Woke up this morning in Wendell and found my car door slightly ajar. My glove compartment was completely emptied out onto the passenger seat.
They took some loose change and a phone charger, but left everything else. I am so shaken up. What should my immediate checklist be for this kind of situation? Do I call the police even if nothing expensive was stolen?
not speaking for the board
Welcome to the country, Kip. Around Wendell we used to leave our keys in the ignition, but with all the new subdivisions going up, those days are gone.
First thing on your checklist is simple: lock your doors. These kids are just car hopping, looking for easy unlocks. They do not want to break glass and make noise. Keep your driveway light on and your truck locked.
Five Points since 09
Sam is correct about the entry method. Ninety percent of these vehicle prowls involve unlocked doors.
Kip, you should absolutely file a non-emergency report with the Wake County Sheriff or Wendell PD. It establishes a pattern of activity. For insurance, unless there was actual damage to the vehicle, a standard auto policy won't cover minor contents under comprehensive coverage, and your home policy deductible is likely too high to make a claim. Document it anyway.
shared wall life
I recommend checking your driveway and the surrounding grass very carefully before you drive the car. Prowlers often drop items they decided they did not want, or they might have left footprints in the clay if it rained.
Take photos of everything, write down the exact timeline of when you parked and when you discovered the entry, and keep a file. It helps calm the nerves when you have a system.
since 1978
It is a horrible feeling to have your space violated like that, Kip. While you are working on your lock habits, you might want to think about natural barriers.
I always recommend planting some thorny shrubs right beneath your driveway windows or along the path to your car. A nice, dense planting of dwarf wintergreen barberry or some evergreen holly makes sneaking around in the dark extremely uncomfortable. The Wake County extension office has a great list of native prickly shrubs that thrive in our soil.
character over granite
Thank you all so much. I locked the doors tonight and turned on the floodlights.
Sam, you are right, I need to get out of my city habits. Frank, I took photos of the yard just in case, though the clay was pretty dry. Jolene, I love the idea of using native hollies as a natural barrier. I am writing down all of this for my homeowner binder. I feel much better having a plan.
watch your cracks