I pretty much never lock my doors, but that might not be the best testimony for what “normal people” do. I’ve left my roadster parked in the open for 6 months since last year without moving it, same place, doors unlocked the whole time. On the roadster I don’t bother locking the doors. If the top is down it doesn’t matter and if the top is up, you can easily tear through it. On my regular cars I don’t bother either. Most cars are easy enough to pop the locks, and even ones that aren’t have enough glass that getting in isn’t a challenge. I’d rather they just open the doors than damage something trying to get in. Of course most newer cars lock the doors for you unless you go in to the software and disable that feature- which I do.
Where we live it's downright stupid to not lock your doors, for fear of hijacking, robbery, vehicle theft, vandalism, and students having very sloppy staining sex on your back seat.
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We've had a lot of break-ins via window, now it is expected - if you come back to your whole-windowed car your day is better simply because it hasn't been broken into yet.
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You also stop some distance away from other cars at traffic lights and in traffic to give yourself moving space in case of a hijacking, you never leave anything visible in your car (not even an empty bag or towel) when you leave, and you stop in well-lit populated areas, you carry your keys between your fingers as a weapon when you walk somewhere, you hide your phone and wallet, and you travel in groups of more than three after dusk. It's all become a habit tbh.
I also subscribe to the “leave nothing” in the car philosophy. People will break in over the tiniest things. Here you may have to worry about homeless or students or the like going in your car- but not too much and not if you leave it somewhere very public. I don’t worry too much on theft (here) as newer cars are harder to steal and unless it’s something worth the effort thieves usually won’t bother. Older cars are easier to steal and harder to track and worth more money, so they are bigger targets for joy riders and those looking for cash or parts- but insurance will pay for another car if that happens. We used to have a larger issue with jacking (probably not as bad as there though,) but it’s mostly gone down. But I didn’t consider that particular issue. There is a lot of vehicle related crime here, so it isn’t that it’s so safe or anything (safer than some places I’m sure, but worse than others-) it’s more that here it’s gonna happen or it’s not....
... like, there are things you can do to help reduce the risks, but in the end, if they want it they’ll take it. I’ve known guys who didn’t keep steering wheels on the car, had alarm systems that cost more than most used cars and had GPS location, kept the car indoors and under locked cover, used pedal locks and just about every measure there is and had their cars stolen or broken into or vandalized. I used to be very paranoid about my cars and had many broken into (especially since I lived and spent a lot of time in “bad areas” for that sort of thing,) but then I just said fuck it. All the worrying and I still got my car broken into. So I gave up worrying and just got better insurance. But the threat of personal injury from jacking and the like is serious. That I would try to minimize.
Pro tip to those who don’t know: be careful using keys as weapons. If the thin metal part is touching your skin and you use them as a weapon, they are likely to cut you up as bad or worse as the attacker. Some style of key are better than others. Shorter keys don’t penetrate well and longer keys often bend. A key chain like a “self defense pencil” works well, as do less conspicuous but heavy and or sharp keychains. A good sturdy lanyard makes an inconspicuous and effective weapon if you know how to use it, and you can also (if the keys and key chains are heavy enough) swing it as a flail for longer range. Keeping a large screwdriver in between the seat and floor hump is also an “innocent” way to have an effective weapon within reach while driving.
,
We've had a lot of break-ins via window, now it is expected - if you come back to your whole-windowed car your day is better simply because it hasn't been broken into yet.
,
You also stop some distance away from other cars at traffic lights and in traffic to give yourself moving space in case of a hijacking, you never leave anything visible in your car (not even an empty bag or towel) when you leave, and you stop in well-lit populated areas, you carry your keys between your fingers as a weapon when you walk somewhere, you hide your phone and wallet, and you travel in groups of more than three after dusk. It's all become a habit tbh.