Getting ahead of burglars, telling them their doors are unlocked, is a controversial but arguably effective strategy
How do you street park in the Bay Area and guarantee you won’t come back to broken windows? One Bay Area resident has an arguably effective, yet controversial solution.
@BayAreaFoodz, a somewhat popular Bay Area-based Foodie influencer, shared video of a driver in what looks like a 2016 Lexus LS460 with a taped on sign on his rear passenger window that reads, “This car is unlock(ed.)”
“Only in the Bay,” BayAreaFoodz humorously remarks.
As car break-ins continue to be a thing in the Bay Area, frustrated car owners forced to street park, and presumably victims of burglars in the past, are resorting to unconventional strategies, like leaving your car unlocked, to prevent thieves from going straight to smashing glass.
“The other sign I always see is “There is nothing valuable in this car.” commented @food.with.karm.
“Best one I’ve seen was, “I’m broke as f*** and windows are hella expensive so please don’t break them,”” @ss_jetsy added.
And she’s not wrong, according to Lexus OEM Parts Online, a new driver’s side window on that man’s Lexus costs $315 not including the hour of labor and the inconvenience of having no car for an afternoon.
Earlier in December, a viral photo taken in broad daylight in Oakland showed a crossover and SUV parked next to each other with both of their rear hatches popped upon…on purpose!
Just like this Lexus driver, they were sending a clear message to potential burglars that there’s nothing of value in their car, and here’s an open door to prove it.
Amid a spike in vehicle break-ins, some Bay Area car owners have been deliberately leaving their trunks open in an effort to avoid forced entry by thieves. https://t.co/BGwRf33Pc8
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) December 15, 2021
“They could steal your batteries, your tires,” Tom said. “They could go into your glove compartment and find out where you live.”
While I see Tom’s explanation of potential dangers, if you truly have nothing to lose, if you have a rental, for example, it can be an effective technique to come back with all your windows intact.
If you do have a rental and want to try this technique, just know there’s probably a line item on your rental agreement, like this one from Budget, that specifically voids all liability protections you’ve optioned for.
If you street park and have a gut feeling someone’s going to break into your car, at the very least, remove all valuables.
And, as mentioned, if you’ve got nothing to lose and weighed the costs and benefits, a sign saying your doors are unlocked might not be such an awful idea.
