I am so sorry that happened to you. I detest vandals and thieves. How maddening that you will have a large bill for repairing the window and they didn't even get anything of value. Here's hoping karma comes back and bites them good!

Knocking on wood - I've never had anything like that happen to me and hope that my luck continues.

Have heard a lot about them lately. So sorry it happened to you. Glad your purse wasn't in the car. I am wondering if kids did it, since they took nothing more valuable than lunch bags or books. Ouch about the deductible!

No...not a smash and grab but had a new El Camino truck stolen in 1979. Little punk totaled it in a police chase. Also a guy who worked for me stole money out of my wallet when I left it in my truck overnight.

Sorry for your experience, especially troubling since it seems to have occurred at your home.

I think it's a best practice to never leave anything visible in a car. "Stuff" should go into the trunk or covered cargo area or closed compartments (but not the glove compartment) when a car is parked and left, no matter where. I've always done that and whether for that reason or just good luck and fate, I've never had a problem.

Years ago, this happened to us. They smashed in the driver-side window and stole the very expensive radio we had had installed in the vehicle. We learned to forget about installing very good radioes.

No, it hasn't happened to me, I'm so sorry it did to you. My car is locked in the garage overnight these days, DH leaves his truck out but removes his $2000 laser range finder and phone every night, brings those in. Just in case.

At our former house, someone threw a rock at the rear window of the single cab he was driving then during the night. When he got in not noticing, shut the door, safety glass disintegrated and the window fell in little bits all over him.

I've lost track of how many times my brothers vehicle has been broken into - Portland. He's so lax though, cameras, laptops, engineering equipment, all kinds of expensive things to tempt people. I keep nothing in sight in my car, not ever. I should admit I don't even have to keep it neat and clean, DH does that for me weekly even though he doesn't see/notice a mess inside the house ;0)

That's a scary thing. NEVER leave anything visible in your car that someone may want, especially your purse or any valuables.

Dang, that is rotten. I would not have worried about hiding paperback books or lunch bags. I've never had a smash in, although rarely stuff has been snatched during work projects. I never leave my wallet in the car, even out of sight; sometimes the purse part, gps, camera or phone, but not the wallet.

That sucks! I hope, you can get that window fixed fast... or at least, before rain. I park like Elmer, ALWAYS... but at home, my car is in my garage. Always. I used to joke, I bought a garage, and got a house as a bonus. ;)

Moni

PS, if I have something I don't want seen, I put it in the trunk before I leave home, or the last place of business. I don't want anyone to see, that I am "hiding something".

My husband has the window of his truck smashed in at his work parking lot. A lot of homeless people started staying in the vacant lot behind there and their vandalism increased dramatically. There wasn't much to steal in the truck so it was not a profitable crime but was a real pain for my husband to get it replaced quickly. And of course costly.

I have been seeing so many people on the nextdoor forum that had their vehicles broken into. Most have videos of the criminals and every one was kids in their teens. Where are the parents of these kids that are out at 3am committing crimes? I don't get it. And where do they think the kids are coming up with all these items suddenly? The police are trying to get them but they just get a slap on the wrist and go right back to it.

Sorry that this happened to you. This makes me think I need to be more careful as I leave my iPad on the seat when shopping! I will correct that bad habit!

It has not happened to me, but to my nephew at a gym parking lot. A few cars were vandalized, one next to the other. My nephew, unfortunately, had his wallet in the car.

Oh no. I'm so sorry. I need to be more careful about driving with my handbag laying in the passenger seat. I've read that a person could loop its handle thru the seatbelt, but I don't.

Ditto for me too - cars at home are in a locked garage. But, are just as empty inside there as when parked in public. There's almost no petty theft/vandalism activity in our neighborhood so the precaution at home is more habitual than deliberate.

Hasn't happened to us yet, lots of other people in the area though. They are leaving valuables and taking guns. I wouldn't leave my gun in my car overnight. Just saying.

Scary, glad no one was hurt. Be sure the police check neighbors' cameras.

I'm sorry that happened to you. It's happened to me as well (only they tried to steal the car) and it's really a jarring experience. I was at a site for work, the thieves smashed our back passenger window, gained entry and ripped the ignition out from the dash so it could be hot wired. Our saving grace was that they cut the wrong wire so the car wouldn't start. When the tow truck arrived, the guy said he had just towed another car down the road where the same exact thing had happened. There were signs saying that the parking lot had camera survellance, so I figured they'd at least be caught. Come to find out the camera's are on top of a 4+ story building and aimed in a completely different direction!?!

Years ago my wife (then fiancee) and I flew into Boston, and were picked up by friends of hers from college. We were going to spend the night in the Boston area before meeting her sister and traveling down to a family reunion on Block Island.

She wanted to see some of her old haunts in downtown Boston that evening, and while we were out and about someone popped the lock on the trunk and stole all of our luggage.

Her sister took us to a local cheap clothing store named "Spags" IIRC. and bought enough to get us through the week of vacation. Fortunately I had renters insurance and a detailed packing list of everything I brought, but it was still a major hassle especially given that there was nothing of any value in the bags.

At a different time, on a trip to visit my sister who lived in Sicily. She drove us to a neighboring town, and as we were getting out of the car I locked the door just as a matter of habit. My sister noticed, and said "No don't lock the door. Its almost a given that someone is going to let themselves in and look for and take anything of value, but if you lock the door, they will smash the window and then let themselves in and look for and take anything of value, So it is easier and cheaper to never leave anything of value, but to be sure to not lock the car."

I don't think I could live that way.

