A surfer/writer from Surfer Magazine recently caught a thief breaking into his car. He told the guy:
“I’m not going to call the police. But I do want to know how you’re doing what you’re doing. I don’t want to know why. I want to know how.”
And that started our conversation. For the next half-hour, he stood there and gave me his secrets. He told me that this area was no longer going to be a regular stomping ground for him, so he figured, “What the hell…why not?” – Surfer Magazine
This information on what car thieves look for is applicable to parking at ski resorts, surf spots, mountain towns, cities, shopping malls, anywhere really.
6 THINGS CAR THIEVES LOOK FOR:
1. Surf/Ski Stickers
This is the easiest way for thieves to identify who is likely out in the water and won’t be anywhere near the car for an extended period of time.
SOLUTION: Leave your car logo-free, so nobody that sees it from a distance even knows you’re in the water.
2. Secluded Parking Spots
Parking under a shady tree to keep those extra boards/skis in the car cool or your drink from warming up? Easy target. Parking way down the road to avoid paying the meters that everyone else is at? Easy target.
SOLUTION: Park in a highly visible spot. This might not be the best idea for a towel change, but if you want to have a towel to come back to, it’s a good idea.
3. Loads and Loads of Gear In Your Car
Loading up your car with three or four buddies and all your boards/skis and gear is surely better for the environment than everybody driving separately. But with all that gear piled in the car while you’re out in the water/on the hill, it also makes you an easy target. By stealing just a few small things and not getting greedy, the group may not even notice this until much later.
SOLUTION: Minimize. Or at least do a better job of hiding the bags of gear in your car. Hint: You’re not fooling anyone by shoving everything under that big beach blanket. Don’t draw attention to where the valuables are stored.
4. Convertibles (With The Top Left Down)
This section also includes Jeeps that have removable tops. Any car that makes it easier to access your vehicle is easy pickings for a thief.
SOLUTION: Secure your car. If you have a truck with a sliding rear window,make sure it’s actually locked. My thief told me that you’d be surprised how many times people leave things like that unlocked. He’s in and out of a truck like that in less than 30 seconds.
5. Hiding Your Key On Your Vehicle
This is by far the most common thing that we as surfers do. We tuck it up under the wheel, bumper, or tailgate. And usually we do it in plain view of thieves who are just waiting for us to give them an easy shot at all the things in our cars.
SOLUTION: Get a string/shoelace/necklace and put the key around your neck. If you have one of those fancy cars that has an electronic key, then you can go to your local locksmith and have them make a “door only” key that can go on that string around your neck.
6. Shitty Cars
Let’s face it, surfers have their share of rusted-out shit boxes. Well, they’re usually pretty easy to break into and pilfer through.
SOLUTION: ?
say you leave a second set of skis in the car just in case while you’re skiing. you cover them up with a blanket, but it’s obviously skis. but they don’t know if the skis are cool, sellable, new, etc, so will they break in just to find out. does it do any good to cover a pair of nice skis? anyone guess?
Don’t think #4 is going to be a problem at ski resorts. 😉
You would be surprised what people choose to drive to a ski resort.