By Sebastian Vigil
Do you frequently leave your car doors unlocked? If so, now is the time to start locking them. Before coming to McPherson, I always left my car unlocked no matter where I was. I did not think that anyone would ever actually break into my car. I drive a 2007 Toyota Camry, with the bumper being a different color than the rest of the car. With that, I figured that if someone were looking to steal anything from a car, mine would probably be one of the last ones they would choose. Unfortunately, I learned that it does not matter what kind of car you drive or how much you think you have to worry about. If you leave your car unlocked, you are allowing someone to go through your belongings. When someone broke into my car, I honestly got super lucky and would not have even noticed if they had simply picked up after themselves. They did not break any windows or cause any major damage, but they left a flashlight sitting on my seat, my glove box was wide open, and everything inside it had been dumped out. The most annoying part was that they barely took anything. The only thing I noticed missing was my car charger and a couple of one-dollar bills. As frustrating as the situation was, I was honestly grateful that they had not taken my entire car. Because not only had I left my keys in the car, but I also had my birth certificate, Social Security card, and two proofs of address all sitting together. Since then, I have realized that locking my car doors is a simple habit that can prevent a lot of unnecessary stress. I have also learned that I should not leave important documents or other personal belongings inside my vehicle when I do not need them. Even though I was fortunate that the person did not take anything more valuable, that does not mean the situation could not have ended differently. Ultimately, getting my car broken into changed the way I think about leaving my belongings unattended. Before, I thought nothing would happen to my car because it was not the most expensive and did not have anything valuable inside either. Now, I understand that it is not about how nice your car is or whether you think someone would want what is inside. But really, it is about taking small precautions to protect yourself and your belongings. I was extremely fortunate to only have my car charger stolen, but I know that if there were to be a next time, I might not be as fortunate. So, if I were you, I would take the extra few seconds to lock your car and keep important items and documents somewhere safe!
