Take your stuff in the house at night.
Week after week, people call the police to complain that someone entered their car during the night’either by simply opening an unlocked door or, in the case of more ambitious thieves, by smashing out a window.
Once they’re in your car, these thieves will take just about anything’laptops, iPods, and iPod transmitters, cell phones, digital cameras and other electronic devices commonly go missing. Wallets, watches, purses, checkbooks, cash, loose change and CDs? Absolutely.
Bowling bags and balls disappear too, as do golf clubs and other sports equipment.
One man recently called police when someone smashed out the window on his truck just to get at his child’s wallet’which contained nothing of value’after it was left sitting on the vehicle’s center console.
Although Sgt. Matt Baldes of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Independence Township substation told me these crimes are down significantly since township officials approved funding for two dedicated patrol deputies, I’m still finding reports in the basket every week.
Save yourself the aggravation and take your stuff in the house at night.
The cost of replacing the missing items is bad enough, but what about the things that can’t be replaced, and the feelings of violation you’re left with?
What about all the information you’ve got stored on your laptop? Work files, family photos, correspondence, your entire iTunes library’gone forever.
And how about the hassle of canceling your credit and ATM cards, and replacing your driver’s license and social security card? Have a health insurance, library or Kroger card? A gym or video store membership card?
Those need to be replaced, too.
And then you’ve got to file a report with your insurance company and take your car in to have the broken glass replaced.
What a nuisance, and for what? Because some punk thought it was OK to go into your car and take your stuff during the night.
Stuff he or she will pawn, trade for drugs or simply give to friends for the sake of looking cool.
It drives me nuts. Take your stuff in the house at night.
And here’s another warning: when you’re out on the road at night’or during the day, for that matter’look out for drunk or high drivers. I see lots of reports on those, too, entirely too many for my driving comfort.
The OCSO deputies seem to be doing a fine job of getting these people off the road and in front of a judge where they belong, but it only takes one drunk to kill an innocent family.
Call the police when you see someone driving erratically. People do it all the time, and it could be your opportunity to be the hero that saves someone’s life.
And finally, while we’re on the topic of police, did anyone see a Clarkston cop driving his motorcycle along the safety path in Depot Park during a recent Friday concert?
I sure would love to hear from you–no strings attached.
248-625-3370/LauraLColvin@aol.com