TIL a costly lesson about leaving tech gear in your car

I was driving to a client site three hours away for an emergency server fix. My whole toolkit was in the back seat, easy to grab. I stopped at a rest area to use the bathroom, just five minutes. When I came back, the window was smashed and my bag with all my screwdrivers, thermal paste, and a USB diagnostic dongle was gone. The client was waiting, and I had to improvise with basic tools from a store close by. It set me back a full day and cost me a lot to replace everything. If you travel with gear, always take it with you or lock it in the trunk out of sight. Even a quick stop can be a target for thieves. Learn from my mess and keep your stuff safe.

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ivanl766mo ago

Man, that's rough. But here's a scary thought, what if they were watching for people like you on purpose? A guy in nice clothes stops, grabs a professional looking bag from the back seat before walking in. A thief sees that and knows it's probably expensive work gear, not just some gym clothes. It turns a crime of chance into a targeted hit. Makes you wonder if just hiding it is even enough sometimes.

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ramirez.tara6mo ago

Yeah, that's exactly it. It's not just about hiding your stuff anymore, it's about not sending signals in the first place. I see it all the time, people with the phone holster on their belt or the company lanyard still around their neck in the parking lot. You're basically advertising what you have and where it is. Criminals aren't just looking for bags, they're reading the whole situation.

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sage2866mo ago

My work truck practically screams "rob me.

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