Window Smashed While I Drank My Coffee

blevenson · December 13, 2010

Loaded the truck up with my gear for work including my briefcase and company laptop this morning around 4am. Locked the truck and went back in for a cup of coffee and to make a lunch. Came back out to the rear drivers side window smashed, laptop and briefcase gone and my entire console, glovebox, doorpockets, etc dumped out on the seats. They left my GPS, sunglasses, flashlights, etc. They did dump out the advil bottle I keep in the door pocket - I guess they were not happy that it actually contained advil. The "alarm" never went off.

And now for the rant - Why is it called an alarm if if doesnt make any noise? Dealer said you need to have someone forcefully trying to enter the truck for it to go off, or open a door from the inside. The window was broken by prying at the seal on the outer egde of the window with a screwdriver or other similar tool. The animals attempted the drivers front window, ruined the seal (hard plastic edge - Call it what you want) and chipped the glass, couldnt get it to break so they did the drivers side rear. Is that not "attempted forceful entry"?

Dealer is fixing the truck, two new windows, and new edging - I get it back tomorrow. Since it was pouring rain at the time, the dealer will see if the window switch and speaker suffered any water damage. Amazing how much glass one window can produce when it is in hundreds of little pieces. Insurance and Dealer get gold stars from me so far - very helpful, acted quickly, etc. Dealer wants me to install a "trouble switch" for the vehicle to trip the alarm if motion is sensed or something like that - for $379. I live in a rural area and always have, never gave any thought to alarms. Just lock it and that should keep the bored high school kids out right?

Oh, and my backup drives for my computer were in the truck at the time too as I was headed to the office - those are gone too. I feel violated.

They hit two other cars in the neighborhood, got a GPS and a purse after my stuff. The assumption is I startled them when I headed back to the truck to go to work. They never made it to the two nice cars across the street which were unlocked and had laptops on the seat.

Ok I'm done, sorry. And now what you really wanted - pics (mostly just busted glass):

pwall · December 13, 2010

That truly sucks!

jro909 · December 13, 2010

somebody must have been watching you put your stuff in your truck, did you leave a light on or anything? lighting is the biggest deterent to criminals like thiefs

blevenson · December 13, 2010

somebody must have been watching you put your stuff in your truck, did you leave a light on or anything? lighting is the biggest deterent to criminals like thiefs

The porch light was on, the street light is 30 ft from my truck, and one of the other cars they hit was directly under a street light.

I am talking with the landlord about installing some motion activated lighting and/or.... I dont know what else. My wife's Volvo was untouched thankfully (parked right next to the truck), but she isnt feeling too safe at the moment, I guess I am not either - We are only 25 yrs old and neither of us have ever experienced this type of thing. Oh well, one foot in front of the other.

truckofwinandawesome · December 13, 2010

I think some People actually DE-Evolve when they steal things. so in some ways, you are Right to call them Animals.

jro909 · December 13, 2010

somebody must have been watching you put your stuff in your truck, did you leave a light on or anything? lighting is the biggest deterent to criminals like thiefs

The porch light was on, the street light is 30 ft from my truck, and one of the other cars they hit was directly under a street light.

I am talking with the landlord about installing some motion activated lighting and/or.... I dont know what else. My wife's Volvo was untouched thankfully (parked right next to the truck), but she isnt feeling too safe at the moment, I guess I am not either - We are only 25 yrs old and neither of us have ever experienced this type of thing. Oh well, one foot in front of the other.

very simple things keep criminals away, lighting lack of places to hide or conceal themselves(bushes ETC), community watch signs,fences,dog warning signs...if i were you i would invest in some motion lighting and a firearm. Most criminals are dumb and lazy they don't want to work for a quick snatch and run let alone most will run with the sound of a shotgun racking or a dog barking

blevenson · December 13, 2010

very simple things keep criminals away, lighting lack of places to hide or conceal themselves(bushes ETC), community watch signs,fences,dog warning signs...if i were you i would invest in some motion lighting and a firearm. Most criminals are dumb and lazy they don't want to work for a quick snatch and run let alone most will run with the sound of a shotgun racking or a dog barking

I agree but I still cant believe the truck didnt make any noise - Does anyone have experience with adding sensors to the existing factory "alarm" and can you provide some input?

The dealer says they are not a fan of the Viper stuff and that it will potentially create issues down the road with the factory remote start, etc. Is this even accurate? The "trouble switch" they want to add would be installed by some aftermarket shop they work with, so I dont think the statement was to keep me spending my $$ with them - he brought up the viper stuff. I know there are tons of threads about this, but i havent had the focus to start looking at them....

I really dont want to spend $300+ to get my truck to make noise when someone is too close, but i also dont want to have another morning like this one...

old-chevy-dude · December 13, 2010

truck only makes noise if the door is opened.. with a smash and grab they probably didn't open the door, but crawled in thru the window.. but if they did open the door after they broke the window, that begs the question:

how did you lock the door?

using the push lock on the door itself will not activate the alarm.. only using the power door lock button or the key fob does..

blevenson · December 13, 2010

truck only makes noise if the door is opened.. with a smash and grab they probably didn't open the door, but crawled in thru the window.. but if they did open the door after they broke the window, that begs the question:

how did you lock the door?

using the push lock on the door itself will not activate the alarm.. only using the power door lock button or the key fob does..

