I've seen several cars broken into since I started hiking. Always on remote locations like Islip Saddle or Heaton Flats, but not right in the middle of a busy street!
I had just finished hiking and was walking back to my car. I walked past these two couples who were standing next to their car in a panic. They had been hiking as well but were only gone for 30 minutes or so.
Before the left their car the women put their purses in the trunk so they wouldn't be visible if someone looked inside the windows. Seems like a good idea right? wrong.
Little did they know that they were being watched by some thieves.
When they got back the drivers window was broken. They quickly went to see if their stuff the trunk was still there but it was gone. All of it. All their credit cards, cash etc. gone.
Right on Loma Alta, just to the east of Lake Ave.
This car did not have an alarm.
Maybe that would have helped.
What a shame.
http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/11041880_ZNQ2y#772528222_E5oWTI'd like to give some advice but other than simply not leaving anything of value I guess this could happen to anyone.
So far I've been lucky.