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Car vandals / thiefs - what are they looking for?

Sandi Bo

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Last night DH's car was broken into. Well, not even sure they had to break in. We can't find the keys to it, so DH thinks he left them in the car.

The console and glove box have been ransacked. Papers, etc, all over. We can't find anything missing except the keys, which if they have them, they have car keys, house keys, and his work key.

Golf clubs are still in the trunk, car is still in the driveway, and they did not open the garage door nor try to come in the house. We don't think. We figure something had to scare them off. We have german sheperd, but I never heard him bark.

What was the point? Today we will be rekeying everything, grrrrr. But just can't figure out what they got.

It is a Lexus with a keyless start. We're thinking maybe they couldn't figure out how to start it. But it really looks like they just ransacked through everything and left, hopefully with nothing but the keys. (Nothing we can think of).
 

gnorth16

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Insurance papers, a garage opener and a mailbox key are the things I would be concerned about. More so if it was broken into away from the house, that way it gives theives an address and an entry. It was most likely kids that were looking for some spare change...

When I lived in a small town (9000 people), I kept the keys in the ignition all the time (that way I would never lose them!) One day, my coffee money was gone, but the car was still there... I guess the $1.50 was more valueble than the car.....:rofl:
 

theo

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Cash is ALWAYS King...

Last night DH's car was broken into. Well, not even sure they had to break in. We can't find the keys to it, so DH thinks he left them in the car.

The console and glove box have been ransacked. Papers, etc, all over. We can't find anything missing except the keys, which if they have them, they have car keys, house keys, and his work key.

Golf clubs are still in the trunk, car is still in the driveway, and they did not open the garage door nor try to come in the house. We don't think. We figure something had to scare them off. We have german sheperd, but I never heard him bark.

What was the point? Today we will be rekeying everything, grrrrr. But just can't figure out what they got.

It is a Lexus with a keyless start. We're thinking maybe they couldn't figure out how to start it. But it really looks like they just ransacked through everything and left, hopefully with nothing but the keys. (Nothing we can think of).

I don't pretend to know a thing about your particular geographic area, but desperate drug addicts anywhere and everywhere want cash more than anything else in this world (...besides their dope fix, that is). A drug-addled presumption may have been that a Lexus just might contain some cash lying around somewhere inside, or maybe a watch of some value in the glovebox. Kids of a non-criminal nature would take any petty cash, cigarettes --- but would not likely take your keys (nor likely plan to ever return later).

GPS units are very popular theft targets, but you don't indicate having had one. Was there any suction cup "footprint" on the inside of the windshield (or on the dashboard) which would have suggested one's presence, getting them to look in the glovebox for it? Druggies would want no part of golf clubs, regardless of their value. Too cumbersome, too noisy to be stealthy about and too personalized to ever sell publicly and, if pawned or "fenced", too easily traceable to the original delivery boy...

You are certainly wise to immediately rekey everything ASAP, in case the thieves might consider a return to gain easy home entry at another time.

I'm very sorry for your loss, personal violation and great inconvenience.
I would, however, like a word with your German Shepherd. Generally, as I'm sure you know, GSD's don't miss (or ignore) much of anything unusual going on inside of their "territory"...:shrug:
 
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kenie

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We almost never lock our cars or the house :eek:

I keep my quad and bike in the shop so it`s out of sight, but again we don`t usually lock that either...
I did have someone steal the tire off of my truck once. I guess they had a flat and drove around until they found the same year and model.
Got up in the morning and my front tire was gone.
At least they put their flat tire under my hub so there wasn't any damage...
Thoughtfull folks :ponder:
 

Sandi Bo

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I would, however, like a word with your German Shepherd.

I hear ya, both DH and GSD are in the dog house.

If there is good timing for this, I am home today due to it being Good Friday. So the house is not empty, and I do have my GSD thus I am not concerned for my safety.

We wll be rekeying everything. Unfortunately DH's work keys are a big concern (hassle).

