Watch out! Thieves about!
H. Kishie Singh

DISPOSABLE income! That’s what it’s all about. Almost everyone is moving about with a cellphone. The number of laptop computers is increasing by the day.

According to police sources in Delhi, the most reported stolen item these days is the laptop and that too from cars. Cellphones come a close second.

Laptops, while being transported, are in a sling bag, with a handle... all ready for the thief to grab and disappear with!

The typical modus operandi is as follows. The thieves operate in gangs of twos and threes. One crook taps on the passenger-side window, alerting the driver about a "puncture". Naturally, the driver stops and goes around to the other side of the car. In a flash, the second member of the gang opens the rear door, grabs the case with the laptop and is gone!

It is normal for a person to keep the briefcase or the laptop on the rear seat or on the floor behind the driver’s seat.

Another modus operandi. This is in very crowded areas like Lajpat Nagar and Karol Bagh, where there are thousands of people milling around.

Again, a tap on the passenger-side window, and the driver goes around to the passenger side. He sees a number of ten rupee notes on the road. He bends to collect them and is completely distracted. A quick wrench of the door and the crooks have done their dastardly deed. In the blink of an eye, it’s over — the laptop or briefcase is gone.

The Delhi Police has been vigilant after a number of such cases have been reported recently in the Capital. However, it is the driver who has to be more alert and take precautions.

To begin with, if you have a three-box car, one with a trunk, carry every thing there. It is out of sight. This is important. The car should look empty. Even a shopping bag can be an invitation to a break-in. Another problem: any item left in the trunk these days can get very hot. This is not good for your laptop or any other electrical item. The floor board on the front passenger seat can be kept cool with the A.C. vent pointed at the feet. It will keep the laptop cool and hopefully away from prying eyes and sticky fingers. Also, the driver can keep a better eye on the passenger door rather than the rear door.

Part of your driving-off procedure should be to check that all doors are locked. Regardless of the fact that you have passengers in the car or not, all doors should be locked.

Make it a point not to carry expensive items in the car. If you have brought jewellery from the bank-locker, go home straight with it. There should be no stops along the way. And do not travel alone. There is safety in numbers. While returning the jewellery, follow the same routine. Go straight to the bank and get rid of your big and expensive responsibility.

Some people like to show off. This means keeping expensive looking luggage in full view of passers-by. This is an invitation to a break-in. Avoid.

And, remember grandma’s advise to your mom: "Don’t talk to strangers!" I am sure your mom must have told you the same. Plus, she must have also told you to take care while crossing the road. This advice is relevant even today. Don’t pick up strangers. As Bob Dylan said, "Times they are a changin’ !" Social conditions today demand that a driver has to be aware.

One of the items in the briefcase my friend lost was his Casio Diary with about 650 names and addresses. A very inconvenient loss.

So he put an advertisement in the paper: " Attention friends! I have lost my Casio Diary — please e-mail, phone or fax your contact". In about two weeks most of his friends had contacted him. Part of a serious problem solved.

The insurance has yet to be taken care off. That takes 90 days.

Happy motoring!