Epidemic of Model 3 small window break-ins

[Falcon3]

I wonder if putting a note on the triangle window to say "nothing in the trunk" would help?

 

[Need]

BTW, if your insurance offers low or zero deductible glass only replacement option, take it. For me, it was only about $17 extra per year for Tesla (it was $6 per year for Lexus), but it lowered the glass only deductible to $100. It pays for itself even with only 1 glass (including windshield) replacement in 20+ years.

 

[pavankp]

Indeed the alarm DOES NOT go off. That's the headline to me. PS: This is actually happening quite a bit from anecdotal evidence, but I don't have the stats to back that up. I simply know that the Tesla servicing center in Burlingame told my friend (the victim) that this is quite common and happens frequently (what that means from % or overall #, I don't know).

My insurance agent told me the same thing yesterday. That it is a very common to see that exact glass broken on Teslas. So much so that body shops find it hard to get enough spares to take care of all the cars coming in. He has seen wait times of 2-3 weeks.

 

[pavankp]

I wonder if putting a note on the triangle window to say "nothing in the trunk" would help?

I plan on doing this after I get my car back from the shop. Until I can come up with a good locking mechanism for the rear seats, I will just keep them down. And add zero-deductible glass-only replacement coverage to my insurance.

 

[Lloyd]

How about a high pressure dye pack spray mounted in the pillar just under the camera?

 

[woodisgood]

Perhaps I wasn't clear on the purpose of using the camera. I'm not trying to catch the thief: I agree with your assessment on the futility. I'm hoping that can launch the car alarm. I'm really focused on having the car alarm go off so it at least becomes known to thieves and they are just a bit more gun shy. A major attraction to this type of attack is that the alarm is silent, so the downside/risk is minimized.

Gotcha - I think you were pretty clear in your post actually. I wasn’t directly commenting on yours but rather general calls for parking mode etc in this context (of which I myself have been a part of).

In my neighborhood alarms tend to be ignored so I don’t know if they can prevent the grab part of smash n’ grab. Also seems like there might be a lot of false positives with motion detection based alarms?

 

[crackers8199]

Or they take a visible lock as an indication that something valuable must be in the trunk ...

I plan on leaving the rear seats folded down and the trunk visibly bare when I park in the city. Empty grocery bags, jackets and other incidentals will go in the cubby under the trunk or frunk. Hopefully, if a cursory glance shows nothing there, they'll move on. The presence of aftermarket or DIY locking mechanisms may not become apparent until after they've smashed the window. Worse yet, these locks may leave the impression you really must have something valuable in the trunk and the thief will take it up to the next level and just break into the trunk.

it's a crime of opportunity. they're not going to start taking a crowbar to peoples' trunks...that's the opposite of a quick smash and grab.

 

[C141medic]

I don't know of any vehicle OEM manufacturer that has a "car alarm" that has glass-break sensors.

The August 1, 2018 version of the Model 3 manual is very specific about the "limitations" of the "Security Alarm" (Page 104), so saying that if the alarm doesn't go off when a window is smashed is a "bug", is not technically a bug. A "Feature Request"? Definitely. But not a bug.

Subaru does as an option.

 

[shrspeedblade]

I try to always remember to lock the car. And I always try to remember to put the backseats down if parking in the sketchy area.

Don’t like it but simply a symptom of a society where the common people are more and more desperate.

 

[Achilles]

Razor blades on the seatback buttons?

 

[ohmman]

mod note: title amended for clarity.

 

[WileyTheMan]

Here's a solution: Purchase child car seats and install them forward facing. With the anchor hooks in place, there's no way to pop the back seats without breaking in and trying to wrestle the child seats out. No more smash and grab target.

Obviously the drawback being having child seats installed.

 

[gilscales]

High Quality Bullet Proof Film for Windows, Cars, Glass

Not going to prevent the window from breaking but it should keep them out and hold things together until the replacement window comes in!

 

[dsss]

Happened to me a couple of months ago in Oakland. Glass shop said they were so backordered that it could be a month before they got the part. Took it to Tesla and thankfully they were able to do the work in a few days, and at a lower cost (I think around $250). This is absolutely an epidemic.

I would also echo the zero glass deductible voices, I thankfully switched to that as well (partially due to all the debris on the beaten down highways constantly chipping my windshields).

 

[pavankp]

Will you still have this attitude after your car is the subject of one of these break-ins? Please update us in the future if and when it happens to you. Good luck out there.

My car was broken into last weekend. I am still here with this attitude.

 

[pandam3]

First, dying @ "Walking Meth"

Second, I can't tell if you're being sarcastic, but would it really be better to leave change in the car and the doors unlocked?? Part of me thinks if you live somewhere that's prone to these incidents it may not be a bad idea. other ideas include being a good neighbor and speaking to and knowing your local junkie just as well as you know your model citizen. (Of course this looks over commuting organized criminals.)

I don't have a car yet, but when I've used rentals, I've had questionable guys say they'd keep an eye on it for a buck or two. Because I am who I am...I usually give them a don't fu*k with me look, try to remember everything about their face and what they're wearing, and walk away. That tactic will have to get slightly modified when it's my property.

Living in an urban area this happens a lot... just tired of it happening.

So yeah just being sarcastic cause I’m sick of it. “The Walking Meth” will help themselves to donations wether or not you’re willing to give it.

I do have Ring Camera lights and I do notice from time to time them checking doors. As soon as they get within range my lights come on and they scramble like cockroaches to the next dark house.

 

[Eno Deb]

I try to always remember to lock the car. And I always try to remember to put the backseats down if parking in the sketchy area.

Don't make the mistake of thinking this only happens in sketchy areas. These gangs also specifically seek out places like tourist hotspots and shopping centers in affluent areas.

 

[ohmman]

mod note: 23 posts moved to politics quarantine.

Please leave politics off of TMC. Future discussion will result in member restrictions. Thank you.

 

[Glamisduner]

mod note: 23 posts moved to politics quarantine.

Please leave politics off of TMC. Future discussion will result in member restrictions. Thank you.

Sorry ohmman, I didn't know posting the proposition everyone was referring to was political in itself. I have no agenda

 

[ohmman]

Sorry ohmman, I didn't know posting the proposition everyone was referring to was political in itself. I have no agenda

When moving posts, any posts that quote part of the subdiscussion are also moved, regardless of their content. Collateral damage.