We were traveling in Dallas, arrived at our motel off the N Dallas parkway. There was a gang which broke windows of 5 guests' cars that evening and took whatever they could. In our case, a laptop that we simply forgot to bring in.

It happened to me years ago when I was at a hair appt. My car was maybe 2 parking spots from the back door of the salon. Didn't hear a thing. Came out to a broken window and my stereo gone. It was one of those slide in deals back in the day!! The other day we came out of the mall and son had left his ear buds on the passenger seat. I commented that I wouldn't be surprised if someone wouldn't break the window just to grab those.

How frustrating for you, Yeonassky. I haven't had anything stolen from my car, but it stays in a locked garage overnight. I always worry when we are traveling and leave our car in long-term airport parking that we will come back to a problem. My neighbor's son's car was broken into while parked in their driveway, so I know our neighborhood isn't immune.

I had it happen years ago. I had pulled into the parking area at our city flea market on a busy Saturday morning. People everywhere. I noticed a rough looking guy leaning against a stop sign, but didn't give it too much thought. I was gone about 10 minutes, and when I came back my trunk lid was open and the little triangular back window was broken.

My work laptop was in the trunk, put there long before I arrived. They took that, and attempted to take the radio but couldn't get it out. They bent up a piece of metal bracket on the radio, and there was blood on it. I hoped whoever did it really cut themselves badly.

My boss wasn't too upset about the laptop, but the bag also contained a binder of documents. That was the real loss. Insurance paid for the window, and a mobile service fixed it in my office parking lot.

I frequently see women at our park, who pull in then casually put their purse in the trunk. NO NO NO!!!! Put it in before you get there. You have no idea who's watching.

Where were you? I don't want to go there. :)

But I do hope it didn't happen at home. That would be frightening.

My son and his GF were in San Francisco last year visiting a friend after having camped their way down the coast. The friend has a really tiny apt and so they left their gear in the car and they lost all their camping gear and climbing gear. They also foolishly left their passports in the car which were also taken. They reported their passports stolen and were able to get back across the border fortunately.

aok - Even at Christmas, if I come back to the car with some parcels but I'm not finished shopping, I will put the parcels in the trunk and then get in the car and drive away as if I'm leaving. I will move my car to another spot just in case someone is watching..

My daughter's Mac was stolen from my car when I used valet parking while visiting my daughter in the hospital. Stupid of me to leave it in the car but my mind just doesn't think that way. I felt so bad for her. It was a week before her birthday so guess what her gift was from me.

I'm so sorry that happened to you Yeonassky.

Thank you everyone. For the advice and commiserations! I think of this as a cautionary tale.

I've gotten my mini van back from the repair shop and hidden the evidence of the incident in the garbage. I've decided to take on extra work to cover the cost of the glass. More exercise and all that. :)

So sorry for every one else who has gone through this and hope that the ones who haven't never do.

Unfortunately it did happen at home. DH uses the garage as his workshop and so no options for locking our cars safely away. Besides it seems to happen everywhere in Vancouver. IRL everyone I've talked to today has had stuff stolen from their cars. :(

My whole neighbourhood parks on the street as just about everyone else has a lane way house where the garage would normally be. Nobody here but me was broken into this time though. They probably remember to bring in their lunch bags every time too. :)

Bonus I get to go lunch bag shopping. I hope it's easier than buying a dress. At least it's supposed to look like a sack. ;)

Tomorrow's a busy day so very happy to have wheels again. :)

I've never heard the term "smash and grab". Is that the same as saying your car was broken into? If so, it only happened to me once; I was on vacation in another state and parked on the street (no other options). I really had nothing in sight in the car, but it was broken into and my Kindle was stolen (it was under a jacket in my front seat. Also my camera (an inexpensive one, also just with the jacket tossed over it.

Of course, no insurance covered it because of the deductible. I remember that the feeling of discomfort that someone had been in my car really outweighed my losses.

So sorry that it happened to you. What a lousy feeling.

Sorry that happened to you, a pain for sure!! Glad they didn't get anything valuable.

Has never happened to me, I park my vehicle in the garage at night. Of course, it could happen in daylight too, guess I've been lucky because cars get broken into plenty of times around here.

I did a double take at the term smash and grab. Here, smash and grab is used to describe the burglary of a store where the thieves smash the windows, usually by driving a car through them, then very quickly grabbing merchandise. Then the car is backed out of the destroyed business and driven away. These days hair salons that do human hair extensions and wigs are very vulnerable, but in the past stores that sell expensive purses or jewelry have been hit.

For a car window smashed and goods stolen from the car, I'd probably just say someone broke into my car through the window and stole my thesis notes, or whatever. Fortunately this has never happened to me. I park in the street every day in the inner city. I don't leave so much as a penny in the car.

In my community you may receive a citation if your car is left outside with valuables in view. Also, you can be cited for open garage door with no owner in attendance.

I'm sorry it happened to you! My mom had it happen because she left a diamond tennis bracelet in plain sight. Sigh. I bought her a new one. Sigh. I bought her the first one.

I haven't had it happen. However, early the other day I heard tires screeching crazily! It woke me up. There's a stop sign right outside my living room window and I figured someone realized too late. Nope! The neighbor across the street has a camera set up and posted the incident on our Facebook page. It's entitled "slow down fool". He comes flying over the top of the hill and slides uncontrollably towards my car, ends up facing more than the opposite direction?! But didn't hit my car. Then, they take off and pull out right in front of someone else, barely missing them. Crazy people out there.

I'm sorry that happened to you. It's probably just luck that it's never happened to me. I've seen glass on the ground at hiking trailheads, so someone is breaking windows. I'd like to think the owner just lost their key and they were the ones breaking in. Makes me feel better about the world we live in.