[ISL]

After having my car stolen, and a bunch of stuff taken, I was surprised to find that ~25% of the folks I talked with about it had the same sentiment; that it's stupid to leave things in a car.

Where I grew up, everyone left stuff in cars. Nobody stole things. Worked great.

Why is it okay for people to steal stuff in cities, but not in small towns?

Do you take your car-fixing tools (~2 BTC, these days) out of your car every time you go into your house?

[HarryHirsch]

> Why is it okay for people to steal stuff in cities, but not in small towns?

My explanation is that in cities there are more people living in a small space, there are simply more thieves in any given area, and also more opportunities for them.

However, those who leave stuff in cars create an ecosystem for thieves to operate in, and they should please stop doing so, giving opportunities to thieves may result in more thieves.

[ISL]

When my car was recovered, the responding officer showed no interest in fingerprinting the car, or really investigating at all.

We should expect, and be willing to pay for, better from our public services.

The cycle of moving mountaineering gear to and from my car solely to prevent theft uses up ~1/2 hr a week of my life, and provides utility to nobody.

I won't steal your stuff, even if you leave it in plain view in your car; it's yours. Please don't steal mine.

Looks like there's room for improvement in the US...

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_bur-crime-burglaries

[Evbn]

Does the gear fit in your trunk? Or are you an unfortunate soul with a hatchback?

[ISL]

I'd prefer to see it as fortunate to have a wagon. Sleeping in the back of a sedan is a real bummer, especially for two.

Hard to carry lots of stuff, too ;).

[r00fus]

Even my hatchback has a pull-over cover that hides the contents.

Also if you're putting into your trunk do so before you arrive at your parking destination... many stories about people seeing you hiding stuff and then knowing there's something to steal.

[meric]

Do you at least hide the valuables in the car so you can't see them through the window?

[ISL]

I do now. It's hard to make it look like there's really nothing interesting in a wagon, especially if you'd like to stop in at a store/restaurant after a day in the mountains.

At best, there's a blanket over a pile of stuff that looks a lot like a pack and skis...

[rdl]

This is actually why I will only buy sedans or other cars with trunks (well, and the special legal protections trunks have vs. "accessible to driver" passenger compartments. Otherwise, I'd have an A3. Fortunately Audi is coming out with an S3 Sedan in 2014/2015.

[wsh]

You could buy that Audi A3 now, if there are any left.

I have the current hatchback version, and with the factory-supplied, swing-down parcel shelf installed and the lift gate closed, the area behind the rear seats is totally enclosed by rigid, opaque surfaces; it’s impossible to see any of the contents from inside or outside the vehicle.

I don’t know whether this area has the same legal status as a trunk, but practically speaking, it’s no more accessible to the driver than the trunk of a sedan having rear seats that could be unlatched and folded down by someone in the passenger compartment.

[jfim]

Out of curiosity, why does the trunk have a particular legal status?

[gyardley]

In America, police only have to show 'reasonable suspicion' rather than probable cause to search a person and his immediate surroundings for weapons - and if they find something else that's illegal while searching for 'weapons', you're out of luck.

Since the trunk is out of reach of the driver, it can't be part of this 'reasonable suspicion' search - unlike, say, the glove compartment. For the trunk, police need your voluntary consent or probable cause.

In other words, keep your contraband out of reach.

[enjo]

I certainly do now. I was 22 when my first computer was stolen. Didn't really worry about it then.

[deepdog]

You don't have to not leave it in the car, you should just cover it up or hide it.

If you have a blanket in the trunk then hide your computer under it if you have to leave the car, or put it under the passenger's seat.

[dredmorbius]

Some equipment (e.g.: Bluetooth-enabled electronics) literally advertises its presence even when concealed. I've heard stories of thieves canvassing car parks in up-market areas with Bluetooth detectors and swiping Apple devices in particular.