Houston Area Friends

[HookemHorns]

I travel to Houston a lot for business that's mostly located in the Woodlands. Sometimes I drive my own personal vehicle and there are times that I fly. However the last time I was there around April 11, I stopped at Walgreens in Shenandoah to grab some water for my room. While I was inside, someone broke out the window of rental (Jeep Patriot) and stole my backpack. In talking with the officer, he stated that even though it looks like a good area, people troll those places looking for smash and grabs as they can hop on I-45 and be gone.

My question is, how do you protect your vehicles while in Houston? I would be pretty livid to have either of my cars broken into.

Looking for native help and guidance in this situation.

Jim (AKA Hook'em Horns)

[Sir Nuke]

Jim.....one thing you NEVER do is leave ANYTHING in plane sight in your car.....always put it in the trunk. if it's something small...put it is the glove box.

[Ledzepx]

Originally Posted by Sir Nuke

Jim.....one thing you NEVER do is leave ANYTHING in plane sight in your car.....always put it in the trunk. if it's something small...put it is the glove box.

Agreed. Wallet and personal info I would keep on you at all times. No matter what area you are in. Treat them the same. Trust no one.

[mlee]

I frequent that Walgreen's as it's about 3 miles from my house. I'm really surprised because it's a nice area but as Sir Nuke said... every time I've seen this happen it's because something is in view for the taking. Radar detectors in the windshield etc.

If you're going to leave it in view you might as well leave the car un-locked so you don't have to deal with broken glass.

[HookemHorns]

Definitely a lesson learned...I will ask for a car with a truck next time and take my stuff to my room before I stop again. Also, it appears that they are targeting rental cars as the customer I work with has had a number of cars broken into.

[flipstyledsm22]

Seems that the nicer areas are targeted more often. If I'm out and about in one of our nicer vehicles, I just patiently wait for parking to become available near the front and in plain view of the cameras. I've actually stopped a smash-n-grab once. I dropped my wife off at the front of Wal-Mart and pulled to the back to wait for her. I saw a pretty hot chick get out of her BMW and walked inside, then I noticed a guy walk around her car a few times and was looking pretty hard on the inside. He kicked the passenger window a few times and was about to hit it when I sped up on him in my truck with the horn on blast. He freaked out and ran over to a parked car. I was quick enough to block him in and was lucky/fortunate an HPD officer witnessed me chase him through the parking lot with my blaring horn. He and a crackhead lady were both arrested.