A Quick Note to Mainers That Leave Their Vehicle Doors Unlocked

Dear Mainers,

Two things right off the bat: 1) This doesn't include all of you, and most importantly, 2) Even though it may seem like it, I'm definitely not victim-shaming or victim-blaming.

But also, that said, a little common sense needs to come into play, too.

Look. At the end of the day, it's almost impossible to feel safe anywhere anymore, and unfortunately, the place you should feel the safest -- your home -- isn't always the case. In a perfect world, you shouldn't have to think twice about your most prized possessions or even your hard-earned possessions should be safe at your home, if nowhere else.

Unfortunately, we couldn't live in a world further from perfect.

But it's that very reason that common sense should tell you to secure not just your most-valued items or your most prized possessions, but literally everything you own that means anything to you.

Within the last couple of weeks, both the Brunswick, Maine, Police Department as well as the Penobscot County Sheriff's Department have urged Mainers in Brunswick and Corinna to lock their vehicle doors after an uptick in car thefts.

On top of that, NEWS CENTER MAINE also reported that during Summer 2023, Portland, Maine, Police warned residents of similar news, as well.

So, with so many warnings and instances of vehicle theft happening across Maine within the past few months -- why do you keep leaving your doors unlocked and your valuable items inside your vehicles, completely unprotected?

How are you still shocked when someone breaks into your car (pretty easily since all they have to do is lift the handle) and you lose everything inside, sometimes even your vehicle itself? It's not like the problem just magically goes away because someone mentioned that it's happening.

Look, this note is just a reminder that no matter where you live, no matter how safe you feel, just take the precautions needed to keep your valuable items and your vehicles themselves, safe and secured. Push the button on your car's remote to lock it (or push the lock down if you have an older vehicle), and don't keep valuable items in your car.

It doesn't guarantee that someone won't break a window to enter your vehicle, but at least you put some kind of deterrent in there by simply locking the door. It literally takes no effort at all to avoid the feelings of invasion and loss that come with being the victim of theft.