On subject of thieves breaking in cars to find info.
 

Recently I was forwarded this:

"Hole Under Door Lock

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 and explained it to
him.

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.

Or check your address from Insurance and Registration in your glove box.

Now, they know what you drive, go to your home, and if your
vehicle isn't there they assume you aren't and break into your home."

He said 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 of days or more
to use them.

(I didn't realize my situation for two full days!)

They even give you the courtesy of re-locking your doors
for you.

Periodically, walk around your car, especially after you park
in a shopping center or other large parking area.

Report thefts immediately....your bank w/missing check
numbers, your credit card agencies, police, and insurance companies, etc.

Below is picture of what the hole looks like.

Hole Under Door Lock

One would have to look pretty darn close to notice a
hole like that. If the hole was on the passenger
side I would never see it. "

I don't have the photo of the hole posted here; It wasn't in the eMail.

Hadn't heard of that, but then I never leave stuff in my car, unless the thief wants an ancient casette deck that the casette door fell off of a decade ago, LOL.

regards
mech

Hoax or not? The jury is still out... for 4 years or so.

See Car Break-ins - Hole Under Door Lock - Urban Legends

It has the pic there:
http://0.tqn.com/y/urbanlegends/1/G/...door-lock.jpeg

The profiling thief part at least has something to learn from.

Same here, the only thing I leave in the car that is ever visible is my scangauge.

Huh. I hadn't heard of it being circulated before, but the thought of someone breaking in and finding information is still something to be wary about.

I accidentally left my wallet and $400 in my car one night, and a thief helped himself to it by using that method.

I'd rather catch a thief than deter one. If they don't victimize me, they will victimize someone else. That's just as unacceptable to me.

My sister has had her car broken open several times.
The last time it happened she was especially angry about it. "I only left an empty bag in my car and still they smashed the window!"
Yeah, as if the thief could know it was empty...

My wife tends to leave stuff in her car too like old parking tickets and some other junk.
I tell her not to. She already had her car door forced once (a crowbar in the door slit, so much for sophistication).
I guess thieves think that if you are too lazy to clear up the mess you will also keep your radio front or GPS in the dash locker.

My cars have never been broken open in more than 20 years despite having been employed/needing to park in nasty neigborhoods. I even found mine OK while the next car's window was smashed. I think that was not just luck.

Keep the inside neat and empty. Don't be a target.

Yep, jab a screw driver below the lock and jerk it up athen down. One to unlock, one to open. Many aftermarket handles have countermeasures to make this more difficult.

http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/350130.jpg

I never set the home feature of my gps and I hide it under my seat when not in use. Even if I am parking for the day, it goes under the seat. Then I put it back when I go to drive off.

I can keep my GPS in the central armrest but I take it with me anyway, always.
Even if I had not set the home feature the last trip and other stored info might show where I live.

Talking about GPS, the thieves might actually just add something to your car namely a GPS tracker. Then they would know when you are away.
If your home has been burgled keep tight surveilance on your car, then you may catch the thief if he goes in to retrieve the tracker.

When the tracker remains there it may just be for the thieves to steal the stuff you bought to replace what they've stolen first time. Have your house under surveillance as well.
We've seen a lot of double burglarys over here.

Cool a new way for Uhh, not me to rob people! Thanks guys!


To be absolutely serious, I i have never had a problem with theft in any of my cars. Namely because I remove all belongings when I get out of my car. I had my bike stolen off my porch when I was 16, but I knew who did it, and I actually had friends back then. I won't go into details.

I don't think this method works on cars with deadlocking though?

The only things that get left in my car are phone charger, safety vest/hardhat, childs toys, sunglasses, pack of gum. Im more worried about my wheels, $250-400 each!

If a thief gets into my car he has his choice of the change and napkins in the armrest, the spare air filter and owners manual in the glovebox or the small rachet set and snow brush in the trunk and that's about it unless he wants the spare tire.

Its not that the thief is stealing from your car, but getting your address to steal later.

As is if you live in a urban community you got stuff like this going on right under your nose. The neighbor you never seen before walking a dog, riding a bike. A guy dressed like a service man asking about your driveway, alarm system, lawn care or asphalt millings. The "delivery" guy who goes to the wrong address, but asks additional questions not related to his delivery when he finds you arent the right address.

Granted you may have a new neighbor who is walking his dog, he maybe recently unemployed looking for an easy hit.

This is another reason my mpg sucks. I drive past my home when I see what I think is someone following me. Unknow car parked near my driveway, car from walmart following me home. Going off to go shopping, but see strange car in neighborhood so I make a U turn at the end of the road and make a sweep around the community and my home to make sure.

In reality, most thieves aren't using GPS to track where people live, and then casing the place to see when the house is empty. Instead, most parasites are meth addicts that gave almost no thought to their crime, other than seeing something of value that could easily be taken.

One time in high school, I saw my car door open from about 1/4 mile away at night. I ran back to my car and found a guy with a 2ft long screwdriver that had smashed out my window and taken a few wallets. I ordered him to hand over the screw driver and he complied. Then I ordered him to stay with me as I called the police. He only spent 1 night in jail!

This country is too lax on the serious violation that is theft and vandalism. Hell, I'd rather be socked in the face than be robbed, but somehow that crime is considered more serious.