# Car broken into last night, but didn't steal anything. Any ideas? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 27, 2017, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-broken-into-last-night-but-didnt-steal-anything-any-ideas/797414 "2017-09-27T13:00:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zetetic\_Skeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Zetetic\_Skeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zetetic_Skeptic)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-broken-into-last-night-but-didnt-steal-anything-any-ideas/797414/1 "2017-09-27T13:00:30Z")
Walked out this morning in our parking lot (apartment complex) to find about 7-8 vehicles had been broken into overnight. All four of my doors were open, there was a pair of my gloves and a bottle of Afrin on the ground and the contents of my glove box and center console were strewn about the cabin. But nothing was broken and nothing appeared to be missing. It’s really odd, because I had a bluetooth speaker, a pair of bluetooth headphones, two pretty decent knives, and a few other small things of decent value, but they left it all there. Why would someone go to the trouble of doing all of that and leave what I would think should be decent little pawn shop items? Disclaimer, my doors were left unlocked, so shame on me for not locking them. As Gunny Hartman proclaimed in Full Metal Jacket, “If it wasn’t for dickheads like you, there wouldn’t be any thievery in this world, would there?” Yeah, that’s me. The vehicles with locked doors were left alone. I only have two theories. 1 - They were only looking for highly valuable items (guns, computers, phones, etc.). 2 - They did it as some type of gang initiation to prove their loyalty as some type of jump in ritual. Doors left open and things in disarray to prove they did it. Other than that, I guess it could be some jackass kids getting their kicks, but I have no other explanations. Or am I thinking about this too much? Any ideas, or has anyone had a similar experience? ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-broken-into-last-night-but-didnt-steal-anything-any-ideas/797414/2 "2017-09-27T13:14:45Z")
They did it so you wouldn’t think to look for something that’s been _added_ to your car. Or teenagers. Probably just teenagers. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-broken-into-last-night-but-didnt-steal-anything-any-ideas/797414/3 "2017-09-27T13:27:33Z")
It’s happened to me more than once. I agree with theory 1 based on no knowledge of any kind. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-broken-into-last-night-but-didnt-steal-anything-any-ideas/797414/4 "2017-09-27T14:13:30Z")
They were looking only for cash. Looking to quickly feed a drug habit. My car was once broken into in similar fashion. Took a while to realize the only thing missing was one resusable cloth shopping bag, value 49 cents. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-broken-into-last-night-but-didnt-steal-anything-any-ideas/797414/5 "2017-09-27T14:15:57Z")
Saw a movie once about a kid who would break into people’s apartments, but never steal anything. He would take a shower, fix himself a sandwich, maybe rearrange the furniture, but he’d never take anything valuable even if there was a literal pile of cash lying on the table. Maybe it was him? ---
**Author:** ![Zetetic\_Skeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Zetetic\_Skeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zetetic_Skeptic)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-broken-into-last-night-but-didnt-steal-anything-any-ideas/797414/6 "2017-09-27T14:25:08Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > My car was once broken into in similar fashion. Took a while to realize the only thing missing was one resusable cloth shopping bag, value 49 cents. That’s a very odd thing to steal. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-broken-into-last-night-but-didnt-steal-anything-any-ideas/797414/7 "2017-09-27T14:27:30Z")
> [@Zetetic\_Skeptic](#): > > That’s a very odd thing to steal. Not if you’re breaking into 7-8 other cars and need something to carry the miscellaneous stuff you are stealing from the other cars. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-broken-into-last-night-but-didnt-steal-anything-any-ideas/797414/8 "2017-09-27T14:32:08Z")
The other option is a neighbor came home, or went to walk their dog before bed & scared 'em off. IF I were a criminal, I’d rather get away with a little less than have a huge haul when the cops cuff me. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-broken-into-last-night-but-didnt-steal-anything-any-ideas/797414/9 "2017-09-27T15:35:29Z")
Agreed with the “quick cash” answer. I’ve had my car broken into and the spare change bin emptied and the rest rifled through but otherwise left intact. Quite possibly teens or someone who isn’t going to try and pawn a bunch of Bluetooth speakers, flashlights and GPS devices. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-broken-into-last-night-but-didnt-steal-anything-any-ideas/797414/10 "2017-09-27T16:39:35Z")