DH is much concerned than me. I really think it's over, I don't expect anyone to come back. I just wish they would have left the keys. GSD and I are going for a walk to see if maybe we find them in a bush somewhere.

I did call our banks and have a fraud alert on our accounts and we'll keep a close eye on things for awhile.

We are still trying to figure out the car. The battery was dead and now it won't start. I am waiting for a call back from the dealer.

They did leave change, several dollars worth, so they must have been looking for bigger loot. The GPS is built in. I just can't figure out anything they would have gotten, thankfully.
 

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We're thinking maybe they couldn't figure out how to start it. But it really looks like they just ransacked through everything and left, hopefully with nothing but the keys. (Nothing we can think of).

Did you ask the police? They probably know more about the motivation of local petty criminals than random strangers on a timeshare board.
 

theo

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Did you ask the police? They probably know more about the motivation of local petty criminals than random strangers on a timeshare board.

Local knowledge is certainly always the best informed. That much openly acknowledged, some of the "random strangers on a timeshare board" might just have had a few decades of first hand law enforcement and criminal investigative experience of their own. Ya just never know...;)
 

Passepartout

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Auto burglers- generally just kids who can't resist opportunity- will just snatch what they can either to use, fence or pawn.

I left my garage door open one night. In the morning my car was there, doors open, CDs gone, Stereo gone, glovebox and console contents scattered. The cops had a task force that regularly haunted the pawnshops, but nothing ever turned up. My insurance wouldn't pay for the CDs, so I just bought a new stereo and moved my life forward.

Jim
 

ampaholic

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I hear ya, both DH and GSD are in the dog house.

If there is good timing for this, I am home today due to it being Good Friday. So the house is not empty, and I do have my GSD thus I am not concerned for my safety.

I had a 1/2 GSD 1/2 Dingo for 12 years, best pooch ever except he wouldn't bark. He was very alert but all I would get was perked ears and a very low growl.

I'm pretty sure if someone entered the space he considered "his/ours" they would have had their hands full - he was a very courageous dog.

I also practice "red neck taekwando" (12 gauge pump BLACK BELT) at home :D

I'm with Jim hoping/thinking it was just bored delinquents not meth heads that ransacked your car.
 

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I had a friend whose garage was broken into. What was stolen in his case was the laptop he had left in his briefcase in the unlocked car. He was told by the officers who responded to his call that they were seeing lots of thefts like this from people who carried laptops back and forth from their offices and left them in vehicles.
 

Ridewithme38

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Auto burglers- generally just kids who can't resist opportunity- will just snatch what they can either to use, fence or pawn.

I left my garage door open one night. In the morning my car was there, doors open, CDs gone, Stereo gone, glovebox and console contents scattered. The cops had a task force that regularly haunted the pawnshops, but nothing ever turned up. My insurance wouldn't pay for the CDs, so I just bought a new stereo and moved my life forward.

Jim

Yup, in 99.9% of cases it just kids looking for fast food or beer money(it costs more to shoulder tap then buy legally), you'd be surprised how many people leave their wallet in their car's with the doors unlocked or how easy it is to get $5-$20 for a used GPS, the stereo being stolen is something that would make me worry a little though...most kids aren't going to go through the trouble unless they are desperate....but even with that, i wouldn't sweat it, just some hungry kid that needs money
 

Patri

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Son's car broken into. They took a backpack in the backseat, nothing else. It had papers with personal information, but was found later in the bushes of a neighbor with everything still there.
They alerted the fraud agencies, but believe it was just kids, who obviously were disappointed with the booty.
 

bogey21

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Same thing happened to me about 3 weeks ago. Although car was unlocked, keys were not in it. Stuff from consol and glove box were scattered but all they took was about $2 in quarters I keep for the car wash. I purposely leave my car unlocked. That way they won't do any damage getting in.

George
 

Passepartout

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Guess they didn't come back to see if you replaced your stash of quarters.

Btw, you are fortunate. I can't get much of a car wash here for $2 in quarters. It takes the better part of $20 folding money.

