into cars

[macojoe]

I drove myself and two co-workers to lunch Monday, 2/15/10. I chose a parking spot in the rear of the lot and backed into a space (no pull through available at location). This positioned my Chevy Avalanche with the passenger side doors facing away from the rest of the lot and to the end of the lot. I had a Sony digital camera lying on the console of my truck.. Upon returning from lunch and entering the vehicle we noticed nothing wrong or missing from the vehicle.

Tuesday around lunch time I needed the camera and could not locate it. My first thoughts were, "I moved it or it fell to the floor mat or I removed it from my truck." After searching feverishly for two days, questioning anyone who had been close to my truck, and exhausting every possible location I could have put it, I began to have that sinking feeling I lost it or someone stole it. My new Garmin GPS had been in the truck the whole time, so I felt as if someone had entered my vehicle they would have taken it also.

Fast forward to Wednesday, I approached my truck from the passenger side to place my computer bag (aka my man purse) in the front passenger seat. As I reached to open the door I noticed there was a hole right under my door handle. My first thought was, "someone has shot my truck!" I began to think about it and inspect it a little closer and the "light" slowly began to come on. I phoned my friend who owns a body shop and asked if he had any vehicles with damage to the doors that looked like a bullet hole. "Yes, I see it all the time. Thieves have a punch and place it right under the door handle, knock a hole through, reach in and unlock it, just as if they have a key. No alarms, broken glass or anything."

I then placed a call to my insurance agent, who is also a friend, and explained it to him. I proceeded to tell him the situation and how I was puzzled that they left my GPS and all other belongings. Here is where it gets scary! "Oh no, he said, they want the break-in to be so subtle that you don't even realize it. They look at your GPS to see where "home" is. Now they know what you drive, go to your home, and if your vehicle isn't there they assume you aren't and break in your home." He says they will even leave a purse or wallet and only take one or two credit cards. By the time you realize there has been a theft, they may have already had a couple days or more to use them. This is another reason they want the break-in to go unnoticed. I didn't realize my situation for two full days! They even give you the courtesy of re-locking your doors for you. I guess they don't want it to be broken into by other thieves!

Had they found your check book, they could have taken checks from the middle section so they wouldn't be noticed.

Please remove from your GPS unit your home address as "home" ASAP! Put in your local Wal-Mart address or somewhere else! Park your vehicle in a highly visible place. I positioned mine perfectly for them and didn't realize it until it was too late. I hope this is beneficial to you and helps you keep your valuables in your possession and your vehicle from damage. Most importantly, it may keep the thieves from showing up at your home!
DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES IN SIGHT INSIDE THE CAR. Periodically walk around your car, daily if you are in a shopping center or other parking area. Report thefts immediately....Bank w/missing check numbers, Credit card agencies, Police, and Insurance Companies.

[RWilson2526]

they got my brother that way last year.....got into his truck and only took 2 credit cards from his wallet....he never would have known except there was a friend there at the same time as him and they snatched his rolex which he did notice right away. my brother got to looking inhis wallet and noticed the missing cards.....the other guy also had a CC stolen and by the time he called it in to cancel (less than 90 mins) they already rang up 4K at Circuit City.

damn thieves

[willy]

that is actually old school two legger stuff MJ
now they have gone electronic with these cheap special readers.
they sit in parking lots, they have to be within about fifty feet of you, when you use your remote to lock your car the reader reads the signal.
when you are inside they walk up and hit the button and turn everything off including alarms just like you do with your remote.

so another tip which I do is never lock your car with the remote in malls or other busy locations like parking garages wally marts etc. Use your manual lock on the door on the way out.

[macojoe]

wow this is the first I have ever heard of it. good thing I no have CC or cash

I will have to be more careful and lock my doors now, bastards

thats good info willy, and to think i was pissed this week when my remote stopped working

[willy]

I still use mine all the time, just not in crowded bi lots or whatever, especially along any major highways. Very common to be used at night in resturants.
One big resturant along Rt 22 got hit for over a dozen car entries a couple of months back.
If you got a holder for a GPS unit or leave plug in wires stuck in the charger holes that is a big target also as they realize you probably stuck your units in the glove compartment.

[macojoe]

no hiding here, GPS is always in the windshield and the chargers for gps phone always pluged in!

[cfelton]

I haven't heard of the hole trick either! Man that really sucks! We don't have much trouble around here but we have ta go to Suffolk Va. or Elizabeth City often and I know the thieves are around there. Hope somebody catches the SOBs!

[charlie_the_tuna]

hey maco, wasnt it you who said the avalanche was gay?

[phatdaddy]

ctt, i think MJ must have done a "copy&paste" on that post. to many words and no wind talking.

[nipper]

Gotta agree with you there Phat.