Even something as small as a phone charger cord or Fastrak transponder that is left in view can make your vehicle a target for thieves. So take all your belongings with you whenever you leave your car.
The Alameda County Sheriff's Department says one solution that works for some people is leaving their car unlocked, so thieves don't break the windows looking for valuables that are not there.
In some cases, people are even leaving signs on their parked cars saying the car is unlocked and there are no valuables inside.
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