Jim
 

Sandi Bo

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There was quite a bit of change in the console and they didn't touch it (we were surprised).

We live in a nice neighborhood, but have had problems in the past.

DD#2 has a jeep and she does not lock it. She used to lock the console but they broke into that (at her boyfriends house a couple blocks away from here).

I am pretty convinced it was kids just being bored. School is out this week. We live at the end of a block and it is dark.

Still waiting for the police to call (I am trying to file a non-emergency report) but don't expect anything to come from that.

It amazes me that things like this happen. DH had his car detailed yesterday, so his keys were on the seat instead of in his pocket. Just out of the normal outine. He's used to coming in the house with the keys in his pocket.

It's a keyless start (put your foot on the brake and push a button). I'm not convinced they would even have taken it, if they could figure out how to start it.

But DD#1 was funny, guessing they couldn't figure out how to start it and that's why they didn't steal it. She said if she was going to steal a Lexus she'd go to a dealer first and make sure she knew how to start it before she went prowling around in the dark trying to steal one.
 

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This reads like a couple of dopey teenagers who were just checking door handles, hoping to find something they either wanted or knew they could sell. Shame on you for leaving the doors unlocked. These kids are just looking for the easy targets - those that leave their doors unlocked and have really cool stuff right there on the front seat. The "Ultimately Stupid".
 

Sandi Bo

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I'm not so sure DH is so stupid -- his car is in the garage now and mine is in the driveway. :rolleyes:
 

MuranoJo

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There were a series of garage break-ins not too far from here, where thieves were getting into cars to grab purses. Apparently, it's not that uncommon for people to leave purses & wallets in cars parked in garages.
 

ScoopKona

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Local knowledge is certainly always the best informed. That much openly acknowledged, some of the "random strangers on a timeshare board" might just have had a few decades of first hand law enforcement and criminal investigative experience of their own. Ya just never know...;)

Well, none of Sandi's posts mentioned any police involvement at all. It's worth noting.

EDIT -- Just scrolled down and noticed Sandi is trying to file a non-emergency report. This sort of thing has happened to us as well. We had the police here in a matter of minutes -- didn't need to call 911. Just a "Our car was stolen, and now they have the garage door openers for two houses" 311 call brought the boys in blue over in a matter of minutes. Our car was found -- six months later. But by then it was the insurance company's problem.
 
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theo

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I'm not as convinced...

This reads like a couple of dopey teenagers who were just checking door handles, hoping to find something they either wanted or knew they could sell. Shame on you for leaving the doors unlocked. These kids are just looking for the easy targets - those that leave their doors unlocked and have really cool stuff right there on the front seat. The "Ultimately Stupid".

Taking the keys however is a bit out of pattern for young opportunistic delinquents interested only in what they can snatch and grab right then and there... :shrug:
 
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Sandi Bo

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Interesting website: crimemapping.com

It will show crime reported in your area. 14 reports in the last month of crime in a one mile radius of our house.

The police gave me this information. What can't you find on the internet today? They took a report, but don't expect anything further.

The car is in the garage until we get the fob reprogrammed. I am on my way to builder's supply now to have the house locks rekeyed (actually pretty simple to do).

So, overall it'll cost us about $500 + the hassle.

Moving on....
 

Sea Six

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I'm not so sure DH is so stupid -- his car is in the garage now and mine is in the driveway. :rolleyes:


WHY do you think this? It sounds very stupid to me. You left a car unlocked in your driveway, with the keys in it, and still have the car? Consider yourself both stupid and lucky.
 

hvsteve1

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We had a home security seminar for our HOA last week. Our private security people and the sheriff's department updated us on what was happening around the county. The number one target of thieves in this area has become prescription drugs. Meds are so expensive that the only way abusers can get their hands on them is to steal them. The most popular drugs go for $1 a mg, so a 30 mg pill brings $30. This has taken the place of meth, which is a big deal since we were the meth capitol of the East. It is very possible that the thieves were hoping you kept some pills in the car. Cash and electroinics don't matter to them.
 
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