They don’t close the doors because that makes noise which might alert you to their mischief. ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-broken-into-last-night-but-didnt-steal-anything-any-ideas/797414/11 "2017-09-27T16:41:04Z")
Clearly, the person was trying to set up this thread: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=20320008](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=20320008) ---
**Author:** ![Randolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-broken-into-last-night-but-didnt-steal-anything-any-ideas/797414/12 "2017-09-27T16:50:53Z")
Your stuff sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-broken-into-last-night-but-didnt-steal-anything-any-ideas/797414/13 "2017-09-27T16:53:08Z")
Back when I lived in Chicago there was a homeless guy who’d break into cars to sleep during bad weather. So far as I know he never took anything and never left anything and never made a mess. We only knew he used our car because we went out early one morning and he was still asleep in the back seat. Although “break in” was a bit of a misnomer in his case - in addition to using unlocked cars, he took advantage of economy car makers using only a limited number of keys for their door locks. Among his collection was one that opened a lot of Ford Festivas, including ours. But it doesn’t sound like that would apply to the OP’s situation. ---
**Author:** ![Trafalgar\_Laura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trafalgar_laura/32/2907_2.png) [@Trafalgar\_Laura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trafalgar_Laura)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-broken-into-last-night-but-didnt-steal-anything-any-ideas/797414/14 "2017-09-27T16:58:13Z")
I had my car ‘broken into’ (I, too, made the mistake of not locking the door :smack:) while it was parked behind my house. It was pretty off-putting to realize someone had been sneaking around our house without anyone knowing. They only got away with a pair of headphones. Headphones I had bought at Walgreen’s for something like $7. I can’t imagine there’s a big resale value for those… I guess they just take whatever their eyes pass over that they register as valuable. If they were strictly looking for cash or didn’t recognize your devices, maybe they just decided to pass them over in favor of the next car, which might have money or something more obvious for resale. ---
**Author:** ![Pixel\_Dent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Pixel\_Dent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixel_Dent)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-broken-into-last-night-but-didnt-steal-anything-any-ideas/797414/15 "2017-09-27T17:34:26Z")
Someone keeps breaking into my house and stealing things I was sure I just had in my hand. They usually return them two or three weeks later hiding them under a pile of magazines or something. It’s really weird. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-broken-into-last-night-but-didnt-steal-anything-any-ideas/797414/16 "2017-09-27T20:39:38Z")
I have a junkie relative and she does this frequently. Loots open cars for cash and drugs only, never takes pawn-able items. But she usually leaves the cars as she found them because she tends to hit the same parking decks over and over. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-broken-into-last-night-but-didnt-steal-anything-any-ideas/797414/17 "2017-09-27T20:42:58Z")
> [@Randolph](#): > > Your stuff sucks. Fuck, this made me laugh! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![snoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@snoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snoe)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-broken-into-last-night-but-didnt-steal-anything-any-ideas/797414/18 "2017-09-27T21:01:23Z")
It’s impossible to know for sure, which I’m sure is eating away at you :(. But I think “scared away in mid-act” or “looking for cash or drugs only” are the likely explanations. Just make sure you keep your car locked, and maybe look into getting motion-activated floodlights for the parking area — if that’s feasible. ---
**Author:** ![snoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@snoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snoe)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-broken-into-last-night-but-didnt-steal-anything-any-ideas/797414/19 "2017-09-27T21:06:28Z")
Adding: the “gang initiation” theory seems really unlikely to me. Gang members want “g-rides,” stolen cars that you can joyride around in; just leaving the doors open and the interior ransacked would be small beer for any respectable gangbanger. Your perp was likely an addict and/or homeless, I’d wager. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-broken-into-last-night-but-didnt-steal-anything-any-ideas/797414/20 "2017-09-27T21:28:23Z")
> [@snoe](#): > > respectable gangbanger. The terms are mutually exclusive. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-broken-into-last-night-but-didnt-steal-anything-any-ideas/797414.md?page=2)