I locked the door using the key fob pressed twice to arm the "alarm" - according to the dealer the single press will only lock, not activate. I had been told this when I bought it and they reiterated it today. I guess its my mistake for not understanding what they meant by alarm. I just assumed if someone was attempting to pry the window open that it would go off. Seems a little silly that the opening the door is the only way to set off the alarm. Now I guess I just need to decide if I want to invest in additional parts/sensors to make it more of an "alarm" system...

Mossyoakglock · December 13, 2010

I know first hand how you feel. I had my wheels stolen off my truck about a month ago at our apartment complex and my truck was parked under a street light right in front of my building. Atleast they left it on blocks for me. My wife and I had the same feeling as you do, violated.

Her car was broken into about a year ago and they stole her iPod and some other little things.

We left the complex a few weeks after it happened, we just didn't feel safe there anymore and it's a gated complex. There have been other instances that we learned about from the neighbors that did not have us feeling very safe either, even with my Glock .40 in the nightstand. We also invested in a 12 gauge pump for the wife.

I know the factory alarm "add-ons" that you are talking about. One is a shock sensor and the other is an inclination sensor. You can find them on the GM Accessories website.

Check your owners manual and it will tell you how to lock the truck and activate the alarm. I would also invest in a firearm...either a Remington 870 or Mossberg. Both reliable and easy to shoot and not too much $$$.

old-chevy-dude · December 13, 2010

truck only makes noise if the door is opened.. with a smash and grab they probably didn't open the door, but crawled in thru the window.. but if they did open the door after they broke the window, that begs the question:

how did you lock the door?

using the push lock on the door itself will not activate the alarm.. only using the power door lock button or the key fob does..

I locked the door using the key fob pressed twice to arm the "alarm" - according to the dealer the single press will only lock, not activate. I had been told this when I bought it and they reiterated it today. I guess its my mistake for not understanding what they meant by alarm. I just assumed if someone was attempting to pry the window open that it would go off. Seems a little silly that the opening the door is the only way to set off the alarm. Now I guess I just need to decide if I want to invest in additional parts/sensors to make it more of an "alarm" system...

ah well your dealer is wrong.. one press of the fob locks the door and 30 seconds later the security system arms.. or locking the doors with the power lock button on the drivers door does the same thing..

the second press just honks the horn to alert you that yes in fact the truck is locked.. the only time the alarm will not arm is if you use the manual button on the door or the key to lock the door from the outside.. as long as you use a power system (fob or power switch) it will arm 30 seconds after the last door closes.

the OEM alarm basically covers the doors and, hood if you have remote start (because you have a hood sensor), and ignition:

if the doors (or hood) are opened or the ignition key turned without disarming the system then the horn honks and the lights flash..

if you break a window (or leave one open) or the sunroof and climb into the vehicle that way, then the alarm will not sound..

had the same experience with my 2001 Impala, I left the sun roof open, someone climbed in thru there, ran-sacked the car, damaged the dash in a poor attempt to steal the radio, and exited thru the sunroof..

alarm never sounded, but retard left tons of finger prints and the officer that printed the car and ran the finger print check knew who this career smash and grab artist was and where he hung out, he got 6 years for the theft (was on parole with a couple of strikes here in CA so an 18 month B&E and petty theft charge cost him 6 years).

blevenson · December 13, 2010

truck only makes noise if the door is opened.. with a smash and grab they probably didn't open the door, but crawled in thru the window.. but if they did open the door after they broke the window, that begs the question:

how did you lock the door?

using the push lock on the door itself will not activate the alarm.. only using the power door lock button or the key fob does..

I locked the door using the key fob pressed twice to arm the "alarm" - according to the dealer the single press will only lock, not activate. I had been told this when I bought it and they reiterated it today. I guess its my mistake for not understanding what they meant by alarm. I just assumed if someone was attempting to pry the window open that it would go off. Seems a little silly that the opening the door is the only way to set off the alarm. Now I guess I just need to decide if I want to invest in additional parts/sensors to make it more of an "alarm" system...

ah well your dealer is wrong.. one press of the fob locks the door and 30 seconds later the security system arms.. or locking the doors with the power lock button on the drivers door does the same thing..

the second press just honks the horn to alert you that yes in fact the truck is locked.. the only time the alarm will not arm is if you use the manual button on the door or the key to lock the door from the outside.. as long as you use a power system (fob or power switch) it will arm 30 seconds after the last door closes.

the OEM alarm basically covers the doors and alarm, and hood if you have remote start (because you have a hood sensor) if the doors (or hood) are opened or the ignition key turned without disarming the system then the horn honks and the lights flash..

if you break a window (or leave one open) or the sunroof and climb into the vehicle that way, then the alarm will not sound..

had the same experience with my 2001 Impala, I left the sun roof open, someone climbed in thru there, ran-sacked the car, damaged the dash in a poor attempt to steal the radio, and exited thru the sunroof..

alarm never sounded, but retard left tons of finger prints and the officer that printed the car and ran the finger print check knew who this career smash and grab artist was and where he hung out, he go 6 years for the theft (was on parole with a couple of strikes here in CA so an 18 month B&E and petty theft charge cost him 6 years).

thanks for the education on the alarm system and if it is in the manual I apologize for my ignorance. Good for you that they caught your guy, I dont think I will be as lucky as the police took my report, said they had "left the camera back at the station" and basically gave up before they started. In their defense they were very nice and apologetic, but I am not getting the feeling that they will be catching the guy(s).

old-chevy-dude · December 13, 2010