‘Please Do Not Break Glass’: San Franciscans Leaving Car Trunks Open To Prevent Smash-And-Grab
Some people in robbery-prone regions of San Francisco and Oakland, California, are so afraid of having their cars broken into that they are purposely leaving their trunks open so that burglars won’t shatter the windows of their vehicles.
“We see the aftermath of car break-ins all too often. Windows smashed, glass shattered, but now some people are getting so fed-up they’re leaving their trunks open, hoping that will at least spare them the hefty bill to get it fixed,” reported ABC 7 News.
Several people have even put up placards notes on their cars pleading with burglars to “Please use the door” or “Please Do Not Break Glass!! Nothing inside!!”
One individual saw a trunk open and posted his comments on social media saying, “Imagine having to clean out your car and leaving it open in public just to people won’t break your windows. Oakland we looking sad man.”
People were leaving their trunks open in Oakland, according to Drennon Lindsey, Deputy Interim Police Chief. “It doesn’t really surprise me,” he said.
In his nearly 40 years on the police force, former Deputy San Francisco Deputy Police Chief Garret Tom said he had never seen anything like it, saying that leaving trunks open was an “invitation” or a “disaster”, explaining that thieves “could steal your batteries or go into your glove compartment, find out where you live… if they leave their trunk open, some cars, depending on what kind of car you have, you still can get inside to the interior.”
According to the San Francisco Police Department, car break-ins and auto burglaries have grown by 32 percent and 25 percent, respectively, in 202. In Oakland, the year 2021 will experience a 27 percent growth in both categories when compared to the year 2020.
CBS San Francisco reported, “In the month of November, city data shows there were 3,375 reports of larceny theft in San Francisco – the overwhelming majority of those were car break-ins. SFPD’s Central District, home to tourist hot spots including Fisherman’s Wharf and Chinatown, sees the highest number of smash-and-grabs.”
Unreal. San Francisco is a hell hole pic.twitter.com/Jn8sy7qSX8
— Libs of Tik Tok (@libsoftiktok) December 15, 2021
In November, NBC Bay Area wrote an article titled “SF Suffers Highest Rate of Car Break-Ins Compared to Atlanta, DC, Dallas, LA”. The Subheading of the article reads, “The NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit rode along with undercover police officers, interviewed top law enforcement officials, and obtained and analyzed court and police records to find out why car burglaries remain one of the most prolific crimes in San Francisco.”
