just got my 2012, and less than 30 hours it was vandalized

Anything with the word Trump in it must be in a bad neighborhood. Couldn't resist the joke, I am sorry for your loss. Bad enough that that happened, but in a brand new car. Guess you had better learn to use the area over the spare tire to hide stuff.

 

Sorry to hear that.

Years ago I had my first Porsche's driver's window smashed (it was 1 month old ) and the stereo and radar detector stolen. I felt violated--but you get over it.

 

Sorry to hear of the attack on your new car :/ it sucks for sure. Good luck in the future!

 

Since I live a few miles from there, I find it odd that would happen. But leaving valuables in plain view, not good no matter where your park. Did in happen on Trumps parking lot, or up on the hill coming in? Too bad on the loss.

 

That's why I leave my windows down or doors unlocked.

If someone is going to steal something, they are going to steal something. So by locking the doors, they must break a window. By leaving it open, they don't. So instead of just being out some silly mp3 player and a phone, you are now out the mp3 player, a phone, and a window and will have glass rattling around in your door pocket for years.

By tinting the windows all you do is make the car say "hey look at me, look at me! My window's are dark and special, I probably have other cool things inside too".

 

That just plain stinks. Your insurance will cover it and it won't affect your rate. The repair shop will have it fixed just like new, so you'll put this all behind you soon.

As for the person who did it -- he's living a rotten life. Lucky for you that your life is going much better.

 

Sorry to hear that. I had my house broken into once. Hardly anything was stolen, but they made the most unholy mess you could ever imagine. It doesn't help much now, but you do get over that "violated" feeling. Now that I think about it, my break in occurred on May 30th a few years back. I thought I would never feel "right" on the anniversary date, but actually I rarely think of it anymore and it did not croos my mind once the other day. On the bright side as someone mentioed above, life has probably treated you alright if you are able to drive a Prius as opposed to being someone who breaks into them. When my place got broken into, I thought it was a statement that my neighborhood was lower class than I thought. Coincidentally, a friend had her house broken into just a couple of miles away and her daughter asked "does this mean we're rich?" which was a way that I certainly had not thought up until that point.
Hope that helps.

 

Maybe it's time for someone to take a Prius that has been totaled and purposely leave some fake valuables wired to a dying traction battery?

I'm sure that if theft was made very risky, there would be less of it.

 

The last time somebody broke into one of my cars was over 10 years ago. I learned that people generally won't steal things that they can't see or don't know about. Consequently I put things of value (phone, computer, GPS, sun glasses, etc.) out of sight.

Keith

 

This is pretty silly to me. Most thieves want the easiest score. If there are several cars in the same area they will break into the one that has something they want. If you don't leave anything of value in sight you are okay most of the time. By leaving the car open if the thief is looking at stealing a car you just made it even easier for them. Just because a car has tinted windows doesn't mean they are so dark that you can't see inside. I tint my windows to keep the car cooler & protect the interior, looking good is just a side benefit.

 

I'd be curious what sort of cell phone it was too. I bet it wasn't some 5 year old Nokia.

So a crim was walking along minding his business and saw a nice shiney brand new car and an even shinier iphone4s on the dash with nobody about; he'd be in and out before you could blink. Lesson learnt the hard way. Next time hide it under your seat - sure they might find it but it'll deter the opportunist.

 

Sorry to hear that. I know that feeling of violation to have your personal belongings trashed. In my fantasy world, the Prius would discharge a huge bolt of electricity (second to only Zeus) when it detects a B&E, and fry the perp.

 

Great sentiment!

 

There are some thieves that go around parking lots checking all cars to see if any doors are unlocked. They won't break windows or try to break in.
Your logic applies to a very specific type of thieves, but I would rather lock doors and close windows.

It's true, if a thief REALLY wants something, they will get it. The only thing you can do to help deter is being smart at where you park, and minimizing valuables left in your vehicle.

 

If you don't hide things, then it applies. If you hide everything then there is no reason for them to go in except if they are targeting you. I don't hide stuff, that's inconvenient for the small possibility of a simpleton taking it. So in that case I would rather be out whatever trinkets thrown on the backseat then those and a window. Believe me, I know lots of people's who have had cars broken into or just vandalized in general. Once that glass shatters and goes into the door pocket, you hear it rattling for years. There is no way to get it all out without replacing the door. Even if insurance covers it, I don't want that hassle. There is 0 risk of the Prius itself being stolen which is the most valuable thing about the parked car without a targeted flat-bed truck.

 

By leaving everything open it will be more tempting since there is easy access and be quicker to steal the car since they don't have to spend time getting in.
Plus how many theft attempts are you going to get with the same car with everything open, then locking and rolling up the windows?
Not smart in my opinion.

 

"Your logic applies to a very specific type of thieves, but I would rather lock doors and close windows."

Right and you also open yourself to other problems like kids throwing crap in there for example when parked in some parking lot. It's just a stupid idea.
I remember this one guy I worked with that kept his windows down all the time. At our work parking lot someone took a piss inside his car, urine all over his seats.
I'm not saying this is going to happen to everyone but parking at different parking lots with everything open, can cause more problems than just thieves.