Car break-ins and rainy weather

[spolct]

i once had a car broken into either before or after it had rained (i forget which). the responding officer told me that he couldn't check for fingerprints because of all the moisture. still not sure if that's actually true or not.

not true fingerprints are oil based. Oil and water doesn't mix. BUT the officer would've had to dry the car with a blowdryer in a garage before dusting for prints and THAT would've been too much work! Unless it is a murder case or you're a VIP, i guarantee you that would be too much work for any officer.

Also, they might have to use cyanoacrylate fumes to recover the prints. Again, too much work.

i figured that if there had been a body involved that they'd have been able to find a way to get prints.

[MotherBear]

All I can say about car break-ins and I work in insurance and a very large majority, like 99% of the vehicles broken in to once I asked the insured if anything was stolen and where was it located inside the vehicle they all tell me in some form or fashion "they took my bag, laptop, suitcase, briefcase, etc that was on my seat or in the back seat." The key being visible from the window. Now items do get stolen from the center console or glove box, but that's once they're in by seeing what is available at plain sight already. In 8 years of claims have I rarely heard of a car that was broken into to just check the unseen places. Something that catches they're eyes always triggers the break-in.

When I was in college, my Honda Civic was broken into. I went to Baylor, up in Waco, and I knew Baylor parking garages were pretty target-rich environments for thieves. My car was older and scratched up, and I was extremely paranoid about leaving anything in sight inside it. I think the most valuable thing I left in it was my case of CDs, and even that was tucked well back under the seat. I was careful about not leaving even the usual layer of clutter (loose papers, jackets, etc.) lest anyone think something was hidden beneath it all. In my case, it looked like the target was the car itself. They'd pulled the window out of the frame, broken open the cover on the steering column and my mechanic said they'd tried to hot wire it and blown a fuse or a spark plug or something (sorry, long time ago and I'm no good with cars anyway). I had to have it towed since it wouldn't start, but I've always figured it was worth it since that was the reason I still had a car! After that, I bought a club and a brake lock. I only drove two or three times a week, so figured it was worth the 5 minutes to uninstall and reinstall those each time. I knew they wouldn't stop a determined car thief, but figured all I had to do was make my car look less attractive than the one next to it. It seemed to work.

At my last house (quiet neighborhood in northwest Austin) my neighbors had their cars broken into a few times. They parked in the driveway and left things like DVD players in their cars in plain sight. Some of the best neighbors I've ever had, but I did have to roll my eyes a little behind their backs. I'm sure not saying anyone deserves to have things stolen, but especially after it happened the first time you'd think they'd either park in the garage or keep the electronics out of sight. Each time it happened they seemed shocked. They installed motion-activated lights and that sort of thing, but as far as I know they still leave stuff in the cars. We lived right next door and never did have our cars broken into.

[rp_photo]

In my area, police don't even come out any longer, but just take info during the call. I can't say that I blame them, because what could they really do?

[RJGold]

All I can say about car break-ins and I work in insurance and a very large majority, like 99% of the vehicles broken in to once I asked the insured if anything was stolen and where was it located inside the vehicle they all tell me in some form or fashion "they took my bag, laptop, suitcase, briefcase, etc that was on my seat or in the back seat." The key being visible from the window. Now items do get stolen from the center console or glove box, but that's once they're in by seeing what is available at plain sight already. In 8 years of claims have I rarely heard of a car that was broken into to just check the unseen places. Something that catches they're eyes always triggers the break-in.

Not always...

My pickup was broken into at IAH. Nothing in plane sight. Console and behind the seat storage areas were ransacked but nothing at all was taken. That same week, 60+ vehicles were broken into in the IAH garage. All either SUVs or Pickups. Responding LEO speculated that thieves had targeted the vehicles hoping to find weapons (i.e. they believed most pickups or SUVs had a higher likelihood of weapons and that most people don't fly with them so they would leave them in the vehicle)...

Cost me about $480 for repairs to my vehicle...

[rp_photo]

Not always...

My pickup was broken into at IAH. Nothing in plane sight. Console and behind the seat storage areas were ransacked but nothing at all was taken. That same week, 60+ vehicles were broken into in the IAH garage. All either SUVs or Pickups. Responding LEO speculated that thieves had targeted the vehicles hoping to find weapons (i.e. they believed most pickups or SUVs had a higher likelihood of weapons and that most people don't fly with them so they would leave them in the vehicle)...

Cost me about $480 for repairs to my vehicle...

How pathetic that a facility which charges cistomers top-dollar to park there (and most likely enjoys a high rate of profit) can't provide decent security.