Protect Your Belongings From Car Burglars

I woke up this morning to find a cubby in my car opened and its contents on the floor. I'm pretty sure nothing was taken, but that's because I don't keep anything valuable in my car. Here are a few tips to help you keep your belongings safe.

It's amazing what car thieves will take. When I lived in Bangor, my car was rifled while it sat in the parking lot of my apartment house. The thieves took a cheap digital clock (worth about 5 bucks) and a large bottle of Tide laundry detergent (worth more than 5 bucks!). It took me about three days to realize the detergent was gone. I mean, who steals Tide? Obviously someone needed it more than I did. But the experience has made me cautious about what I leave in my car.

After friends have told me about car burglaries in Orrington and Brewer, I thought I'd share a few tips I've learned from police over my years in news. There are some things you can do to protect yourself.

• The obvious precaution is not to leave anything valuable in your car. Thieves will grab electronics, like mp3 players, IPods, cellphones, laptops, GPS systems, and the like. Anything that they think they can sell or use. Keep your electronics out of your car and, if you have to leave them there, lock the doors.
• Money, credit, debit, and gift cards are also targeted. Never leave your wallet or pocketbook in the vehicle, or leave your credit card tucked away in the glove compartment so you always have it with you. And make sure you've written down all the statistics on your cards (number, expiration date, etc), and the phone number you need to call in case it's stolen.
• CD's are favorites of car burglars. Don't keep any in an unlocked car that you don't want to lose. Perhaps locking a storage case of CD's in the trunk when you get out of the car would be a solution. That goes for things like shopping bags, too. Lock them in the trunk if you have to leave them in the car.
• Don't store bills and paperwork in your glove compartment. Obviously, we have to carry our car's registration and proof of insurance. But financial statements, household bills, and the like could open the door for identity theft.
• Keep your car tidy and keep track of what you have in it. If your car's a mess, and someone breaks into it, you'll have a much tougher time determining what was stolen.
• Obviously, the best line of defense against car burglars is keeping your doors locked at all times. It's unusual for these types of crooks to break into locked vehicles as it takes too long and can call attention to what they're doing. Get an alarm system, if your car doesn't have one. A honking horn in a quiet driveway may cause thieves to bolt, before someone notices they're there. And make sure your windows and sunroof are closed completely.
• Finally, even if the items stolen from your vehicle are minor, report it to police. While they may not be able to recover your stuff, it will alert them that car burglars are working the area and they can keep an eye open for them. Your vigilance may save your neighbors from the same fate.