are some people really this... oh, I don't even need to ask

[winterbadger]

Subject: COMMUNITY INFORMATION - A Message from the Chief of Police

The cold weather is upon us. Although many of us would like to start
our cars and have them warm by the time we slip into them for the drive
to work, school, etc., it is not a good safety habit. You cannot leave
your vehicle running. You must lock it up. Leaving your car running
leaves the perfect opportunity for it to be stolen. Some criminals may
"hang" around your neighborhood and watch you go out, start the car
and go back into your residence. Easily taken. Be careful at day-cares
and schools. Parents who are rushing to get their children inside may
leave the car running to make it easier when they come back out.
There's nothing easy about having your car stolen. If you have
acquired the habit of leaving your car running unattended, spare
yourself and break it. A criminal will select his target because it
offers him the best opportunity to carry out his crime undetected and
with the fewest number of obstacles in his way. The more time having to
spend stealing a car, the greater the chance of detection. That's why
they take the easy route - it's faster. Don't help them out!
Please, maintain good safety habits as we approach the winter season.

Catherine E. Plevy
Executive Assistant
Public Information Officer (PIO)
Office of the Chief of Police
7500 Maple Avenue
Takoma Park, Maryland 20912
(301) 891-7142

Comments

[wolfette]

years ago when I worked in hotel receptions, we had a couple of guests ask us to call the police because their hire car had been stolen.

The police came, and took their statement in the reception office, so we (earwigging) got to hear what was said.

At some point during the conversation the police officer realised that the car hadn't been locked - overnight. "You didn't leave the keys in the ignition, did you?" asked the officer. "Of course - doesn't everyone?" replied the man.

I don't know where in the US they came from, but I assume it must have been a really nice quiet town with low crime rates!

[curiousangel.livejournal.com]

My father was a State Farm agent, and I helped out in his office several summers. Sometimes I'd take claim reports for loss incidents, and I remember taking a report for one guy whose car had been stolen. He was complaining because his keys were in it, and it was a major headache to be without his keys, yadda yadda yadda.

I put down my pen, looked him in the eye, and said, "So how did you get down to our office today?"

"I took my wife's car. Why do you ask?"

"Where are the keys to that vehicle, sir?"

"Uhhhhh..."

The dipshit had left the keys in the car that he had driven to report the theft of his other vehicle after he'd left the keys in that one, too. We canceled his policy later that day, for obvious reasons.

[ticktockmary.livejournal.com]

These are the people that need warnings that coffee is hot.