If you don't lock your car, Police will do it for you...

[AlbinoRhino]

Was just watching the 5pm channel 11 news and saw a segment about this and thought it was absolutely ridiculous that the police can do this. I figured a lot of people on here would enjoy (or not enjoy).

http://www.wpxi.com/news/19593259/detail.html

MT. LEBANON, Pa. -- Mt. Lebanon police are using some unusual methods in the hopes of stopping a string of break-ins.

Those who leave their vehicles unlocked will find a card squeezed between the steering wheel and the speedometer, reminding the drivers to lock their cars.

“Very good idea. You don't need to encourage any of the crooks today. They find they're own way of doing it,” said Mt. Lebanon resident Mike McElligott.

When Mt Lebanon police find vehicles open, they also put cell phones in the consoles and lock the cars up.

“The best thing we can do for the citizens is remind them please lock the car doors and remove valuables,” said Ken Truver, police chief.

Police warn even if drivers lock their cars, cell phones, keys and money should not be left out of the console. Drivers are also encouraged not to leave expensive GPS units on the dashboard.

Channel 11 took a look around Mt. Lebanon to see if they found expensive items visible in cars unattended. It didn’t take long to find a vehicle with a pricey GPS unit mounted on the dashboard.

[cigarmanpa]

you have got to be fucking kidding

[Bmarshall91]

When Mt Lebanon police find vehicles open, they also put cell phones in the consoles and lock the cars up.

WOAH WOAH WOAH WOAH! SO ALL I HAVE TO DO IS PARK MY CAR IN MT LEBANON, LEAVE THE VEHICLE UNLOCKED, AND THE POLICE WILL GIVE ME A FREE CELL PHONE!!!!! NICE! I'M THERE!

[AlbinoRhino]

Yeah I don't even want to know what's going to happen when the cops open up a console and find something illegal that they want to pursue.

[CommonHighrise]

4th Amendment epic fail.

Though it does remind me of a story someone was telling at the picnic. Local police dept. decides to do a sting for car break ins. They set up an unlocked car in a parking lot, filled with expensive merchandise. Problem was, random passerby kept rolling up the windows and locking the doors as a Samaritan act. Only guy they actually apprehended for theft was a guy who took a candy bar from the car as 'payment' for securing their vehicle for them.

[Bmarshall91]

Don't carry anything illegal... problem solved.



man devils advocate is fun sometimes!

[cigarmanpa]

Yeah I don't even want to know what's going to happen when the cops open up a console and find something illegal that they want to pursue.

IANAL but this just screams illegal to me.

[JavaProgrammer]

A Pittsburgh LEO once told me the opposite. He told me that the best thing to do is to not leave any valuables in the vehicle, open all of the compartments such as console and glove compartment, and leave the vehicle unlocked. This way, any bad guy can easily see that there is nothing worth stealing.

[knight0334]

Now what if we want our crap to be taken, or our vehicle stolen?

I wake up every morning hoping my truck is gone. lol

[Dredly]

I'm sure a cop would love to open my center console and see my spare mag and box of ammo. I can imagine that would result in a knock on my door.

I would load my truck up with little baggies of rock candy and see what happens :P