Car broken into - what are they after?

[loubelou]

Hello

Over night my car was broken into on Upland Road (presumably with the electric device to get the door open as opposed to smashing the window).

They made a mess - but left the sat nav, sunglasses etc.

Genuine question....if they are leaving sat nav, CDs etc. What are they hoping to find??

[Sue]

ID? Money?

Or maybe it's just random vandalism.

[rendelharris]

You'd be surprised how many people leave their laptops under the front seat, and (as Sue says) their driving licence in the glovebox. CDs are worth nothing, as are satnavs really now so many cars have them built in, or people can use their phone.

[PipD]

Did they leave the CDs because of your terrible taste in music?

[Ruskin]

I'm not saying you did yourself - but as long as people leave the smallest of possessions on view, there will be chancers sniffing around in cars. Having a rifle around cars and houses is their way of life.

The Met can print a million leaflets about locking your car but if we choose to ignore the advice, what's the blimmin' point?

[bels123]

Get these to store your key fobs in, then they can?t access the wireless signal

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/183266991282

[singalto]

Ruskin,locking your car door doesn?t stop your car getting broken into.

[Soane]

Just to add that anyone who has a disabled parking Blue Badge should never leave it in their car other than when it is necessary to display it. Instead of leaving it in the glove compartment ready for use, take it with you indoors. Apparently a stolen Blue Badge is worth a lot of money and can be altered and sold on by criminals.

Soane

[Lowlander]

Don't leave anything even remotely valuable in view. And no bags (plastic or otherwise). Loose change is gold to someone desperate enough, and even an empty shopping bag may look like it contains a purse or laptop.

Even a white apple charging cable left on a seat can make a thief think there's something valuable in one of the compartments.

A tidy car is an unattractive car. That said, kid's toys and litter seems to attract little attention too.

[contented sow]

This happened to my friend - apparently they?re looking for the tracker which manufactures hide in totally random places in the car. If the thief finds it, they get rid of the tracker and steal the car. But if they can?t find it they just trash the car looking for it and move onto the next one.

[Zig-Zag]

I know the police do absolutely nothing and it's a hassle time-wise to report these types of break-ins etc. but please report it anyway. Unless there are accurate (and the real shocking) figs to show just how much crime is escalating, we have little chance of improving police response and forcing the Government into action. The real crime stats are likely to be far higher than published because we too often shrug and accept this as the new "normal"

[yeknomyeknom]

Sometimes it can just be someone looking for somewhere to sleep.

[loubelou]

Hello, thank you for all your replies.

I have indeed now reported this to 101.

The policeman who took the call couldn?t have been more helpful. And said he was delighted (!) I had called as it?s reporting even minor things like this that can help with their intelligence and resources.

When he heard the address, he said we aren?t exactly in a ?crime hotspot? but this sort of issue is definitely on the rise sadly.

And from past experiences they are after ID. Even the smallest thing with a name and address can be useful to criminals.

Thank you again. Lou

[Damo]

Me too! I noticed today that our cars glove box was open and trying the door handle, the car was unlocked. Every other cubby hole around the dashboard was open too so sounds identical to the OP and we're on Upland Rd. Luckily for us, we dont keep anything in the car so nothing could be taken so no harm done but a bit disconcerting the car can be unlocked so easily.

Will stick a mousetrap in the ashtray for next time.

[Sue]

Damo Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Will stick a mousetrap in the ashtray for next

> time.

:)) :)) :))

They probably won't be after old fag ends in the ashtray, though :))

[bigmacca1]

That might not sound so silly ? Many peps who don't /given up smoking in the car do keep change in the ash tray for paying for car parks& meters ?? Be bloody funny to see .........