Zork said:
If you don't know how to break into your own vehicle and start it up without a key, you are unprepared.
I guess Im unprepared as well if thats the goalpost. Modern vehicles arent as simple to hotwire as older ones, and I have no desire to learn how to do it. If one wishes to destroy their steering column in the name of being prepared and being able to start their vehicle without a key, be my guest. I keep a spare chipped key in an undisclosed location as well as a couple unchipped keys, one always on me, and the remote not attached to the ignition key. Seems less work and trouble than breaking in and hotwiring my own vehicle.
Again, Im continually surprised at how few people plan ahead in such a simple thing as having a spare key on them, and not leaving the key in it OR the doors unlocked when doing seemingly innocuous stuff like getting gas. If I get out of the vehicle the key is out and in my pocket, and doors are locked at all times Im either getting gas or turn my back on the vehicle. No deviation, and no reason to other than laziness and refusing to accept that one isnt so cosmically awesome that random miscreants wouldnt possible have the audacity to steal from them.
If one hasnt been paying attention, one of the new rackets is crouched down low, coming up to the opposite side door of some oblivious person getting gas, opening the generally unlocked passenger side door, reaching in for a purse or anything not nailed down and potentially valuable, and leaving quietly. Many people dont have a clue theyve been robbed for some time or how it happened. The other thing is leaving the keys in it and then you are basically giving away your car for free when they strongarm or dash and drive your car away. Leaving a vehicle running when running in a store quickly is the absolute height of foolishness in offering your car to any jerk that decides to take it, and the cars can be pretty trashed or wrecked, IF they are recovered. Please be smart folks, its really pretty simple to avoid all sorts of unpleasant situations with just a SMALL amount of common sense and thinking ahead.
Having a spare key is a really simple precaution and step in the right direction of taking care of your stuff. When living in your rig, it would seem even more important to think one step ahead of something so simple as a lockout.
