Lock your vehicles, folks!

[NXR]

Yes, people are still leaving their vehicles parked outside overnight unlocked. The RV park we're at had at least four vehicles hit last night. Money, change, a credit card, a key fob (!), and a work laptop (!!!) were among the items stolen.

No, it's not gated but it's currently believed that the criminals entered through the woods so a gate would not help. So far only the section furthest from the entrance has reported thefts.

While it initially was thought to be homeless people stealing valuables (even though this place has never had a theft reported) it was later learned that at least six RV parks in the area (Bradenton, FL) were hit overnight. That's a gang, not homeless.

The person who lost the work laptop may be out of a job soon. Pretty much all organizations have policies against leaving any type of computing device in an unattended vehicle, even during the day. If the computing device had employee or customer data on it this could be a very large, very expensive, breach needing reported and managed.

And no, putting valuables in a trunk, while better than nothing, is not foolproof. The small window at the back of the rear door has been found broken and a video camera caught a thief shattering the window, pulling the latch to fold the seat down, and shining a flashlight in the now-exposed trunk.

Ray

[Old-Biscuit]

If thief will break small window to gain access to fold down seat/trunk then locked vehicle will not stop them

DO NOT LEAVE ITEMS IN VEHICLES............simple
Only one to blame is oneself for being that stupid

[Gumpster808]

Same things happen in normal neighborhoods too. No different just because we are in an RV park.

Good advice to lock things up and not have visible items of opportunity for thieves anywhere.

[TeJay]

It is so very unfortunate the country is sending the wrong messages to all criminals. If laws are ignored or just not enforced there really are no LAWS. They have become emboldened and simply ignore the law because they can get away with it very easily.

I never leave home with out a means to defend myself and our possessions. Most criminals think nothing of preying on senior citizens. We are not spring chickens but they have forgotten many of us are the generation who did step up to defend this Democracy. Most of us, depending on our fitness and age will in some way fight back.

The OP is correct. Don't make it easy for criminals because they are always looking for a weakness.

[MSHappyCampers]

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

If thief will break small window to gain access to fold down seat/trunk then locked vehicle will not stop them

DO NOT LEAVE ITEMS IN VEHICLES............simple
Only one to blame is oneself for being that stupid

Yup!

[bigb56]

Our city police are too overloaded to even show up for burglary, theft including shoplifting, car theft and smash and grab. Online report only. About the only things they have time for is the gang bangers shooting each other, armed robbery and drugs. I was at Walgreens and a guy walked out with an armload of bottled whiskey, the cashier just sighed and said they don't even bother to call the police.

[NXR]

To clarify, the small rear window that was broken did not occur here. It's just something to be aware of. The Glitter Guy caught that happening.

Laws always were voluntary. A high-ranking official of the city where we live once was quoted as saying "We can have these laws and we can enforce them until a court of law says we can't. And then we can appeal." (This was in reference to a law that clearly was unconstitutional. But the city Law Director ruled it was constitutional thereby giving the officials legal cover.)

And it's true. A speeding ticket does not stop people from speeding. A driver license revocation does not stop someone from driving.

The world sure has changed.

Ray

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by NXR

To clarify, the small rear window that was broken did not occur here. It's just something to be aware of. The Glitter Guy caught that happening.

Laws always were voluntary. A high-ranking official of the city where we live once was quoted as saying "We can have these laws and we can enforce them until a court of law says we can't. And then we can appeal." (This was in reference to a law that clearly was unconstitutional. But the city Law Director ruled it was constitutional thereby giving the officials legal cover.)

And it's true. A speeding ticket does not stop people from speeding. A driver license revocation does not stop someone from driving.

The world sure has changed.

Ray

I agree. The only thing that causes crooks to obey laws is fear of prosecution and punishment.
Years ago an insurance company told me an unlocked car's stolen contents are not insured. It was my fault for failure to secure my property.

[dbircky]

The world has changed?

In 1899 New York City taxicab driver Jacob German was the first person in the United States to be cited for speeding. German was a driver for the Electric Vehicle Company, which leased its cars to be used as a taxi. The car that German was driving was known as an electrobat, which was a fully electric vehicle invented in 1894.

At the time New York had speed limits for horses and cars, it being 8 mph when traveling straight and 4 mph when going around a corner. German was traveling 12 mph that the bicycle officer who pulled him over actually arrested him and brought him to the precinct and imprisoned him! Yes, a bicycle stopped an electric car.

The first known paper citation in the USA was given to Harry Myers in Dayton, Ohio in 1904. He was also traveling a dangerous 12 mph.

The first known speeding ticket issued to an automobile driver in the world actually came on January 28, 1896 and was issued to Walter Arnold of East Peckham, Kent. Arnold was caught going 8 mph in a 2 mph zone.

There were speeders and criminals then as there is now. The difference is now you read about things that happen nowhere close to you on the internet. That didn’t happen in 1955.

Imagine the worst school massacre in the USA. Nobody knew about it from internet then (and few probably now). 1927 Bath MI.

[Cat320]

I'm continuously amazed at the number of people who leave vehicles in their driveways unlocked. Then complain about something being stolen.

[twogypsies]

Bradenton isn't a very safe community according to these statistics.

Also, it's a shame they first accused homeless of doing this.

https://www.city-data.com/crime/crim...n-Florida.html

[LETMGROW]

Originally Posted by Cat320

I'm continuously amazed at the number of people who leave vehicles in their driveways unlocked. Then complain about something being stolen.

I leave my vehicles unlocked in my driveway all the time. It beats getting a broken window or a jimmied door. I don't leave anything in my vehicles anyone would want to steal. I do set the alarms. My Motorhome on the other hand is locked in my pole barn with a very good operational security system.

[US1]

Originally Posted by NXR

While it initially was thought to be homeless people stealing valuables (even though this place has never had a theft reported) it was later learned that at least six RV parks in the area (Bradenton, FL) were hit overnight. That's a gang, not homeless.


Ray

We are in a Bradenton RV park now, since Jan 1st and have thought it to be very safe. So much we didn’t lock up our e bikes. Our neighbor just told us that several bikes got stolen from here. We now lock and cover them to the RV. Very disappointing.

[TB673]

Originally Posted by Cat320

I'm continuously amazed at the number of people who leave vehicles in their driveways unlocked. Then complain about something being stolen.

How about unlocked With the keys in it. And then they are surprised when the car is gone in the morning.

Tim