Bay Area car owners leaving trunks open to avoid break-ins, per report

SAN FRANCISCO (TND) — — People in California are reportedly leaving their vehicles' trunks open to deter thieves from breaking their vehicles' windows.

Vehicle break-ins are reportedly on the rise in San Francisco and Oakland. To keep potential thieves from damaging their property, some people are emptying out everything of value from their vehicle, unlocking their doors, and leaving the trunk open while they go about their business.

A local news station, KABC News, says it has heard of people leaving doors unlocked and windows rolled down, but now the idea some are popping open their trunks is "raising eyebrows".

I'm shocked," said former SFPD Deputy Chief Garret Tom to KABC News. "There's so much that can go wrong here.

Tom tells the news station in his nearly 40 years on the force, he's never seen anyone resign themselves to just having their vehicle's trunk freely open.

A reporter with the station showed Tom a photo of a couple of vehicles that were parked near a shopping center with their trunks popped open."We're in different times... that's unbelievable," Tom said to KABC News reporter Stephanie Sierra.

It may certainly be a new idea, and perhaps even understandable given the circumstances, but Tom warns leaving the trunk open is not a great solution.

"They could steal your batteries, your tires," Tom reportedly warns. "They could go into your glove compartment and find out where you live."

Both San Francisco and Oakland police departments have reportedly increased patrols in high-traffic areas during the holiday season. Still, KABC News says police warn everyone needs to be using common sense.