I had a handful of change taken out of a little compartment many years ago. Now I use a mechanic who is scrupulously honest, but your post is a good reminder to people to take any valuables out of the car before having work done if they're not 100% sure of whom they're dealing with.

Same for car washes where you don't stay in your car.

I never have anything in a car someone would want to take. Unless a few charging cords and a 12v plug with a combined value of about $20 would be of interest to anyone.

Sorry that happened to you! I don't keep anything of any monetary or sentimental value in my car, but I always remove stuff, just in case.

Some years ago I went to the hospital to pick up my daughter and used the valet parking. When we came out of the hospital neither of us noticed that her laptop which had been in the back seat of my car was missing. It was several days before we noticed as she had some medical issues and was coming to my house to stay for a while. Of course we couldn't prove anything so we let it go. How low is that...as if we didn't have enough on our plates.

The only thing I'll leave in my car is just some loose toll change, just to tempt them, nyuk.

That SUV was used more as a truck. It has a trailer tow hitch. We live in a quasi rural area. It is a pain to have to remember to unpack every little tool or item. I leave coins and a few bills out of site in the SUV. I don’t think any was taken. I don’t care about the loose change. We never park in iffy areas. Just wish I hadn't lost that knife. Not any antique, or pricy item. Just good to have for a tool when you need it, same with a tire pump, jack, lug wrench, flashlight, charger, lighter, rope, duct tape, a few bandaids, bottle of water, pen, notepad, roll of paper towels in a nylon sack, wet wipes, windshield big blue refill; small blanket, towel, a bit of electrical tape. Sometimes in winter a snow shovel, roof shingle, ice scraper.

In the very back, perhaps an extra pair of wiper blades. We have some tow/road service included in our insurance, but both DH and I grew up with a sort of DIY orientation.

So, now, if we are planning to get car worked on, I’ll grab a tote bag and put my ”removables” into it, then hope I remember to put them back. DH tends to forget. That’s about as helpful as someone swiping them.

Satine, sorry about your missing laptop.

No, but my brother had a whole record case of treasured 45 records stolen by Two Men

and a Truck, when he was moving across country once. Also took a Copy of a Painting

he always had in his BR. I guess they thought it was the real thing? They, of course,

denied it, and he couldn't prove which one stole them, of course. So, they were just

gone. He always said...if that's the way he operates, he will be caught eventually. I

often wonder if he ever was.

Never. I've taken my car to have it cleaned/detailed only a few times over the years and have always taken anything of value out before. My mechanic is the father of one of my daughter's friends so I don't see that happening ever.

So sorry that happened to you, petalique.

Never had anything go missing after having my car worked on - that I know about - but I also do not tempt fate by leaving valuable (to me) items in it. I remember when gloveboxes had locks, but I can't remember when last I had a car with a lockable glovebox.

I take my car to the local dealer, even tho I didn't buy it there, and I think they don't lock it during the time it's there (and I've never had to leave it overnight), so I sometimes wonder whether some lurker could just help themselves when nobody's looking...

A very long time ago I had someone dump the loose change out of my ashtray thing but I figured if they were that hard up they could keep it. I keep one of those emergency road kits behind the seat with the jumper cables etc. I expect by now my husband has swiped the big pliers, screwdrivers and sockets because that is what he does after losing his. I should check on that.

When I was 18years old. I was in a minor car accident. The car was towed to a storage yard. They stole the jack and spare tire. That was my learning experience. After that....take everything out.

On the job site, people try to steal my husbands tools. He engraved his name on everything. I even engrave my name on my sunglasses......on the inside of the arms. If you set a pair down...and someone picks them up....how would I otherwise make a claim to get them back. That happened once too....they got a pair of Ray Bans. I asked for them back...she said "prove they're yours".

I don't keep anything of value in my car. My sunglasses are cheapish, certainly not designer since I cannot be trusted with those. A bunch of reusable shopping bags are kept in there, nothing else.

I too have a super honest mechanic. He and my husband once argued about who was at fault in a repair, each man saying he owed the money, not the other. In the end the mechanic was right and the part or repair had failed prematurely, but boy was I impressed with the honesty.

I appreciate your responses. Nicole, that’s awfu. Over the years I have been distracted by some medical issue that give me a lot of distracting pain and fatigue. Plus I have junky seep hygiene. So, I could hjave been more attentive, but sometimes, I am exhausted and not all there (no drugs <g>). I don’t think the folding knife costs much, but it was solid and useful. Maybe a $50 knife. Geez, in looking around for one similar, I’ve had my eyes opened.

Do you folks know there are a lot of knife enthusiasts. I guess I might be one, but that’s cooking knives. Too many of those, but I always want to have a sharp knife, the right size.

Here’s a term, ”EDC” — sometimes I can tease it out, but often I keep reading or search the term. EDC = “Every Day Carry.” It’s a frequently used term in reviews of knives — I mean, simple, inexpensive knives. I think, what am I missing? People carry knives on them routinely as a matter of course? (I live in a state where carrying a sharp plastic plant label will get you sent up the river.)

And then there is a ”Neck Knife,” Huh? Oh sure, as in, “I went to a fancy wedding and wore a French blue designer dress — my only accessory being my new neck knife.”

The private mechanic is very honest, in a rural-ish city. It might have been someone working for him. The cars are often left unlocked on the small corner lot in an area with one of those Route 4A sort of country roads and residential side street, orchards, old wooden factory building across the 4A road from him. He always does great work. I just need to be more attentive.

