Break-ins suck!
Break-in are the worst. There’s nothing like coming back to your van and just knowing something isn’t right. It’s the glimmer of broken glass under the van, the light coming through the interior from the wide open hole on the other side. These little elements all give you that sick feeling as you go from a casual walk to a jog to see if it really is your car. As you come around you see that indeed, your worst fear is real. You’re window is smashed and you’re missing stuff.
Marina District, San Francisco, CA
But what can you do? How do you protect your rig while you’re gone for a bike ride, a hike or just taking in the sights.
The San Francisco Chronicle created an interactive map (S.F. Car Break-In Tracker) after petty theft (car break-ins) have skyrocketed. Did you know that in San Francisco, smash-and-grab automobile break-ins have been at epidemic levels in recent times. Using this map, you can track, in close to real time, the number and locations of car break-ins occurring across the city, and see the locations of reported incidents dating back to 2018.
Before Covid, breakins were
Car break-ins are declining now in San Francisco, but the crime remains stubbornly common. In December, 1,033 vehicle break-ins were reported, or roughly 33 per day. Many were in such tourist-heavy areas as Golden Gate Park, the Palace of Fine Arts and around the famously crooked stretch of Lombard Street – all known hotspots for the crime.
Below, is a chart that covers the city’s car break-ins each month, starting in January 2018, to show how the rates have changed over time.
2018 was bad and it seems to be getting better. But still. No bueno.
So, what can you do to prevent this from happening to you? It seems in some places thieves are so brazen that they’ll do it in broad daylight in a populated area.
First things first. Best tactic is to reduce risk.
From Nationwide Insurance
Theft prevention starts before you even leave your vehicle
Smash-and-grab thieves typically aren’t criminal masterminds who craft clever schemes to swipe your stuff. Most are casual opportunists. They see something they like, so they break in and take it. So before you get out of your car, make sure your valuables are out of sight. Never leave these things lying out on your seats, dashboard or floor:
Phone - Purse or wallet - Laptop (or its bag) - backpacks or shopping bags | Tablets or iPods | Cash – yes, even loose change/coins - Your keys – it actually happens!
Car smash-and-grabs happen out of sight
Most thieves go solo. The last thing they want is a crowd of onlookers with cell phones and pepper spray ready. So try to keep your van highly visible:
Park near other people. Go for busy lots where there’s plenty of pedestrian and vehicle traffic.
If you'll be away from your car after dark, park in a well-lit area or near a lamppost.
Choose a lot with an attendant over one without. I know this cost double in some places for vans, but it puts your mind at ease in sketchy areas.
Discourage thieves with anti-theft measures
Thieves are also lazy. With car break-ins, they’re usually not looking for a huge payoff. What this type of thief wants is a quick thrill – or maybe a little extra revenue – for as little work as possible. By making your car a harder target for these people, you make it less desirable. So:
Always lock your doors and roll up your windows when you park.
Sprinters have a basic car alarm that only works if the doors are open while the car is locked. We look at some alarm options down below.
Consider window tinting (if permitted by local laws), since it makes casing your car more difficult. We got this done recently. Check our post here.
The glove box is the sprinter doesn’t lock and there is actually no glove box in the new 2019 and 2020 Sprinter vans. Check out the post here for lockable storage options.
We’ve found some interesting products that help protect your stuff.
Alarms
Compatible with all 2019 Mercedes or Freightliner Sprinter Vans (907)
Kit includes all components needed to add full alarm to any 2019 Mercedes of Freightliner Sprinter (907) – CM7300 alarm brain, siren, shock sensor, and Sprinter specific data interface
Works with Compustar CM6300 and CM7000
Compatible with all Compustar accessories and RF remotes
Seamless installation – all connections made in passenger kick area
They also make an add on that integrates to an iPhone app.
Vanmate
This is a pretty simple and straightforward set up.
From the website; “Vanmate, simply screws into the back of your van, arm it on the remote. Now you're set.”
It looks pretty simple. If your van doors open whilst Vanmate is armed an alarm will go off at 125 DB loud. That’s louder than most car horns. One think this does that the OEM van alarm doesn’t do is to utilize motion sensing in the van. I’m not sure the new vans have this option, but some of the NVC3 models cam with a similar option as a factory option.
Vanmate Van Alarm
£32.99 (Yup, looks like they from the UK)
DroneMobile - X1 LTE Vehicle Alarm System
