My car was burglarized despite the fact that I locked it!?

Question

My car was just burglarized over this Labor Day weekend.  I went to Humboldt Park in Chicago for a festival (yeah, I know, not the safest place, but still no excuse for this to happen) and was sure I locked my door upon leaving my car. Perhaps a big mistake I made is visibly transferring some personal items (i.e., purse, shopping bags, etc.) to my trunk prior to locking and leaving my car.  Upon returning to my car 3-4 hours later, all my valuable personal belongings were gone.  I was shocked and wondered how it could've happened.  There were no signs of forced entry.  My friends assured me I must've forgotten to lock my car or perhaps I wasn't close enough to my car upon pressing the lock button.  I started to doubt myself but wasn't buying it.  I then experimented with my key while waiting for the police and it wasn't until then, I realized the key wasn't locking the door despite pressing the lock button.  I was appalled.  This was the first time I learned of this.  Even my friends tried it with the same results:  the door would not lock. Is this a coincidence that a burglar happened to be lucky choosing my car out of hundreds on a day my lock didn't work?  Don't think so. Even when I drove home 1-2 hours later, I pressed the lock button upon parking my car, and my door still would not lock.  Surprisingly enough, though, as I left the house the next day, the key started working again and my car door now locks as it should upon pressing the lock button.  What the heck could've happened??  What device are these a$$hole thieves using these days to temporarily disable locks on cars???  I really hope these jerks are punished for what they're doing! 

Besides losing my personal items (i.e., credit cards, driver's license, social security card, material things), I also lost priceless items that cannot be replaced (old pics of my parents) which were all in my purse.  Please help in trying to solve this issue.  I can just imagine how many other innocent people were/are victimized with this same crime.

Starlord · Accepted Answer

Auto burglars and thieves are not mental giants, agreed, however, they are smart enough to use technology as it becomes available.  There are devices on the black market that function to override the security systems of most OEM systems, enabling them to unlock a locked car.  It sounds to me as if this is what happened in your case.  If you can afford it, you need to get a good after market security system, such as the Viper.  Also, you can get Lo Jack installed to track your car if it is taken.

k w · Answer

sorry hun

you advertised you had stuff by moving it in the parking spot

always do your moving stuff around prior to where you will park

especially in a densely populated area like humboldt park

I think you just have a faulty remote control

best to press down on the drivers side door lock or use the key

to be sure you are secure.

and there is no good reason to carry your social security card at all
it should be kept with valuable papers, not on your person as i.d.

better ask family about old pictures they may have that they can share

and in the future, scan your entire wallet once in a while 
and you'll have a copy of everything you carry
in case you ever lose it

Dan B · Answer

The thieves aren't using anything to disable your lock.  They aren't that smart.  It's just your keyless entry failed you.  I always press mine 2x so that my horn sounds (short chirp).  If I don't hear the horn, I know my van isn't locked.  The thieves were most likely checking all cars as they passed through the lot.  Your car probably wasn't the only one burglarized.

jwespinosa · Answer

It sounds like a bad connection or weak battery. Mine did the same thing...every once in a while it didn't work. Try going to your local dealer to replace it.

Tom · Answer

No kidding, broken into in Chicago..notify your insurance company

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My car was burglarized despite the fact that I locked it!?

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