Well, I bought my EDC and a nice ”Neck Knfe” (that is small and goes in a sheath. I thought it was a folding knife. I may return it. I wanted a little Kershaw all metal knife, but couldn’t get it because it has automatic assisted opening. No shippy here. Too bad, it would have been a good small size for my pocket while doing yard work, gardening. Instead of holding something in three hands or between my teeth, I could just flick the little shrimpy knife open with one hand. No can do.

I suspect that I did. I had two really nice tie-downs that I kept in the trunk of my car, they were a nylon type with buckles. One day I went to use them, and they were gone. The car had been at the local shop for an oil change and check-up maybe a month before, so I can't say for sure if they got nicked at the shop or I removed them from the trunk while vacuuming it out at the car wash and left them on the ground. :(

The battery to my new (ish) car is in the trunk, so the mechanics had access to the trunk.

I really liked those tie-downs.

This isn't about cars but knives. We went to a John Kerry/ John Edwards rally back in the day and husband had to relinquish his swiss army knife our son gave him to the police collecting items. Guess what? Sometimes police are thieves too.

If you have a removable garage door opener in your car, consider taking it with you when you leave the car with a valet, or at a parking garage with attendants, or for mechanical service. (Our car has an internal programable door opener, but we use the little clip-on that came with the openers instead.)

Good point, Chisue. I’ve been told that it is safest to avoild using that built in garage door opener. Darn, I’d like the convenience. A neighbor doesn’t leave her registration in her car; but I though one had to always have it with you or in the vehicle. ??

Decades ago, I remember seeing written notes on the windowsmof cars parked in Boston’s South End that Read ”No Radio, No xxxxx.”

A neighbor doesn’t leave her registration in her car; but I though one had to always have it with you or in the vehicle. ??

I keep mine in my wallet behind my license. It's not a great idea to keep it in the car.

As far as we know we havent had anything taken from our cars or trucks when they have been worked on. I’m usually careful about taking anything of value out when i leave mine at the dealership but a few times I have forgotten something and never had an issue. DH has a lot of stuff like tie downs, bungies, etc in a storage bin under the shell in the back of his truck and has not missed anything. I’m sorry for those of you who have had items stolen. Really sad, even when it seems insignificant.

Why would you have your registration IN the car? is that a requirement somewhere? We have our auto insurance card in the glove box, but not the registration. Could a car thief SELL your car before you recover it?

I'm crazy enough that I even take my umbrella out of the car. I leave no temptations. I know you can't do that, but not everybody is as crazy as I am

I wonder about the registration. Any trooper pulling you over always requests driver’s license and registration. I think you have 24 hours to provide your driver’s license, but must always have the registration any time the car is being driven. I’ll try to look into that.

Selling a car requires the title. IIRC, the title resides with the party who owns the vehicle. If there is a loan, the title is in the custody of the lender.

I believe my neighbor doesn’t leave her registration in her car to prevent anyone breaking into or stealing the car from finding out where she lives. If a thief has a person’s car, registration and address, and any remote or programmed in-vehicle garage door opener, they can access your attached garage (if there is one) and they can then be half-way into your home (in many typical cases).

She also doesn’t store her home address in her car’s navigation system (for the same reason).

"A neighbor doesn’t leave her registration in her car; but I though one had to always have it with you or in the vehicle."

"I keep mine in my wallet behind my license. It's not a great idea to keep it in the car."

"Why would you have your registration IN the car? is that a requirement somewhere? We have our auto insurance card in the glove box, but not the registration. Could a car thief SELL your car before you recover it?"

Many jurisdictions no longer "allow" law enforcement to ask for a vehicle's registration because they can check that information on their in-vehicle computers. But, for those folks who like to have their registration with them, there is nothing that requires you to have the original in the vehicle. You can make a photocopy, blocking our your address, and keep that in the vehicle. That way, if your vehicle is stolen, or if the registration is stolen out of the vehicle when you're having it serviced, etc., the thief will not have your address.

In response to the question, "Could a car thief SELL your car before you recover it?" -- the answer is no. Possession of a vehicle registration isn't enough to sell the vehicle. You need to have the "pink slip."

And, no, I've never had anything stolen out of my car. But I did have something stolen off of my car. Back in 1994, I owned a 1993 Toyota Camry. The color was Dark Emerald Pearl. When I bought the car (new) I paid a bit extra for the gold emblems on it (the Toyota symbol, the V6 LE on the trunk, etc.) rather than having the standard silver. When my brother was in the hospital for the last week of his life, I was with him 24/7, and my car was parked in the hospital parking lot. When I left the hospital after my brother died, I was really pissed to discover that someone had stolen the gold symbols off the rear of my car.

Nope never. I only use a local trusted mechanic. This rubs me wrong. So sorry it happens to a lot of you!

The only thing I've had stolen from one of my cars over the years was the battery. I came out from my work in a hospital and went to the parking lot where my Honda Civic was parked. It wouldn't start. This was a long time ago - in the 80's. Someone had taken the battery from my car. It wasn't new by any stretch of the imagination.

I've had my tahoe taken for a joy ride once when a guy I knew did some repairs. They had even smoked in it...gasp! Evidence was the seats were all moved(keep the back seat down, it was put up for use) from how I keep them, the tank was empty and it smelled of cigarette smoke. Needless to say, I never used that guy for cheap repairs again!!!!

I always strip my cars empty when they go to the shop. Never leave anything to steal.

I have never missed anything! But today, I picked up my car after being detailed and there was a $5 bill in my cup holder...I must have dropped it down between seat and console. Thankful for good honest people in my little town!