Rash of Chenango Bridge Car Break-ins Teaches Lessons

My nephew and niece were victims, along with many others, last month in a rash of car break-ins in Chenango Bridge. Some of these thefts could have been prevented. Let's go over the lessons learned. By the way, suspects have been arrested.

1. Keep your car locked. Several of the victim cars were unlocked making for obvious easy access. Sadly, locking is a necessity these days.

2. Clean the inside of your windshield. The suction cups from your GPS and other devices you stick to your windshield leave telltale circular prints. These are completely obvious to thieves.

3. Remove power chords from sight. if left in plain sight, the chargers that come with most mobile devices, whether the devices are in the car or not, will be temptation to take a look for any thief worth his salt. Hide them!

4. Never, ever leave mobile devices or anything of value in your car. They cost enough to carry with you. Leaving them in the trunk isn't good enough since the rear cushion can be removed to gain access.

5. Sometimes bad things happen. Even if you follow these steps and do everything right, your car may fall victim to a break-in. If the value, to you, is high enough maybe investing in an anti-theft device would be smart.