Car crime is obviously no new phenomena. I once knew someone whose car was repeatedly used for spares by a cheeky thief - it seemed every time he replaced something stolen off his car (wheels, wipers, lights, badge etc), the thief would return the following week and strip something else. When the owner got in the car one morning and discovered there was no gear lever, he thought enough was enough and sold the car.
I had another friend whose stereo was stolen out of her car; she commented afterwards that it was a rubbish stereo and she couldn't understand why someone would want it. The following week her car was broken into again at the same car park. The thieves didn't take anything this time - they returned her stereo.
Car thieves are usually opportunists, out looking for belongings left on back seats or in foot wells that they can 'liberate'. Nowadays of course they can also be more sophisticated and look for tell-tale suction marks on windscreens that might indicate a sat-nav unit hidden away in the glove-box.
When you're out and about shopping this Christmas, don't forget thieves are out 'shopping' too. As you lock up your car, check for stray bags of presents on the seats, or marks on the glass from your sat-nav or mobile phone cradle. Even a roll or two of wrapping paper on the back seat might make them think there could be presents out of sight somewhere.
Park in well lit very public car parks, preferably right near a lamp or camera, or near a regular pedestrian route where people will always be passing.
Don't get them interested, don't give them an excuse, and don't give them anything that doesn't belong to them.
Jessica
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Jessica Duncan is a freelance writer and photographer with The Little White Studio