Would you step in if you thought someone was breaking into a car?

THIS just happened to me...only it was MY car! I came out of a local store and I noticed this man figgeting with my drivers side door ( I later noticed )There was a woman in her car next to mine and another one stepping out of her car across from mine just watching this whole thing. So I come out and I was like "excuse me...what the hell are you doing...that is MY car" He claimed he thought it was his and he wasn't trying to steal it and then got into the car next to mine.

I can't believe no one said anything to him.

Message edited 2/19/2008 12:38:05 PM.

Re: Would you step in if you thought someone was breaking into a car?

How would she know that it wasn't your car though?

Re: Would you step in if you thought someone was breaking into a car?

I'm going to say it depends. It would depend on what time of night, where & what the guy looked like. As much as I'm all for being the good samaritan, I'm not going to get shot or have some wacko come after me over my own car, never mind someone else's.

If it was blantant....like I saw you walk away & some guy fiddle with your car during the day, I would probably say something or at least call 911.

Re: Would you step in if you thought someone was breaking into a car?

It looked like he had been standing there for a while trying to get into it

Re: Would you step in if you thought someone was breaking into a car?

If they are fidgeting with the door in broad daylight, it's usually hard to assume they are trying to break in. I've had cars where the key didn't work too smoothly, and I had to play with the key in the lock to get it to open. Plus, if the woman did say something, she would have to deal with the repercussions of that action. She was probably afraid that if he was a thief, he might go after her.

Glad nothing happened, though.

Re: Would you step in if you thought someone was breaking into a car?

This was about 10 minutes ago...broad daylight...busy store and on a major road..If it was at night and no one was around it would be different I totally understand that.

Re: Would you step in if you thought someone was breaking into a car?

Re: Would you step in if you thought someone was breaking into a car?

Honestly, no. Like previous posters have said, it would be hard to know if it wasn't their car. Besides, you never know if they would turn around and attack you for stepping in. To me, a car is not worth getting hurt - especially someone elses. That is what insurance is for.

Re: Would you step in if you thought someone was breaking into a car?

In this day in age and in this neighborhood, (I think you work close to where I live) I am sorry, but I wouldnt actually get involved.

First of all...I am not sure I would know that he was trying to steal it just fidgeting with the door. I have fidgeted with my door tons of times when the lock was frozen, etc.

Second of all...I am sorry but I am not going to get shot or something for someone else. As awful as that sounds, I am just not. Especially if I live or work in the same neighborhood, these people hold grudges and I would be afraid they would come back looking for me!

BUT..that doesnt mean I wouldnt do ANYTHING. I am a big fan of making tons of noise. I would beep my horn (make believing it was at something else) bring attention to the person in some way. I watched a neighborhood hoodlum try to steal a car one night right outside my house. I didnt run out and try to stop him but I did call the police because I KNEW this wasnt his car. Its sad to say, but you have to watch out for yourself as well.

Re: Would you step in if you thought someone was breaking into a car?

I wouldn't physically step in bc you're not supposed to put yourself in danger. I'm simply not trained to stop a crime in progress, it would be way too risky to put my life on the line like that.

However, I wouldn't sit idly by and just watch. I'd call the police and report it.

Sorry Kathleen, I could only imagine how scary that was!!!

Re: Would you step in if you thought someone was breaking into a car?

probably not, people are crazy!! I think I would call the cops if it were obvious they were breaking into a car.

Re: Would you step in if you thought someone was breaking into a car?

Did he get into the car with the woman that was next to you?

To answer your question, if I felt something looked suspicious, I'd call the cops and let them handle it. I'd probably try and observe from a distance for a while too (unless I was with my DD.)

Re: Would you step in if you thought someone was breaking into a car?

Honestly, no, but I would call 911. My DH would kill me if I took it in my own hands.

Re: Would you step in if you thought someone was breaking into a car?

If I saw something like that, I would watch from a distance & call 911 if I thought it looked suspicious but like others have said, there is no way to tell if it was his car or not.

But when he said he thought it was his car, was the car next to yours (the one he got into) the same as yours??? If not, I would have definately called the cops & took down that license plate number

NEVER step into danger bc you are not trained to do so....

Re: Would you step in if you thought someone was breaking into a car?

i probably wouldn't even have noticed...
and even if I did, I would either have called the police or ignored it to be honest... I'm scared, people are crazy!

Re: Would you step in if you thought someone was breaking into a car?

I would have taken his license plate down...how can you mistake someone's car for your own...when yours is totally different..and right next to the one you are breaking into. Theif!!

I would have totally said something.